Vinalia x Campolargo, Bical

The Campolargo family can trace their winegrowing heritage in Bairrada back to the 1920s, when patriarch Martinho first cultivated grapes in the region. It was not until the 2000 vintage when his grandsons launched the Campolargo label. The Campolargo family was instrumental in the expansion of Bairrada’s wine laws to include a larger suite of grapes beyond Baga. They bottle a wide assortment of still and sparkling wines ranging from wonderfully classic in style to excitingly inventive.

Recognized as one of Portugal’s finest wine regions—a hotbed of young, innovative talent and capable of yielding Portuguese reds of unparalleled elegance—Bairrada’s winegrowing history begins with Roman plantings. Most famous for the red Baga, the region has also greatly diversified, welcoming a portfolio of indigenous Portuguese grapes, both white and red. Bairrada is largely defined by its Atlantic influence, and winegrowers often talk of a maritime taste to their wines.

One of Portugal’s greatest white grape varieties, Bical is native to the central Bairrada and Dão regions, where its production remains concentrated today. Bical is also periodically referred to as Borrado das Moscas in the Dão. Celebrated for its pronounced acidity, and stony, peachy flavors, Bical is bottled both monovarietally and in blends, most typically with Arinto and Cerceal. It is also an important component in traditional Portuguese sparkling wines from Bairrada.