Portugal’s usefully versatile, second most planted vine variety, having been definitively overtaken by Tinta Roriz (tempranillo) by 2012 when total Castelão plantings fell to 14,414 ha/35,602 acres. It makes varied but generally fruity, sometimes surprisingly long-lived reds all over southern Portugal. It is known variously as Periquita in Setúbal, João de Santarém in Oeste, and Castelão Francês, in many regions.
