Portan

Portan is a red cross variety created in Montpellier, France.

Portan is a black skinned variety. The wine has soft tannin, and lots of red fruit aromas, which is suitable for early drinking, fruit-forward style.

Portan is mainly found in Languedoc, south of France and some parts of Spain. Portan is a very vigrous variety and it is suited to low-vertility soils. It is usually blended with other varieties such as Carignan, Grenache, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Montpellier Cross pairs well with light meals such as salads and grilled fish, and mediterranean food.

The name Montpellier Cross is a neologism based on the first four letters of "Portugais" (Blauer Portugieser or Portugais Bleu in French).