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Bucelas is a DOC of the Lisboa wine region, formerly known as Estremadura, on the coast of Portugal. Its vineyards lie between the Serra Montejunto hills and the Tagus river (the Tejo river in Portuguese), from which Ribatejo and Alentejo take their names. Along with its neighbor Alenquer, Bucelas is one of modern Portugal's most promising wine regions, and has enjoyed a period of significant development in the past decade, as the renaissance of Portuguese wine exports has created a stage for its fresh, classic wine styles.
The region is located between the Arruda DOC and the city of Lisbon, and is one of the more inland areas of the long, thin Lisboa region. Bucelas is protected from the harsher influences of the Atlantic by the Serra de Montejunto hills, which run north from Lisbon, giving a drier, more consistent growing season. This is particularly important during the critical months of late summer and early autumn, when winemakers in Colares and Lourinhã have to contend with rain and high winds. By contrast, Bucelas' vines have a calm, sunny terroir in which to reach full ripeness.
White wines have shown great potential here, and Bucelas provides an excellent complement to the complex, classic reds of Alenquer and the Ramisco-based Carcavelos wines. Most of the wines made under the DOC are based on Arinto, which must account for three-quarters of the blend according to the local appellation laws. The light-skinned Rabo de Ovelha and Sercial grapes are also permitted in the blend. Most DOC Bucelas whites are still wines, but there is also the option of making them in a sparkling style.
