[FER-nerng PEE-rish] Portugal's most widely planted white-grape variety. The versatile Fernão Pires can produce a variety of wine styles, from crisp and dry to sweet botrytised wines, to sparkling wines. It is reasonably aromatic with a distinctive peppery quality. Fernão Pires is also called Maria Gomes, Fernam Pires, and Fernão Pirão.