[rree-bher-TAY-yoh] A vinho regional and doc located in the south central part of Portugal just northeast of Lisbon. Within the Ribatejo DOC are now a number of village areas that have been given DOC status, which means they may add their name to that of Ribatejo on labels. These DOC areas are Ribatejo/Almerim, Ribatejo/Cartaxo, Ribatejo/Chamusca, Ribatejo/Coruche, Ribatejo/Santarém, and Ribatejo/Tomar. The most common native white-grape varieties found in the Ribatejo DOC are arinto, fernão pires and Talia (trebbiano). Castelão Frances (periquita) is the principal red grape and is used along with baga, Camarate, and Trincadeira (tinta amarela). Quality dry red wines are starting to gain a decent reputation; white wines (which make up the majority) are light-bodied, fruity, and drinkable but not very complex. Wines made according to the standards established for the DOC may use "DOC" on the label. Wines that don't (such as those using unauthorized DOC grape varieties) must use the vinho regional designation Ribatejano. Plantings of these nonlocal grapes-cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay-are expanding, perhaps more so than any other vinho regional.

Ancient province of Ribatejo

The Tagus river crossing Ribatejo.

The Ribatejo (pron. IPA [ʁibɐ'tɛʒu]) is the most central of Portugal's traditional regions or provinces, with no coastline nor border with Spain. The region is crossed by the river Tagus (Ribatejo = riba do Tejo, "on, or beyond, the banks of the Tagus") and is home to some of the richest agricultural lands in the country. It is particularly famous for raising the horses and bulls used in the Portuguese style of bullfighting.

Although the province no longer has any officially defined borders, being only a historical and cultural region, the places normally considered to be part of it are Abrantes, Alcanena, Almeirim, Alpiarça, Azambuja, Benavente, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Constância, Coruche, Golegã, Ponte de Sor, Salvaterra de Magos, Santarém, Tomar, Torres Novas, Vila Franca de Xira and Vila Nova da Barquinha.

Historically, the biggest cities of Ribatejo were Santarém and Tomar. As an administrative subdivision, the province disappeared in 1976, after being formally created in 1936, and its territory was incorporated by Portugal's present regions.

Historical provinces of Portugal (1936-1976)
Algarve · Alto Alentejo · Baixo Alentejo · Beira Alta · Beira Baixa · Beira Litoral · Douro Litoral · Estremadura · Minho · Ribatejo · Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

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