The most widely planted black grape in the Douro. Gentler than Touriga Nacional, it brings rose and red-fruit perfume to a blend. Its structure is modest on its own, so it is almost always used in combination.
The epithet "Franca" was once misread as meaning "French", but it is in fact an indigenous Portuguese variety closely related to Touriga Nacional. Its tolerance of heat and drought and its reliable crop have expanded its share of the Douro's steep terraces.
If a Douro red strikes you as unexpectedly perfumed, this is usually the reason. Paired with the power of Touriga Nacional it delivers both approachability and structure — a good lesson in what blending achieves.