UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM N-Q


QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number         811-6623         

        Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio         
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Nuveen Investments
        333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606         
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


Kevin J. McCarthy Vice President and Secretary
        333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606         
(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         312-917-7700        

Date of fiscal year end:             03/31          

Date of reporting period:          12/31/08         

Form N-Q is to be used by management investment companies, other than small business investment companies registered on Form N-5 (§§ 239.24 and 274.5 of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than 60 days after the close of the first and third fiscal quarters, pursuant to rule 30b1-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30b1-5). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-Q in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-Q, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-Q unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

Item 1. Schedule of Investments

    Portfolio of Investments (Unaudited)              
    Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXC)              
    December 31, 2008              
Principal         Optional Call          
Amount (000)     Description (1)     Provisions (2)     Ratings (3)     Value  
    Consumer Staples – 3.7%              
$         200     California County Tobacco Securitization Agency, Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds, Sonoma     6/15 at 100.00     BBB    $   172,312  
      County Tobacco Securitization Corporation, Series 2005, 4.250%, 6/01/21              
1,365     California County Tobacco Securitization Agency, Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Revenue     6/12 at 100.00     BBB     1,239,625  
      Bonds, Fresno County Tobacco Funding Corporation, Series 2002, 5.625%, 6/01/23              
4,045     Golden State Tobacco Securitization Corporation, California, Enhanced Tobacco Settlement     6/22 at 100.00     BBB     1,574,799  
      Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 2007A-2, 0.000%, 6/01/37              
5,610     Total Consumer Staples             2,986,736  
    Education and Civic Organizations – 11.0%              
3,000     California Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Santa Clara University, Series     4/18 at 100.00     Aa3     2,993,400  
      2008A, 5.625%, 4/01/37              
1,000     California Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Stanford University, Series 1999P,     12/09 at 101.00     AAA     1,009,950  
      5.000%, 12/01/23              
45     California Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, University of Redlands, Series     10/15 at 100.00     A3     36,270  
      2005A, 5.000%, 10/01/35              
1,000     California Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, University of San Diego, Series     10/12 at 100.00     A2     1,001,250  
      2002A, 5.500%, 10/01/32              
    California Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, University of the Pacific,              
    Series 2006:              
35       5.000%, 11/01/21     11/15 at 100.00     A2     30,850  
45       5.000%, 11/01/25     11/15 at 100.00     A2     37,523  
3,000     California Infrastructure Economic Development Bank, Revenue Bonds, J. David Gladstone     10/11 at 101.00     A–     3,022,440  
      Institutes, Series 2001, 5.500%, 10/01/19              
1,000     Long Beach Bond Financing Authority, California, Lease Revenue Refunding Bonds, Long Beach     11/11 at 101.00     A     756,960  
      Aquarium of the South Pacific, Series 2001, 5.250%, 11/01/30 – AMBAC Insured              
9,125     Total Education and Civic Organizations             8,888,643  
    Health Care – 9.9%              
110     California Health Facilities Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds, Kaiser Permanante System,     4/16 at 100.00     A+     77,950  
      Series 2006, 5.000%, 4/01/37              
965     California Health Facilities Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds, Sutter Health, Series 2008,     11/16 at 100.00     AA–     577,045  
      Trust 3146, 11.416%, 11/15/46 (IF)              
2,000     California Infrastructure Economic Development Bank, Revenue Bonds, Kaiser Hospital Assistance     8/11 at 102.00     A+     1,652,600  
      LLC, Series 2001A, 5.550%, 8/01/31              
1,500     California Statewide Community Development Authority, Hospital Revenue Bonds, Monterey     6/13 at 100.00     AAA     1,586,685  
      Peninsula Hospital, Series 2003B, 5.250%, 6/01/18 – FSA Insured              
1,500     California Statewide Community Development Authority, Insured Mortgage Hospital Revenue Bonds,     11/09 at 102.00     A+     1,349,520  
      Mission Community Hospital, Series 2001, 5.375%, 11/01/26              
545     California Statewide Community Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Kaiser Permanente System,     8/16 at 100.00     A+     420,991  
      Series 2001C, 5.250%, 8/01/31              
1,880     California Statewide Community Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Los Angeles Orthopaedic     6/09 at 100.00     A     1,811,154  
      Hospital Foundation, Series 2000, 5.500%, 6/01/17 – AMBAC Insured              
540     Loma Linda, California, Hospital Revenue Bonds, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Series     12/18 at 100.00     BBB     503,674  
      2008A, 8.250%, 12/01/38              
9,040     Total Health Care             7,979,619  
    Housing/Multifamily – 0.8%              
750     California Statewide Community Development Authority, Student Housing Revenue Bonds, EAH –     8/12 at 100.00     Baa1     616,845  
      Irvine East Campus Apartments, LLC Project, Series 2002A, 5.500%, 8/01/22 – ACA Insured              
    Housing/Single Family – 0.1%              
135     California Housing Finance Agency, Home Mortgage Revenue Bonds, Series 2006H, 5.750%,     2/16 at 100.00     Aa2     129,817  
      8/01/30 – FGIC Insured (Alternative Minimum Tax)              
    Industrials – 1.6%              
1,250     California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds, Republic     No Opt. Call     BBB     924,388  
      Services Inc., Series 2002C, 5.250%, 6/01/23 (Mandatory put 12/01/17) (Alternative              
      Minimum Tax)              
500     California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds, Waste     1/16 at 102.00     BBB     325,570  
      Management Inc., Series 2002A, 5.000%, 1/01/22 (Alternative Minimum Tax)              
1,750     Total Industrials             1,249,958  
    Long-Term Care – 2.6%              
1,500     ABAG Finance Authority for Non-Profit Corporations, California, Insured Senior Living Revenue     11/12 at 100.00     A+     1,389,975  
      Bonds, Odd Fellows Home of California, Series 2003A, 5.200%, 11/15/22              
1,000     California Statewide Communities Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Inland Regional Center     12/17 at 100.00     Baa1     677,350  
      Project, Series 2007, 5.250%, 12/01/27              
2,500     Total Long-Term Care             2,067,325  
    Tax Obligation/General – 23.4%              
    California, General Obligation Bonds, Series 2004:              
750       5.000%, 2/01/23     2/14 at 100.00     A+     723,293  
800       5.125%, 4/01/25     4/14 at 100.00     A+     764,496  
1,000     Fremont Unified School District, Alameda County, California, General Obligation Bonds, Series     8/12 at 101.00     AA     1,009,740  
      2002A, 5.000%, 8/01/21 – FGIC Insured              
    Golden West Schools Financing Authority, California, General Obligation Revenue Refunding              
    Bonds, School District Program, Series 1999A:              
4,650       0.000%, 8/01/16 – MBIA Insured     No Opt. Call     AA     3,251,652  
1,750       0.000%, 2/01/17 – MBIA Insured     No Opt. Call     AA     1,180,690  
2,375       0.000%, 8/01/17 – MBIA Insured     No Opt. Call     AA     1,558,071  
2,345       0.000%, 2/01/18 – MBIA Insured     No Opt. Call     AA     1,479,296  
    Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, Santa Clara County, California, General              
    Obligation Capital Appreciation Bonds, Series 1995C:              
1,015       0.000%, 5/01/17 – MBIA Insured     No Opt. Call     AA     688,627  
1,080       0.000%, 5/01/18 – MBIA Insured     No Opt. Call     AA     684,515  
100     Roseville Joint Union High School District, Placer County, California, General Obligation     8/15 at 100.00     AA     96,591  
      Bonds, Series 2006B, 5.000%, 8/01/27 – FGIC Insured              
3,220     Sacramento City Unified School District, Sacramento County, California, General Obligation     7/15 at 100.00     Aa3     3,136,602  
      Bonds, Series 2005, 5.000%, 7/01/27 – MBIA Insured              
1,500     San Diego Unified School District, San Diego County, California, General Obligation Bonds,     7/13 at 101.00     AAA     1,640,925  
      Series 2003E, 5.250%, 7/01/24 – FSA Insured              
2,565     Sunnyvale School District, Santa Clara County, California, General Obligation Bonds, Series     9/15 at 100.00     AAA     2,569,155  
      2005A, 5.000%, 9/01/26 – FSA Insured              
23,150     Total Tax Obligation/General             18,783,653  
    Tax Obligation/Limited – 17.3%              
1,000     Bell Community Redevelopment Agency, California, Tax Allocation Bonds, Bell Project Area,     10/13 at 100.00     BBB+     769,670  
      Series 2003, 5.625%, 10/01/33 – RAAI Insured              
3,500     California State Public Works Board, Lease Revenue Bonds, Department of Corrections,     No Opt. Call     AA     3,994,267  
      Calipatria State Prison, Series 1991A, 6.500%, 9/01/17 – MBIA Insured (4)              
1,000     California State Public Works Board, Lease Revenue Bonds, Department of Mental Health,     6/14 at 100.00     A     945,510  
      Coalinga State Hospital, Series 2004A, 5.500%, 6/01/23              
120     Capistrano Unified School District, Orange County, California, Special Tax Bonds, Community     9/15 at 100.00     AA     96,442  
      Facilities District, Series 2005, 5.000%, 9/01/24 – FGIC Insured              
360     Chino Redevelopment Agency, California, Merged Chino Redevelopment Project Area Tax Allocation     9/16 at 101.00     AA     255,910  
      Bonds, Series 2006, 5.000%, 9/01/38 – AMBAC Insured              
1,000     Fontana Public Financing Authority, California, Tax Allocation Revenue Bonds, North Fontana     10/15 at 100.00     A     756,350  
      Redevelopment Project, Series 2005A, 5.000%, 10/01/32 – AMBAC Insured              
1,050     Golden State Tobacco Securitization Corporation, California, Enhanced Asset Backed Settlement     6/15 at 100.00     A     80,399  
      Revenue Bonds, Series 2005A, Trust Series 1500, 1.508%, 6/01/45 – AMBAC Insured (IF)              
    Irvine, California, Unified School District, Community Facilities District Special Tax Bonds,              
    Series 2006A:              
60       5.000%, 9/01/26     9/16 at 100.00     N/R     40,777  
135       5.125%, 9/01/36     9/16 at 100.00     N/R     84,335  
215     Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, California, Lease Revenue Bonds, Manchester Social     9/15 at 100.00     A2     159,268  
      Services Project, Series 2005, 5.000%, 9/01/37 – AMBAC Insured              
1,300     Orange County, California, Special Tax Bonds, Community Facilities District 03-1 of Ladera     8/12 at 101.00     N/R     893,191  
      Ranch, Series 2004A, 5.625%, 8/15/34              
105     Rialto Redevelopment Agency, California, Tax Allocation Bonds, Merged Project Area, Series     9/15 at 100.00     A–     77,821  
      2005A, 5.000%, 9/01/35 – SYNCORA GTY Insured              
130     Roseville, California, Certificates of Participation, Public Facilities, Series 2003A, 5.000%,     8/13 at 100.00     A     112,818  
      8/01/25 – AMBAC Insured              
605     Sacramento City Financing Authority, California, Lease Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1993A,     No Opt. Call     AA     629,006  
      5.400%, 11/01/20 – MBIA Insured              
3,000     San Mateo County Transit District, California, Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2005A, 5.000%,     6/15 at 100.00     AA     3,062,580  
      6/01/21 – MBIA Insured              
225     San Mateo Union High School District, San Mateo County, California, Certificates of     12/17 at 100.00     AA     174,377  
      Participation, Phase 1, Series 2007A, 5.000%, 12/15/30 – AMBAC Insured              
1,000     Santa Clara County Board of Education, California, Certificates of Participation, Series 2002,     4/12 at 101.00     AA     948,710  
      5.000%, 4/01/25 – MBIA Insured              
1,000     Travis Unified School District, Solano County, California, Certificates of Participation,     9/16 at 100.00     N/R     793,340  
      Series 2006, 5.000%, 9/01/26 – FGIC Insured              
15,805     Total Tax Obligation/Limited             13,874,771  
    Transportation – 5.5%              
1,150     Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, California, Toll Road Revenue Bonds, Series     1/10 at 100.00     BBB–     773,019  
      1995A, 5.000%, 1/01/35              
3,500     Los Angeles Harbors Department, California, Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2001B, 5.500%,     8/11 at 100.00     AA     3,350,060  
      8/01/17 – AMBAC Insured (Alternative Minimum Tax)              
445     San Francisco Airports Commission, California, Revenue Bonds, San Francisco International     5/09 at 101.00     AA     339,250  
      Airport, Second Series 1999, Issue 23A, 5.000%, 5/01/30 – FGIC Insured (Alternative              
      Minimum Tax)              
5,095     Total Transportation             4,462,329  
    U.S. Guaranteed – 14.8% (5)              
400     Beverly Hills Unified School District, Los Angeles County, California, General Obligation     8/12 at 100.00     AA (5)     447,292  
      Bonds, Series 2002A, 5.000%, 8/01/26 (Pre-refunded 8/01/12)              
    California Department of Water Resources, Power Supply Revenue Bonds, Series 2002A:              
1,750       5.750%, 5/01/17 (Pre-refunded 5/01/12)     5/12 at 101.00     Aaa     2,003,540  
2,000       5.125%, 5/01/19 (Pre-refunded 5/01/12)     5/12 at 101.00     Aaa     2,249,320  
2,600     California Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, University of the Pacific, Series     11/11 at 100.00     A2 (5)     2,874,612  
      2002, 5.250%, 11/01/21 (Pre-refunded 11/01/11)              
800     California, General Obligation Bonds, Series 2004, 5.125%, 2/01/27 (Pre-refunded 2/01/14)     2/14 at 100.00     AAA     923,688  
2,000     North Orange County Community College District, California, General Obligation Bonds, Series     8/12 at 101.00     AA (5)     2,247,140  
      2002A, 5.000%, 8/01/22 (Pre-refunded 8/01/12) – MBIA Insured              
1,000     Port of Oakland, California, Revenue Bonds, Series 2002M, 5.250%, 11/01/20 (Pre-refunded     11/12 at 100.00     A+ (5)     1,130,310  
      11/01/12) – FGIC Insured              
10,550     Total U.S. Guaranteed             11,875,902  
    Utilities – 5.3%              
645     Long Beach Bond Finance Authority, California, Natural Gas Purchase Revenue Bonds, Series     No Opt. Call     A     437,362  
      2007A, 5.500%, 11/15/37              
200     Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, California, Power System Revenue Bonds, Series     7/13 at 100.00     AA     203,870  
      2003A-2, 5.000%, 7/01/21 – MBIA Insured              
7,600     Merced Irrigation District, California, Certificates of Participation, Water and Hydroelectric     9/16 at 64.56     A     2,640,316  
      System Projects, Series 2008A, 0.000%, 9/01/23              
215     Merced Irrigation District, California, Electric System Revenue Bonds, Series 2005, 5.125%,     9/15 at 100.00     BBB–     138,159  
      9/01/31 – SYNCORA GTY Insured              
780     Turlock Irrigation District, California, Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1992A, 6.250%,     No Opt. Call     A1     818,961  
      1/01/12 – MBIA Insured              
9,440     Total Utilities             4,238,668  
    Water and Sewer – 2.1%              
150     Healdsburg Public Financing Authority, California, Wastewater Revenue Bonds, Series 2006,     4/16 at 100.00     AA     124,238  
      5.000%, 4/01/36 – MBIA Insured              
250     Sacramento County Sanitation District Financing Authority, California, Revenue Bonds, Series     6/16 at 100.00     AA     235,678  
      2006, 5.000%, 12/01/31 – FGIC Insured              
825     South Feather Water and Power Agency, California, Water Revenue Certificates of Participation,     4/13 at 100.00     BBB     631,529  
      Solar Photovoltaic Project, Series 2003, 5.375%, 4/01/24              
1,000     Woodbridge Irrigation District, California, Certificates of Participation, Water Systems     7/13 at 100.00     BBB+     681,310  
      Project, Series 2003, 5.625%, 7/01/43              
2,225     Total Water and Sewer             1,672,755  
$       95,175     Total Long-Term Investments (cost $85,654,155) – 98.1%             78,827,021  
Principal                  
Amount (000)     Description (1)     Coupon     Maturity     Value  
    Short-Term Investments – 0.4%              
$            335     State Street Euro Dollar Time Deposit     0.010%     1/02/09   $   334,551  
    Total Short-Term Investments (cost $334,551)             334,551  
    Total Investments (cost $85,988,706) – 98.5%             79,161,572  
    Other Assets Less Liabilities – 1.5%             1,173,503  
    Net Assets – 100%           $   80,335,075  

(1)     All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets.  
(2)     Optional Call Provisions: Dates (month and year) and prices of the earliest optional call or redemption.  
    There may be other call provisions at varying prices at later dates. Certain mortgage-backed securities  
    may be subject to periodic principal paydowns.  
(3)     Ratings: Using the higher of Standard & Poor’s Group (“Standard & Poor’s”) or Moody’s Investor Service,  
    Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating. Ratings below BBB by Standard & Poor’s or Baa by Moody’s are considered to be  
    below investment grade.  
    The Portfolio of Investments may reflect the ratings on certain bonds insured by ACA, AGC, AMBAC, CIFG,  
    FGIC, FSA, MBIA, RAAI and SYNCORA as of December 31, 2008. Subsequent to December 31, 2008, and  
    during the period this Portfolio of Investments was prepared, there may have been reductions to the ratings  
    of certain bonds resulting from changes to the ratings of the underlying insurers both during the period and  
    after period end. Such reductions would likely reduce the effective rating of many of the bonds insured by  
    that insurer or insurers presented at period end.  
(4)     Investment, or portion of investment, has been pledged to collateralize the net payment obligations for  
    investments in derivatives entered into by the Fund during the period.  
(5)     Backed by an escrow or trust containing sufficient U.S. Government or U.S. Government agency securities  
    which ensure the timely payment of principal and interest. Such investments are normally considered to  
    be equivalent to AAA rated securities.  
N/R     Not rated.  
(IF)     Inverse floating rate investment.  

Fair Value Measurements

During the current fiscal period, the Fund adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (SFAS No.157) “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. In determining the value of the Fund's investments various inputs are used. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2 – Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).

Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs (including management's assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the Fund's fair value measurements as of December 31, 2008:

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Investments     $334,551     $78,827,021     $ —     $79,161,572  

Income Tax Information

The following information is presented on an income tax basis. Differences between amounts for financial statement and federal income tax purposes are primarily due to timing differences in recognizing taxable market discount, timing differences in recognizing certain gains and losses on investment transactions and the treatment of investments in inverse floating rate transactions subject to SFAS No. 140. To the extent that differences arise that are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities presented in the annual report, based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the net asset value of the Fund.

At December 31, 2008, the cost of investments was $86,036,878.

Gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation of investments at December 31, 2008, were as follows:

Gross unrealized:      
  Appreciation     $ 2,282,971  
  Depreciation     (9,158,277)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments     $(6,875,306)

Item 2. Controls and Procedures.

  1. The registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).
  2. There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant's last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3. Exhibits.

File as exhibits as part of this Form a separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)), exactly as set forth below: See EX-99 CERT attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

(Registrant)         Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio         

By (Signature and Title)          /s/ Kevin J. McCarthy                    
                                                  Kevin J. McCarthy
                                                  Vice President and Secretary

Date          February 27, 2009        

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title)         /s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman                    
                                                 Gifford R. Zimmerman
                                                 Chief Administrative Officer (principal executive officer) 

Date          February 27, 2009        

By (Signature and Title)         /s/ Stephen D. Foy                              
                                                 Stephen D. Foy
                                                 Vice President and Controller (principal financial officer) 

Date         February 27, 2009        

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