21. Portugal Flashcards
What is Portugal’s PDO?
Denominacao de Origem Controlada/Protegida
What is Portugal’s PGI?
Vinho Regional
What is Vinho Verde’s climate and why?
Moderate maritime due to its proximity to the Atlantic and the river valleys funneling winds
What are Vinho Verde’s soils and its benefits?
1) Granitic bedrock with shallow decomposed granite topsoil.
2) Good drainage, low fertility
What does the climate of Vinho Verde become further inland?
Continental
What are two inland sub-zones of Vinho Verde?
1) Baiao
2) Moncao e Melgaco
What is the rainfall like in Vinho Verde?
High - 1,500mm
What are the two main viticultural hazards in Vinho Verde?
1) Rot
2) Mildew
How are humidity risks combatted in Vinho Verde? (2)
1) Training the vines high for air circulation
2) Green harvesting and shoot thinning
What is Vinho Verde’s most widely grown variety? Describe it
Loureiro
Predominantly towards the coast it’s mid-ripening; citrus, floral
What is the main quality variety of Vinho Verde and what flavours does it offer?
Alvarinho - citrus to tropical
What is the black variety of Vinho Verde? Describe it
1) Vinhao (Sousao)
2) Deep colour, high acid, cherry
Describe typical Vinho Verde winemaking (4)
1) Protective
2) CO2 added at bottling
3) Cool fermentation
4) Small r/s possible
More premium Vinho Verde might see what three winemaking techniques?
1) Oak
2) Lees
3) Ambient yeasts
What is the premium sub-zone of Vinho Verde
Moncao e Melgaco
The only sub-zone permitted to name Alvarinho as a single varietal on the label and still be classed Vinho Verde
What is the main business size in Vinho Verde?
Less than 1ha on average meaning co-ops and large merchants make most of the wine
Name a significant Vinho Verde producer
Anselmo Mendes
What are the Douro’s three sub-regions?
1) Douro Superior - upper (east)
2) Cima Corgo - centre
3) Baixo Corgo - west
What mountain range shields Douro from the Atlantic?
Serra do Marao
What’s Douro’s climate?
Warm continental
What is unusual about Douro’s soil?
The schist splits vertically allowing for root penetration
What are the six key black varieties in Douro?
1) Touriga Franca
2) Touriga Nacional
3) Tinta Roriz
4) Tinta Barroca
5) Tinta Cao
6) Sousao
What are the four key white varieties in Douro?
1) Viosinto
2) Rabigato
3) Gouveio
4) Moscatel Galego Branco
Are Douro reds destemmed? Why?
1) Yes
2) Tannic varieties used don’t need stem tannin
Name a significant Douro producer
Prats and Symington
What is a benefit of fermentin in lagares?
Easier to monitor the level of extraction than in a closed tank
Why might Douro red fermentation temperatures be unusual?
24-28 - low; allows for tannin extraction control
What is Dao’s climate and why?
1) Mediterranean
2) Surrounded by mountains giving protection from cool maritime in the west and arid in the east
Describe Dao’s rainfall? (2)
1) Relatively high (1,100 - 1,600mm)
2) Falls mostly during autumn and winter
What is thought to bring a signature note to Dao’s wine?
Pine and eucalyptus forests
What is Dao’s elevation?
400-500m but as low as 200m and as high as 900m
Describe Dao’s soils
Granite low in organic matter so free draining
Why is water stress an issue despite Dao’s high rainfall?
The free-draining soils
Besides water stress what are two other weather hazards in Dao?
1) Summer hail
2) Spring frost on the lower lying vineyards
What are Dao’s four main black varieties?
1) Jaen (Mencia)
2) Touriga Nacional
3) Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
4) Alfrocheiro
How do Dao red wines compare with Douro?
Less full-bodied and intense with fresher fruit and high acidity
What is Dao’s key white variety?
Encruzado - medium acid; can be full-bodied; lemon, peach, floral
What’s Dao’s producer model?
30,000 small (0.5ha) vineyard holdings
What is the climate of Bairrada?
Maritime due to the proximity to the coast
What is Bairrada’s main black variety?
Baga
Describe Baga (3)
1) High acid/tannin
2) Medium body
3) Red fruit (cranberry, cherry, plum)
When does Baga ripen? Why could this be problematic?
1) Late
2) The region’s high rainfall in autumn can be a problem
Describe Bairrada’s best soils for Baga
Limestone - free-draining, low nutrient, light reflecting
What four other local varieties are permitted in Bairrada? Three are found in Dao
1) Touriga Nacional
2) Jaen
3) Alfrocheiro
4) Camarate
What two international varieties can be found in Bairrada? Why?
1) Cabernet Sauvignoon
2) Merlot
3) To soften the tannin profile and bring body
Describe a typical Bairrada vineyard planted to Baga (3)
1) South facing
2) Limestone-clay
3) Protected from cool north winds by pine/eucalyptus forests
What are four key white varieties of Bairrada?
1) Maria Gomes (most planted white in Portugal)
2) Bical
3) Arinto
4) Cercial
Why is Maria Gomes favourable in Bairrada? (2)
1) It ripens early (damp climate)
2) Yields high
What international white varieties are found in Bairrada?
1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Chardonnay
What is Bairrada’s best sub-region for premium wine and why?
1) Cantanhede
2) Limestone opposed to sand found elsewhere
Bairrada Baga was traditionally known for what key feature? Why?
Tannin and ageability due to fermentation on stems
Where is Alentejo?
South-east Portugal along the border with Spain in the east and the Algarve mountains in the south
What is Alentejo’s Vinho Regional and what is it used for?
1) Alentejano
2) International varieties
Why is replacement cane falling from favour in Alentejo?
Skilled labour is needed and this is a sparsely populated region
Name and describe one of Alentejo’s eight sub-regions
1) Portalegre
2) Northern + 800masl = cooler
What are the four key black varieties in Alentejo?
1) Aragonez (Tinta Roriz/Tempranillo)
2) Alicante Bouschet
3) Trincadeira
4) Touriga Nacional
What is Alentejo’s most common international black variety?
Syrah
What are the three key white varieties of Alentejo?
1) Roupeiro
2) Arinto
3) Antao Vaz
Why is Roupeiro suitable in Alentejo?
Retains acidity in the hot climate
Why is Antao Vaz suitable in Alentejo?
Drought tolerant
Why is Alentejo suited to volume production? (3)
1) High sunshine
2) Dry summers
3) Flat and expansive
Where are Alentejo’s wines commonly sold?
Domestic - to Lisbon tourists (more Alentejo wine sold in Portugal than any other region’s)
What separates Lisboa’s growing regions? What effect does it have?
1) The Serra de Montejunto mountain range
2) Offers protection from the Atlantic to the vineyards in the east
What are Lisboa’s two best known DOCs?
1) Alenquer
2) Bucelas
What two black varieties are common in Alenquer?
1) Touriga Nacional
2) Aragones (Tempranillo)
What variety is common in Bucelas?
Arinto
What makes the Colares DOC in Lisboa of interest? (3)
1) It is cool, and foggy
2) Phylloxera-free sandy soils
3) Ungrafted bush vines
Why is Lisboa Vinho Regional often preferred by producers? (2)
1) More flexible regulations
2) Lisboa as a name offers more recognition than smaller DOCs
Name is the main red wine DOC of Peninsula de Setubel
Palmela
Palmela must be what per cent of what variety?
67% Castelao
What are the two distinct areas of Peninsula de Setubal
1) Mountains in the west - cool; clay and limestone
2) Eastern - flat, sandy with clay and schist
What vineyard area is best for Castelau?
Warm sandy plains
What is the main white variety in Setubal DOC?
Fernao Pires/Maria Gomes
What are the three main areas of Tejo?
1) North
2) River
3) South
Describe the north of Tejo (2)
1) Higher rainfall
2) Clay-limestone and schist
What is the general wine style of Tejo?
High volume of local and international varieties of good quality for early consumption
What are the three types of vineyard layout in place in the Douro?
1) Socalcos.
2) Patamares.
3) Vinha ao Alto.
Describe the Douro Socalcos vineyard layout (2).
1) Narrow terraces supported by walls of dry rock.
2) Typically unsuitable for mechanisation.
Describe the Douro Patamares vineyard layout.
Terraces supported by a steep earth ramp
What are the two main advantages of Vinha ao Alto in Douro?
1) Least expensive to plant and maintain.
2) Allows high-density planting (~5,000 VPH).
How are Douro vines a) trained and b) trellised?
1) Cordon-trained and spur-pruned or head-trained and cane-pruned.
2) VSP to promote sun exposure and permit mechanisation.
What is the vineyard layout of Vinha ao Alto in Douro?
Vines are planted in vertical rows up the slopes.
What are the four key characteristics of the Touriga Nacional grape?
1) Mid-ripenng.
2) Thick-skinned.
3) Can suffer from excessive vigour.
4) Susceptible to coulure.
What does Tourica Nacional contribute to a wine (4)?
1) Deep colour.
2) High tannins.
3) Black fruit and floral aromas.
4) Long ageing potential.
Portugal’s wine region’s are broadly Mediterranean except for which three? What climate type are they?
1) Vinho Verde - maritime
2) Bairrada - maritime
3) Douro - continental
What are the eight main growing regions of Portugal?
1) Vinho Verde
2) Douro
3) Dao
4) Bairrada
5) Alentejo
6) Tejo
7) Lisboa
8) Peninsula de Setubal
Describe the river area of Tejo
Fertile alluvial; best for whites
Describe the south of Tejo
Hot, dry; sandy soils
Touriga Nacional is common in all regions except which one two ? (According to the book?)
1) Vinho Verde
2) Peninsula de Setubal
Tempranillo is common in all regions except which three? (According to the book?)
1) Peninsula de Setubal
2) Bairrada
3) Vinho Verde
Alfrocheiro and Jaen are found in which two regions?
1) Bairrada
2) Dao
What white variety can be found in most of Portugal’s regions except Douro and Dao (according to the textbook)
Arinto
Granite is common in which two regions?
1) Vinho Verde
2) Dao
Limestone can be found in which three regions?
1) Bairrada
2) Tejo (north)
3) Setubal (west)
What is the primary soil of Douro?
Schist
