3.1: Port - The Growing Environment and Grape Growing Flashcards
Where is the Douro region located?
north east of Portugal
How big is the Douro region? How much is planted vineyards? How much is registered for DO Porto?
- total area covers 250,000 ha,
- 43,500 ha are planted
- 32,000 ha register for DO Porto (the production of Port wines)
What is the climate?
- warm continental climate
- temperatures easily reaching 40°C in the summer
- freezing temperatures not unusual in the winter
What is the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Serra do Marão?
- distance from the Atlantic Ocean
- shelter from the Serra do Marão to the west of the region
- vineyard area is much warmer and drier than the cities of Porto and Vila Nova di Gaia on the coast (70km from the western end of the vineyard area)
Where is the vineyard area located?
follows the path of the River Douro
What are the 3 sub-regions?
- Baixo Corgo
- Cima Corgo
- Douro Superior
What is the most westerly of the regions?
Baixo Corgo
What is the coolest and wettest of the regions? Why? How much rainfall?
- Baixo Corgo
- 900mm rainfall per annum
- nearest the cold Atlantic coast
For what types of Ports does Baixo Corgo grow? Why?
- many of the inexpensive Ruby and Tawny Port
- cooler climate
What is the climate of Cima Corgo? How much rainfall per year?
- warmer and drier
- 700mm rainfall per annum
For what types of Ports does Cima Corgo grow? Why?
- Age-Indicated Tawny Port and Vintage Ports
Which region is furthest from the coast? What is the climate? How much rainfall per year? What is a frequent issue?
- Douro Superior
- hottest and driest sub region
- 450mm rainfall per annum
- drought is a frequent issue
How is the Douro Superior planted?
- still relatively sparsely planted, plantings are increasing
- contains some flatter land
- allows mechanisation
What provides a range of microclimates?
the winding River Douro and its tributaries
Why can there be differences in average temperature and sunlight exposure even within a single vineyard?
vineyard sites vary widely in altitude and aspect
Describe the soils? What is the impact on vigour?
- stony, shallow soils
- free-draining
- poor in nutrients
- limits vigour
What is the underlying bedrock composed of? Describe the soil.
- schist
- a type of rock that crumbles into layers relatively easily
What does the schist mean for the vines ability to take root?
- ancient tectonic movements caused schist to split into vertical layers (rather than the more typical horizontal)
- therefore vine roots are able to penetrate deep into the bedrock to find water
Is irrigation permitted?
- only permitted in exceptional circumstances
- for example, periods of drought under which the vine could be in extreme hydric stress
Why is the schist so important to this region?
- what little natural water there is, is the main source of water for the vine
- schist allows the viability of grape growing in this region
- the boundary of the demarcated Port region mostly follows the outline of the schist
- very difficult for vines to survive if planted above the impenetrable granite bedrock that is common in the wider area
What is the typical topography of the region?
steep slopes of the Douro Valley (many with gradients over 30%) mean that viable vineyard layouts are limited
What are the 3 types of vineyard layouts?
- Socalcos
- Patamares
- Vinha ao Alto
What is the traditional method of vineyard layout?
Socalcos
Describe the Socalcos layout.
narrow terraces, supported by walls of dry rock
What planting densities does the Socalcos layout allow for?
6,000 vines per hectare
Is the Socalcos layout suitable for mechanisation?
typically not suitable
Why is the Socalcos layout typically not considered when planting a new vineyard?
- not suitable for mechanisation
- labour required to maintain walls
Why can’t the current Socalcos be converted to another layout?
protected by UNESCO
What can be done in the Socalcos layout to allow for some degree of mechanisation?
vines on the socalcos can be planted at lower densities to allow for a small tractor to enter the terraces to reduce so much need for labour
Describe the Patamares layout.
terraces supported by a steep earth ramp, rather than a stone wall
Is the Patamares layout suitable for mechanisation?
- yes
- small tractors run up and down slopes by the use of tracks that run diagonally up the slope
What are the pros of Patamares compared to Socalcos? Cons?
- Pros: cheaper to implement and maintain
- Cons: erosion and the growth of weeds on the ramps can be problematic
What planting densities does the Patamares layout allow for? Why?
- relatively low, around 3,000 to 3,500 vines per hectare
- ramps take up a lot of space
What are the 2 kinds of Patamares?
- Large, wide patamares that support two rows of vines on each terrace
- Narrow patamares that only support one row of vines
Which of the 2 kinds of Patamares was the original? Why was it constructed? What are the pros and cons?
- large, wide patamares that support two rows of vines on each terrace
- constructed when the bulldozers that create the terraces were large and bulky
- Pros: two rows makes efficient use of vineyard land
- Cons: uneven ripeness can be an issue, with the exterior row of vines gaining more sun exposure
Which of the 2 kinds of Patamares is more modern? Why was it constructed? What are the pros?
- narrow patamares that only support one row of vines
- carved by newer, smaller bulldozers and often laser technology ensuring precise construction
- often tilted very slightly towards the slope and also from one side of the terrace to the other
Pros: - improve water absorption and drainage - reduce erosion - uneven ripeness is less of a problem Cons: - less efficient use of vineyard land than the other method
Describe the Vinha ao Alto layout.
vines are planted in vertical rows up the slopes
What are the pros of Vinha ao Alto? Cons?
Pros:
- least expensive option to plant and maintain
- allows for relatively high-density planting
- efficient use of land
Cons:
- above a 40% incline, mechanisation cannot be used
- water run-off
- erosion
What planting densities does the Vinha ao Alto layout allow for?
5,000 vines per hectare
How are the vines trained and pruned?
- cordon-trained and spur-pruned
- head-trained and cane-pruned
How are the vines trellised? Why?
VSP trellised
- to promote even sun exposure and ripening, and allow for mechanisation where viable
Is summer pruning carried out? Why or why not?
- yes
- e.g. leaf removal
- to ensure sun exposure throughout the growing season, especially for late-ripening varieties
What rootstocks are typically used? Why?
- generally 110R and 1103P
- both hybrids of V. rupestris and V. berlandieri
- tolerant of drought
What are the key focuses when replanting vineyards?
- increasing vine density
- vineyard layouts that allow mechanisation
- selecting best planting material (grape variety, rootstock etc.) for that area of land (this may even mean planting different grape varieties on the same terrace).
What is the maximum yield permitted? What are yields more likely to be around? Why?
- max: 55hl/ha
- more likely: 30hl/ha
- due to limited water availability, and, in some years, the hazards and diseases
What are the main weather hazards?
- late spring frosts in the highest altitude vineyards
- in some years cool, wet weather from the west during the early summer, which disrupts flowering and fruit set
What are the main disease hazards? How are these combatted?
- downy mildew and botrytis bunch rot can be issues, especially in the wetter Baixo Corgo
- combatted by canopy management techniques and spraying with fungicides
What may be used to improve the poor nutrient status of the soil?
Fertilisers
What may be required to control weeds that grow on the slopes of the patamares? Why?
Herbicides
- weeds compete with the vines for water and nutrients
If there is enough space, what might be used for weeds instead of hericides?
small mower
What role do cover crops play?
may be grown on vinha ao alto slopes
- prevent erosion
- improve soil structure and nutrition
- reduce the presence of weeds
What is on the rise in the region?
number of the largest growers and producers are increasingly farming using sustainable or organic techniques where and when it is possible to do so
How is harvesting carried out? Why?
- by hand
- much of the vineyard topography is not suitable for machine harvesters
What is a growing problem in finding labor for hand harvesting?
- an ageing regional population (and continuing depopulation) is fast catching up with growers who each year face increasing difficulty in finding enough people to pick
What is the largest single grower in the region?
Symington Family Estates
What has Symington Family Estates developed?
been developing (since 2015) a suitable machine harvester to ensure that, if labour sourcing becomes too difficult, they will still be able to harvest their fruit
Where does the harvest start? End?
tends to start in the Douro Superior and end in the Baixo Corgo
How long does harvesting last? Why?
- can be spread over several weeks
- various microclimates within the valley, the use of different grapes and the prevalence of hand-harvesting (relatively slow)
How many grape varieties are permitted for the production of Port?
over 100 grape varieties
What are the 5 prescribed varieties that have been the focus of replanting efforts and clonal research since the 1980s?
- Touriga Franca
- Tinta Roriz
- Tinta Barroca
- Touriga Nacional
- Tinto Cão
How are many vineyards in the Douro planted?
with a field blend
What types of varieties are producers looking for outside of the prescribed 5?
- varieties that can valuable contributions to the blend such as colour and acidity
- maintaining the diversity of indigenous plantings and investigating their future potential, with the effects of climate change particularly in mind
Name the most important black varieties.
- Touriga Franca
- Tinta Roriz
- Tinta Barroca
- Touriga Nacional
- Tinta Amarela
- Tinto Cão
- Sousão
Name the most important white varieties.
- Malvasia Fina
2. Moscatel Galego Branco
Describe the growing characteristics of Touriga Franca. Where is it most suitable for growing?
- late ripening (suitable for warmest sites - low altitude, south-facing)
- tight bunches of thick-skinned grapes ( pretty resistant to fungal diseases)
- vigorous (managed - summer pruning)
Describe the flavors and structure of Touriga Franca.
- contributes colour, tannin and acidity
- juicy red and black fruit flavours and floral aromas to a blend
What is by far the most grown variety?
Touriga Franca
Describe the growing characteristics of Tinta Roriz. Where is it most suitable for growing?
- early ripening (best for relatively cool site)
- can suffer from water stress
- capable of producing high yields (must be limited otherwise the wines can lack concentration)
What are other names for Tinta Roriz?
- Tempranillo in Spain
- Aragonez elsewhere in Portugal
What does Tinta Roriz add to a blend?
- body
- deep colour
Describe the growing characteristics of Tinta Barroca. Where is it most suitable for growing?
- early ripening variety (coolest sites - high altitude or north-facing slopes, generally in the Baixo Corgo and Cima Corgo)
- prone to heat damage and grape shrivelling
- capable of producing high yields
Describe the flavors and structure of Tinta Barroca.
- not as floral as some of the other grapes
- more earthy flavors
- unless planted in the coolest sites, it can lack acidity
- colour also tends to fade more quickly than wines from Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca
Describe the growing characteristics of Touriga Nacional.
- mid-ripening variety
- thick-skinned grapes
- excess vegetative vigour (managed through summer pruning)
- susceptible to coulure (can lower its yields substantially and cause vine imbalance)
Describe the flavors and structure of Touriga Nacional.
- deep colour intensity
- high levels of tannins
- retains acidity well
- displays concentrated flavours of black fruit and floral aromas
- long ageing potential
- often a component of the premium, long-matured wines
Describe the growing characteristics of Tinta Amarela.
- tight bunches of grapes (prone to fungal disease)
Describe the flavors and structure of Tinta Amarela.
- full-bodied wines
- concentrated black fruits and spicy notes
- approachable in youth
- capable of ageing
What is another name for Tinta Amarela?
Trincadeira in other parts of Portugal
Describe the growing characteristics of Tinto Cão.
- late ripening
- low yielding
- heat tolerant
- small thick-skinned grapes (resistant to fungal disease)
Describe the flavors and structure of Tinto Cao.
- concentrated wines
- high acidity
- capacity to age well
Describe the growing characteristics of Sousão.
- thick skinned
Describe the flavors and structure of Sousão.
- deep intensity of colour
- ability to retain high levels of acidity
Describe the flavors and structure of Malvasia Fina.
- Boal in Madeira
- neutral wines
- medium acidity
- full body
- slightly honeyed characteristic
Describe the flavors and structure of Moscatel Galego Branco.
- Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains
- aromatic grape
- in Port production, often used for unaged styles
From what grapes are the vast majority of Port wines made? Why?
a blend of all stated varieties
Why:
- to make use of their differing characteristics and reduce vintage variation (e.g. cool, wet years may disrupt some grape varieties more than others)
- a number of vineyards are made up of a mix of grape varieties (field blend)
What effect does a field blend have on the wine?
as the various grape varieties planted in the Douro have different ripening times, a field blend can provide a different character to blocks of different varieties that are all picked at optimum ripeness and then blended
What is generally a key part of the blend in premium and super-premium Port wines?
fruit from old vines (vinha velha)
