48. Port Flashcards
What are the key aspects of vinification of port wine?
rapid extraction of color and tannin within 36 hours, followed by fortification; rapid extraction is required because the usual extraction that occurs during fermentation is shortened for port production
What are the characteristics of ruby port?
deeply colored, fruity, bottled ready to drink, sold at less than 3 years old
What are the characteristics of white port?
made from white grapes, golden in color, low in acidity, with some honey and nut aromas, some wood ageing is used to add nutty complexity
Name two grapes used in white port.
Sercial (Esgana Cao) and Malvasia
Name the top 5 black grapes used in Port.
Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cao, Tinta Barroca
What is the beneficio in Port production?
the system used to control production, based on vineyards grades, it is essentially an allotment among the different vineyards
What are the 3 subzones of the Douro Valley used for port production?
Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, Duoro Superior
Which subzone of the Douro Valley produces the lightest wines?
Baixo Corgo
Which subzone of the Douro Valley produces the greatest number of top vineyards?
Cima Corgo
Which subzone of the Douro Valley has the highest percentage of flatter vineyards?
Duoro Superior
Which subzone of the Douro Valley is the easiest for mechanization?
Duoro Superior
What are socalcos in Port vineyards?
narrow FLAT TERRACES supported by stone walls
What are patamares in Port vineyards?
made by bulldozers, these wider slightly SLOPING TERRACES supported by banks of shist (not walls) have road access built in,
What are vinha ao alto in Port vineyards?
rows of vines are planted up and down the slope and accessed by roads where mechanization is operated by winches, UNTERRACED
Where is autovinification used?
for production of port wine to enhance extraction similar to pump over without use of electricity
What does autovinification involve?
crushed grapes are placed in sealed vats for fermentation, CO2 forces wine through a pipe over the cap to create better extraction; replaces manual treading in the troughs
What are the lagars used in port production?
granite troughs for manual treading to maximize extraction
What is the relationship of fermentation and fortification in port production?
fortification halts fermentation for production of port
What is the name given to the warehouses in which Port matures?
(shippers’) lodges
When is Port transported to the maturation warehouse?
in the spring following the harvest
Where is Port matured?
in traditional wood casks at the shipper’s lodges
What styles of Port use new wood for maturation?
none
What is the aspect of the vineyards in the Baixo and Cima Corgo?
very steep
What is the soil type of the vineyards in the Baixo and Cima Corgo?
shallow soil over shist bedrock
What is the susceptibility of Douro Valley vineyards to disease?
low risk of mildew and rot due to dry, hot springs and summers
Which Ruby Port style needs to be decanted?
Bottle matured LBV with a driven cork.
What is LBV?
late bottled vintage port is a ruby port that has been aged for 4-6 years before bottling
What are the two styles of LBV?
Modern LBV and Bottle Matured LBV
What are the characteristics of tawny port?
paler and browner with complex aromas due to oxidative ageing, mellow and smooth
Which are aged longer, tawny port or ruby port?
generally about the same
How long are Vintage Ports aged in wood prior to bottling?
18 - 36 months (unfiltered and unfined they are intended for ageing in the bottle)
Name 4 styles of Port.
White, Ruby, Tawny, Vintage
What is the difference between Vintage Port and Late Bottled Vintage Port?
initial ageing in cask is less for Vintage Port (although the Bottle Matured LBV and Vintage Port may have similar tannic structure and fruit complexity)
What is the twin city of Oporto?
Vila Nova de Gaia
What is a crusted port?
a port sold as a crusted or crusting port is a blend of different years bottled early enough to be sure of throwing a sediment in bottle (required decanting)
What region do Tawny Ports come from?
Biaxo Corgo (produces lightest wines)
