Beiras

Question 1

What was the span of the traditional province of Beiras VR?

Until when was this region a single IGP?

Answer 1

South of Duriense and Minho
spans entire width of Portugal
One IGP until 2011

Question 2

What are the 4 IGPs that now make up traditional province Beiras?

Answer 2

Beira Atlãntico IGP
Terras do Dão IGP
Terras de Cister IGP
Terras da Beira IGP
(West to East)

Question 3

Where is Bairrada DOP? What is it’s sole subzone?

Answer 3

• Beira Atlântico

Terras de Sicó

Question 4

What style of wines are produced in the Bairrada DOP? What style is dominant

Answer 4

Red (dominant), white and rosado

Question 5

In Bairrada, what soils are the red and white grapes planted on, respectively?

Answer 5

• Red - barros (clay)

white - sandy soils

Question 6

What is major red grape of the Bairrada DOP? What are the blending requirements?

Answer 6

Baga (min 50%)
May be supported with:
-Touriga Nacional
-Camarate
-Castelão
-Jaen
-Alfrocheiro

Question 7

What white grapes are used in the Bairrada DOP?

Answer 7

• Maria Gomes (AKA Fernão Pires)

-Arinto

Question 8

What grapes may be used for “Bairrada Classico”? What is the min abv?

Answer 8

Tinto “Classico”: Alfrocheiro, Baga, Camarate, Castelão, Jaen, Touriga Nacional
Branco “Classico”: Bical, Cercial, Fernão Pires (Maria Gomes), Rabo de Ovelha
Branco “Classico”: 12% vs 11%
Tinto “Classico”: 12.5% vs 11%

Question 9

What soil is best for Baga?

Answer 9

Barros - clay

Question 10

What are the DOPs of Terras do Dão IGP?

Answer 10

• Dão DOP

Lafões DOP

Question 11

What 3 regions is Touriga Nacional “valued” in Portugal?

Answer 11

Dão
- Douro
- Alentejano

Question 12

How does the climate of Bairrada compare to the Dão?

Answer 12

To the west (and therefore closer to the ocean, on the coastal side of the Serra do Caramulo), with a milder, rainier climate

Question 13

Dão: Climate, geology, elevation

Answer 13

hot and dry during growing season
adequate rainfall in the cold winter months
-sheltered on three sides by mountains, insulates from wet cool maritime
Granite soil
-best vineyards often between 400-500 meters above sea level

Question 14

What styles of wine are produced in the Dão?

Answer 14

Red, white, rosado, “novo” tino (nouveau), espumante

red account for 3/4

Question 15

What is the most planted grape in the Dão?

Answer 15

Jaen (Mencia)

Question 16

What is Alfrocheiro?

Answer 16

A promising red grape, planted primarily in the Dão and Alentejano

Question 17

What are the recommended red grapes of the Dão?

Answer 17

Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Touriga Granca, Alfrocheiro, Aragonez, Bastardo, Rufete, Trincadeira, Tinta Cão

Question 18

What white grape produces noble white wines in the Dão?

Answer 18

Encruzado

Question 19

What are the recommended white grapes of the Dão?

Answer 19

Encruzado, Bical, Cercial

Question 20

Are there authorized grapes in the Dão that are not recommended?

Answer 20

Yes

Question 21

What is the max % of experimental grapes (cabernet of Sémillon) that can be used in a blend in the Dão?

Answer 21

40% of the blend

Question 22

What are the 7 sub-regions of the Dão?

Answer 22

• Sierra de Estrela
• Alva
• Besteiros
• Castendo
• Silgueiros
• Terras de Azurara
• Terras de Senhorim

Question 23

What are the major grape varieties in Lafões?

Answer 23

Tinto: 40% Amaral, plus Jaen, Pilongo
Branco: 85% Arinto (min 50%) and Cercial, plus Dona Branca, Sercial, Rabode Ovelha

Question 24

What DOP of Terras de Cister IGP is a center for sparkling wine production?

Answer 24

Távora-Varosa DOP

Question 25

Where is the Beira Interior DOP located?
What are it’s 3 subzones?

Answer 25

Terras da Beira IGP

• Beira Castelo Rodrigo
• Cova da Beira
• Pinhel

Question 26

What are the levels of labeling for Dão DOP?

Answer 26

Garrafeira:
- increased abv to 11.5% (from 11)

Reserva:

reds - 2 yrs aging
whites - 6 months aging
Nobre:

reds - min 15% touriga nacional, 3 yrs aging, 12% abv
whites - min 15% encruzado, 1 yr aging, 11.5% abv
Nobre reserva:

reds - 3.5 years aging, 12.5% abv
whites - 1 year aging, 12% abv
Nobre garrafeira:

reds - 4 years aging, 18 months in bottle, 12.5% abv
whites - 1.5 years aging, 9 months in bottle, 12% abv