Beiras, Terras do Dão

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

What two DOPs lie within Terras do Dão IGP?

Answer 3

• Lafões DOP - borders Minho IGP
• Dão DOP

North to south

Question 4

What DOP lies within coastal Beira Atlântico IGP?

Answer 4

Bairrada DOP

Question 5

What DOP is within the Terras de Cister IGP? What is it known for? Where is it?

Answer 5

Távora-Varosa DOP

• center of sparkling wine production
• small appellation immediately south of Douro River, northeast of Terras do Dão IGP

Question 6

What larger DOP lies within the Terras da Beira IGP? Where is it?

Answer 6

Beira Interior DOP

• near Spanish border
• 3 subzones:
• Beira Castelo Rodrigo
• Cova da Beira
• Pinhel

Question 7

Where can one find some of Portugal’s best dry reds?

Answer 7

Dão DOP

Question 8

What grape is a signature component of Dão DOP blends?

Answer 8

Touriga Nacional

Question 9

What is the climate like in Dão DOP

Answer 9

• hot and dry during growing season
• adequate rainfall in the cold winter months

-sheltered on three sides by mountains, insulates from wet cool maritime

Question 10

What factor is used for best vineyards to preserve acidity

Answer 10

altitude

-best vineyards often between 400-500 meters above sea level

Question 11

Preferred soil in the Dão?

Answer 11

Granite

Question 12

Is the Dão densely planted?

Answer 12

No

about 5% of region used for viticulture

Question 13

7 subregions of Dão DOP

Answer 13

• Serra da Estrela (named for Portugal’s highest mountain range)
• Alva
• Besteiros
• Castendo
• Silgueiros
• Terras de Azurara
• Terras de Senhorim

Question 14

What style of wines made in Dão DOP? What style dominates?

Answer 14

• red, white, rosado and espumante

- over 3/4 output is red wine

Question 15

Recommended red grapes of Dão DOP?

Answer 15

Touriga Nacional 
Jaen
Touriga Franca 
Alfrocheiro 
Aragonez
Bastardo
Rufete
Trincadeira
Tinta Cão

Question 16

Recommended white grapes of Dão DOP?

Answer 16

• Encruzado
• Bical
• Cercial (not the same as Sercial)

Question 17

Are experimental grapes allowed in Dão DOP

Answer 17

Yes (like Cab Sauv and Semillon) but cant be more than 40% of blend

Question 18

What are the levels of labeling for Dão DOP?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Where is Bairrada DOP? What is the climate?

Answer 19

• West of Dão, in Beira Atlântico IGP

- mild, rainy climate

Question 20

What styles of wine are made in Bairrada DOP? What is most prominent?

Answer 20

Red, white and rosado is authorized

-predominately red wine produced

Question 21

What is the main red grape of Bairrada DOP? What soil does it thrive in?

Answer 21

• Baga (must be 50%)

- thrives in Barros (clay) soils

Question 22

Main white grapes of Bairrada DOP? What soil are they planted in?

Answer 22

Maria Gomes (Fernão Pires)
Arinto

-usually planted in sandier soil

Question 23

What is Bairrada Clássico?

Answer 23

• native red grapes below only
• Baga (min 50%), Touriga Nacional, Camarate, Castelão, Jaen, Alfrocheiro
• min 12.5% abv rather than 11% req by DOP