Ch 44 Flashcards
How are port generically made?
___ are made by adding grape spirit to a ferment juice to create an alcoholic sweet wine
where is the Port industry located?
- the growing and fermenting of the wines are done in the Douro Valley
- then wine was taken down stream (70 KMs) to the twin cities for maturation and blending (it is cooler down stream by the Atlantic in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia)
- advent of air-condition means that wineries can do this part in house.
Twin cities at the mouth of the Douro River
Porto (north) and Vila Nova de Gaia (south)
name the sub regions from west to east
BAIXO CORGO -lightest wines
CIMA CORGO- greatest number of top vineyards
DOURO SUPERIOR - sparsely planted, renowned top quality
over all climate?
warm continental climate, shielded from cooling rain bearing Atlantic wines by the Serra do Marao
BAIXO CORGO- coolest and wettest
-progressively hotter/ dryer further east
weather hazards
- frost in Spring and heavy downpours can disrupt flowering and harvest
- high temp in summer
- low rain during growing season –> Schist bed rock, fractures vertically allowing a water reserve hold
vineyard topography of Baixo Cargo and Cima Corgo
- vineyards are planted on very tall / steep slopes that rise up form the Douro
- noticeable temp difference from bottom to top
- some use a northerly aspect to help divert full sun
Socalcos
- vines planted on narrow terraces, supported by stone walls
- each terrace can support a few rows
- no mechanisation possible
- walls expensive to maintain
Patamares
- some mechanisation
- built w/ out retaining walls
- terrace is wide enough for tractor access
- prone to erosion
Vinha ao alto
- angle of the slop is low and unterraced
- vines are planted up and down the slope
- accessed by roads cutting across the slope
- machinery operated by winches
- prone to erosion
- not viable on the steepest slopes
vineyards designs in Douro
Socalcos (retaining walls, lack of access)
Patamares (some mech, no wall, terrace wide enough for tractor)
Vinha ao alto (some mech, vines planted down the slop)
name major grapes used in port
Touriga Franca Tinta Roriza Tinta Barroca Touriga Nacional Tinta Cao
Characteristics of port grapes
thick skinned and high in tannin with black fruit and floral aromas
Post fermentation activities
- wine is fortified when ABV reaches 5-9 %
- fermentation lasts 24-36 hours
- then preform color extraction techniques to gain color and tannin
what are color extraction method used for port wines?
1) foot treading
2) Autovinifiers
3) Piston plungers and robotic lagares