Chap 31: Portugal Flashcards
Describe the climate of Portugal and the climatic influences
It has a range of different climates
Much of the country has a maritime climate (due to the influence of the atlantic ocean)
Many of the inland vineyards have a hot, dry and continental climate
How are high temperatures moderated in Portugal?
By the Atlantic and by altitude
Give a climatic reason for the diversity of wine styles found in Portugal
There are large differences in annual temperature
Where is Vinho Verde?
In the north-west of Portugal
What is the climate of Vinho Verde? Why?
Moderate maritime due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
What is the most significant feature of the climate in Vinho Verde?
High annual rainfall
What are the main two risks of the high rainfall in Vinho Verde?
Excessive canopy growth & it encourages disease
How may the associated risks of high rainfall be managed in Vinho Verde?
With effective canopy management
How have vineyards/canopy management changed in Vinho Verde?
They have moved away from Pergola trellising due to modernisation and towards VSP
What technique/method is now used in Vinho Verde for canopy management? Why?
Spur-pruned VSP
To create airflow in the humid environment
To improve the health and quality of the grapes
To allow for mechanisation
Describe classic Vinho Verde wines
(color, acidity, alcohol, sweetness)
Pale lemon colour
High in acidity
Low in alcohol (8% to 11.5% abv)
Wines with low alcohol are usually off-dry
How may one identify a different style of Vinho Verde? What is different about the style?
If a grape-variety, sub-region or an authorised quality labelling term is mentioned on the label, the wine can have up to 14% alcohol
What grapes are usually used to make the white wines of Vinho Verde?
Local varieties such as Loureiro and Arinto
What is notable about the style of white Vinho Verdes?
They traditionally have a slight sparkling sensation that enhances their freshness
What is Vinho Verde Alvarinho made from?
Alvarinho grapes (Albariño in Spain) grown in the small designated sub-region of Monção e Melgaço
Describe Vinho Verde Alvarinho in relation to white Vinho Verde
It has a slightly higher alcohol level and riper, more tropical aromas
What other styles of wine are made in Vinho Verde?
Red and rosé wines
Describe the red and rosé wines of Vinho Verde
Reds are deeply coloured and tannic
Rosés are fresh and fruity
What is the oldest demarcated and legislated wine region in the world?
The Douro
Where is the Douro?
80km east of Porto and stretches from the Marão Mountains to the frontier with Spain
What dominates wine production in the Douro?
Port
Both Port and unfortified wines of the Douro, rely on the same # of varieties, what are they?
Five:
* Touriga Nacional
* Touriga Franca
* Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
* Tinta Barroca
* Tinta Cão
What is considered the highest quality variety of Douro’s five varieties?
Touriga Nacional
Describe Touriga Nacional’s main winemaking characteristics (yield, color, flavor, tannin)
It’s low-yielding and its wines have intense colour, flavours and high levels of tannin
Describe the red wines of Douro (color, body, tannins, flavors)
Deeply coloured
Full-bodied
High levels of ripe tannins
Rich black fruit flavours & best examples often show subtle toasty aromas from maturation in new oak
Describe the white wines of Douro
Particularly when from high altitude, they can show fresh varietal fruit and medium to high acidity
Where is Dão?
In a mountainous area 80km south of Douro
Where in Dão are vines mostly planted?
On the gentler hills and slopes, most of he vineyards are planted between 400m and 500m above sea level
Describe the climate in Dão (seasons, diurnal range)
Cold, wet winters
Warm, dry summers
Significant diurnal temperature variation
all provide excellent grape growing conditions
Describe the typical red wines of Dão (tannins, acidity, aromas)
Soft tannins
High acidity
Delicate red fruit aromas
Which grapes are relatively new to Dão? What prompted their introduction?
Touriga Nacional
Tinta Roriz
Jaen (Mencia in Spain)
Alfrocheiro
Vineyard improvement schemes
Describe wines made from Alfrocheiro (color, aromas)
Deep in colour w/ intense aromas of blackberry and strawberry
From which variety are the best Dão whites made?
Encruzado
What is the style range for Encruzado whites of Dão?
Light and fresh, to richer, barrel fermented versions
Where is Bairrada?
In Portugal, between Dão and the Atlantic Ocean
What is the climate of Bairrada? (Continental, Moderate, Maritime AND describe seasons)
Maritime with rainy winters and warm summers
What is a viticultural problem in Bairrada?
Rainfall at harvest (especially for late-ripening varieties)
What is the dominant black variety of Bairrada?
Baga
Describe the key traits of Baga (grape features + wine features: color, tannin, underripe vs. later picking)
Late-ripening
Small, thick-skinned grapes
Deeply coloured wines
High tannin levels
If underripe, high acidity and stringent tannins
Later picking gives wines that are softer and display rich black-fruit aromas
How is a softer style of Baga wines achieved?
Gentler crushing and maceration techniques, as well as blending with other black varieties
Which other black varieties are important in Bairrada?
Touriga Nacional Alfrocheiro Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah
What are the whites of Bairrada made from?
Predominantly indigenous varieties like Bical and Maria Gomes
Where in Portugal is Alentejo?
Spread over eight sub-regions in the south-east of Portugal
What is the climate of Alentejo like?
It has a warm growing season
Small differences among the sub-regions
Cooler and wetter in the north
Hotter and drier in the south
Describe the difference of wine styles based on in area in Alentejo
More elegant wines in the north due to cooler, wetter conditions vs. richer wines in the hotter, drier center and south
List grapes used in the typical Alentejo blend
Aragonês (Tempranillo), Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet
What are typical traits of Trincadeira? (grape characteristic, flavors, tannins)
Drought tolerant
Spicy red berry flavours
High levels of tannin
Describe Alicante Bouschet
A Portuguese grape variety high in colour and tannins
The use of which grapes has been increasing in the last few years in Alentejo?
Touriga Nacional and Syrah
Describe the profile of Alentejo blends (color, body, tannins, flavors)
Deep in colour
Full body
High, yet soft tannins
Expressive, ripe fruit flavours
Describe the ‘other’ wine style of Alentejo and what it’s made from
Fruity and floral white wines with medium to high levels of acidity
Made from Arinto, Antão Vaz and Roupeiro
Describe the role of oak in Alentejo
Some whites are fermented or aged in oak to provide extra depth and complexity
What is the largest Vinho Regional region in terms of production? Where is it located?
Vinho Regional Lisboa which stretches north from the capital of Lisbon.
Where is Vinho Regional Alentejano?
Based around Alentejo DOC, but covers a far more extensive area
What are winemaking regulations like for the Vinho Regional wines?
Much more liberal - Wider range of grape varieties can be used, particularly international varieties
What are the other regions that are important for Vinho Regional wines (other than Vinho Regional Alentejano and Vinho Regional Lisboa) and where are they located?
Peninsula de Setúbal (directly to the south of Lisbon)
Tejo (north-east of Lisbon)
What’s the Portuguese PGI?
What traditional term may still be seen on labels?
Indicação Geográfica Protegida (IGP), but the traditional term Vinho Regional is still seen on wine labels.
What is the portuguese for PDO? What is the traditional term that is still widely used?
Denominação de Origem Protegida (DOP), but traditional term Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC) is also widely used.
What does it mean when ‘Vinho’ is written on a Portuguese wine?
This is a table wine without geographical indication
What has been a successful example of a ‘Vinho’ wine in Portugal?
Simple, fruity, off-dry rosé wines
