Fortified Wines Flashcards
What body is responsible for the promotion, production and all trade of Porto and Douro DOP wines?
Institutions do Vinhos do Douro e Porto (IVDP)
What does lei do terço (law of the third) mean?
A decree restricting sales of Port to one-third of a house’s total inventory annually.
What does beneficio authorisation mean?
The maximum amount of wine a producer may fortify in a year
How is a grower’s beneficio authorisation calculated?
A matrix of 12 factors:
Soil and climate factors: location, altitudes exposure, bedrock, rough, matter, slope and shelter.
Vine factors: type of vine, planting density, yield, training system and vine age.
What are the maximum yields in the Douro?
Red grapes: 55 hl/ha
White grapes: 65 hl/ha
For Porto, what are the preferred red varieties?
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cão, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Francisca, Bastardo and Mourisco Tinto
For Porto, what are the preferred white varieties?
Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Rabigato, Esgana Cão and Folgasão.
What is a largares?
Traditional concrete/granite troughs Porto grapes were foot-crushed in
What is the modern technique for fermenting Porto?
Automated treading machines and open-top fermenters with pump-over system.
What is the goal when fermenting Porto?
A short fermentation (2-3 days) to maximise extraction of colour and flavour
What is the common stage for fortification for Porto?
When 1/3rd of sugar has been converted into alcohol.
What is aguardente?
‘Burning water’ the neutral grape spirit (77% abv) used to fortify Port
What is a pipe?
The traditional barrel used for ageing and shipping Port wine. They vary in size:
550 litres in the Douro Valley;
620 litres in Vila Nova de Gaia
What is Ruby Port?
Port aged in bulk (wood, cement or stainless steel) for two to three years prior to bottle. Uncomplicated and inexpensive
Describe Ruby Reserve Port
Better samplings of Ruby Port, offers some complexity and character.
Describe Vintage Port
A Port house may declare a vintage only in exceptional harvest, generally 3/10 years. Production is authorised by IVDP and is aged in casks before being bottled by July 30 of the third year after harvest.
Describe Single Quinta Vintage Port
The product of one estate’s harvest when they are not confident enough to declare a vintage. Generally the product of the house’s finest vintage.
Describe Late-Bottled Vintage Port
LBV spends between 4-6 years in cask before bottling. Develops mellow tones of Tawny Port while retaining the youthful fruit of a Ruby Port. LNV always the product of a single vintage. Only the beat examples improve with age.
What does the term Envelhecido em Garrafa mean?
LBV Port that has not been filtered and has an additional minimum 3 years of bottle aging.
Name three examples of Single Quinta Vintage Port
Dow’s Quinta de Bomfim, Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas and Warre’s Quinta de Cavadinha
Describe Reserve Tawny Port
Aged for at least seven years prior to bottling. Blend of several vintages, retain some youthful while also developing the creamy character of tawny Port.
Describe Tawny with Indication of Age
Tawny Port that is labelled as 10, 20, 30 or 40 years old. Display progressively more concentrated and developed character. The result of high quality fruit matured in seasoned wood. Note age indication is not an average age of blended wines, rather an approximation.
Describe Colheita Tawny
Vintage dated Port that spends minimum 7 years in cask but often a stays in cask for decades. Some are not bottled until an order is received.
Where can Madeira wines be produced?
Madeira and Porto Santo, a neighbouring island.
What is a poios?
Terraces across Madeira used to support agriculture/viticulture
What is the most common trellising system in Madeira?
Pergola. Utilised the combat moisture in the tropical climate
What is the Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute is Madeira?
The regulatory body responsible for regulating harvest and production of Madeira wines.
What are the three types of companies involved in the Madeira wine trade?
Production companies: currently 8 companies registered with the IVBAM, only 6 actively export wine.
Shipping companies: select wine from a producer, have the producer bottle it under the shipper’s label.
Partidistas: store wine until it is mature and then sell to other traders
Name the 8 Madeira Production Companies
- H. M. Borges;
- Henriques & Henriques;
- Madeira Wine Company;
- Pereira D’Oliveira;
- Vinhos Barbeito;
- Vinhos Justine Henriques;
- Faria & Filhos; and
- Madeira Vintners.
What are the noble white grapes of Madeira?
Sercial (Esgana Cão), Verdelho (Gouveio), Boal and Malmsey
What is the most planted grape in Madeira?
Tinta Negra
What is the most prized grape for Madeira production?
Terrantez
List the varietal wines of Madeira from sweetest to driest
Malmsey, Boal, Verdelho and Sercial
What is Estufagem?
Modern heating method for Madeira. After fortification wine is transferred to a serifs, a stainless steel vat that circulates hot water through serpentine coils insider the tank. This method heats the wine to 45-50° C and holds it there for at least 3 months.
What is Canteiro?
Heating process reserved for the best Madeira wines. After fortification, wine is transferred to casks and aged in lodge attics for a minimum of 2 years. Here the wine is exposed to the gentler and natural warmth of the sun, undergoing a slower process of maturation.
Describe varietal Sercial Madeira
Driest varietal Madeira. Piercing acidity in its youth, over time develop a bouquet of almond and other buts. Aperitif style of Madeira
Describe varietal Verdelho Madeira wine
A medium dry wine with high acid and a Smokey honeyed character, slightly fuller than Sercial.
Describe varietal Boal Madeira wine
Boal produces a medium sweet wine rich in style. Highly aromatic displaying notes of chocolate, coffee and roasted but
Describe varietal Malmsey Madeira wine
Sweetest and softest style of Madeira. Aromas is toffee, vanilla and marmalade.
What is Rainwater Madeira?
A light style of Madeira wine usually medium dry. Usually 100% Tinta Negra.
Describe Seleccionado Madeira
Blended Madeira wine that is at least 3 years old. Dominated by Tinta Negra and heated in Estufagem
What does the term Reserve mean for Madeira wine?
Madeira wine that is between 5 years and 10 years old.
What does the term Special Reserve mean for Madeira wine?
Wine is between 10-15 years old. Often these are varietal wines heated by the Canteiro method
What does the term extra Reserve mean for Madeira wine?
The wine is between 15 and 20 years old. Usually varietal wine heated by the Canteiro method
What does Solera mean for Madeira wine?
Madeira wine produced from fractional blending and the Canteiro method. Maximum of 10% of a solera’s stock ca be drawn off each year. Only 10 total additions may be made to a Solera. Often the additions added are from older, not younger Wine.
What does the term Colheita mean for Madeira wine?
Madeira wine produced from a single vintage (Minimum 85% required) and is aged for a minimum of 5 years prior to bottling.
What does the term Frasqueira mean for Madeira wine?
Vintage Madeira aged for a minimum 20 years in cask. May be produced from a single variety or blend. Generally casks are topped up wth younger wines throughout the ageing process.
