General Flashcards
garrafeira
“private wine cellar” - min aging
-
Tinto
- min 30 mo, 12 mon bottle
-
Branco and Rosado
- min 12 mo, 6 mon bottle
Vintage garrafeira
Pioneer
Niepoort
- After a few years in barrels, aged min 8 years in glass demijohns
Still Portuguese table wines
reserva
min. 0.5% higher alcohol than the legal min. est. by respective DOP or IGP
Traditional method sparkling wines
reserva
min 12 mo lees
Colheita Seleccionada
1% higher alcohol than est. by the regional appellation
Most planted red casta (grape variety) in Portugal
-
Aragonez (Tinta Roriz, Tempranillo)
- Highest acreage under vine, 2017
- Followed by Touriga Franca
- Alfrocheiro, Trincadeira (Tinta Amarela), Baga are also widely cultivated
- Until recently, Castelão was most planted
Who brought the Castelão grape from Tejo to Terras do Sado (now Península de Sétubal), where they began bottling the grape under the “Periquita” brand?
J.M. da Fonseca
- The “Perequita” brand was a great success, leading other producers to adopt the “Perequita” moniker as a synonym for the grape
- A convention J.M. da Fonseca successfully contested in court
Portugal’s finest red costa
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional
% of Portugal’s vineyard acreage
10%
- Inky, full-bodied, structured
- Cherished for Port blends
- Low-yielding vines produces extemely small berries, valued for their extraction potential and concentration in red table blends
Dão
Most planted red casta
Jaen (Mencia)
- Despite originating in the Dão, Touriga Nacional has been supplanted by Jaen
Touriga Nacional
Two synonyms
- Bical Tinto
- Mortágua Preto
Besides Castelão and Touriga Nacional, four other widely cultivated red grape varietals in Portugal
- Alfrocheiro
- Trincadeira (Tinta Amarela)
- Baga
- Aragonez (Tinta Roriz, aka Tempranillo in Spain)
Portugal
Most planted white casta
Fernão Pires
- Known as Maria Gomes in Bairrada
- Early-ripening, aromatic grape found throughout Portugal, but concentrated in Bairrada and the southern plains of Tejo
Fernão Pires
Synonym in Bairrada
Maria Gomes
- Workhorse, producing fairly simple, honeyed wines that are often prone to oxidation and low acidity
Dão
Common white grape for higher quality wines
Encruzado - Dão
- Elegant, balanced, floral, citrus; gains complex nutty, resinous aromas with age
- Oak sometimes used in fermentation
Arinto
Arinto
- 1 of Portugal’s oldest indigenous varietals
- Best from coastal regions, Bucelas in particular
- Lively, mineral-tinged whites grown throughout the country
Alentejano
Most important white grape
Antão Vaz
- Aromatic, tropical
Major region for Alvarinho (Spain’s Albarino)
Vinho Verde
Varietal also known as Esgana Cao - the “dog strangler”
Sercial
- Highly acidic grape prized for dry Madeira
- Often confused with its homophone Cercial, which is used in the Dão, Douro and Bairrada blends, but genetically distinct
Portugal
1st demarcated wine region
Douro
- One of the 1st appellations recognized in Europe
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Portugal
Largest DOP
Vinho Verde DOP“green wine”
- 15% of nation’s total vineyard acreage
- Red, white, rosado
- Assortment of grapes
Douro Valley
Subregions
- Baixo Corgo
- Cima Corgo
- Douro Superior
Best Port vintage of the 1950s
1955
Pico
- DOP for fortified wines from the Azores islands
What traditional terms fall under the category of DOP in Portugal?
DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada)
IPR ( Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada)
What traditional terms fall under the category of IGP in Portugal?
IG (Indicação Geogràfica)
VR (Vinhos Regional)
What is the Treaty of Methuen?
A treaty between England and Portugal in 1703 that established long-lasting trade agreement with preferential tariffs for Portuguese wines.
What is the Companhia Geral dos Vinhos do Alto Douro?
Also known as the Douro Wine Company; a government-established group created in the 1750’s to regulate the port industry and eliminate fraud.
What are Vinhos ao Roda?
Madeiras that made the Transatlantic trip.