General Flashcards
What does Garrafeira indicate on a bottle of Portuguese wine?
Branco/Rosado: 12mo total aging, 6mo in bottle
Tinto: 30mo total aging, 12mo in bottle
What is the longest river on the Iberian peninsula?
Tejo
What style of wine is Tavora-Varosa DOC known for?
Sparkling wine
What are the subzones of Tras-os-Montes?
Chaves
Valpacos
Planalto-Mirandes
What is the main variety of Bairrada and what is the minimum percentage required?
Min 50% Baga
Name 2 Portuguese synonyms for Tempranillo.
Tinta Roriz, Aragonez (used in the south)
What is the wettest region in Portugal?
The Minho with approx 47in rainfall annually.
What is the dominant soil in Bairrada?
Clay (=barro)
What is the dominant soils in the Dao?
Sandy with Granite
Which 2 mountains are found in the Dao?
Serra do Caramulo: protects from the Atlantic
Serra da Estrela: protects from the East
What happened int he 1980s that resulted in increased quality in Dao wines?
After joining the EU in 1986, the government rescinded a law that required growers to sell to cooperatives, which resulted in more estates making their own wine and focusing on high quality production.
What is the specialty of Colares and why?
ungrafted Ramisco grown on sandy soils (no phylloxera!)
What was the Lisboa VR previously known as?
Extremadura
Which river runs through the Peninsula de Setubal?
The Sado River
What does Vinhas Velhas indicate?
Old/Historic Vines. NOT regulated.
Describe the enforcado trellising system. Where and why is it used?
High trellising system that keeps vines off the ground. Used in the Minho. Helps prevent mold from humidity, and also leaves space on the ground to grow other crops.
What is Portugal’s highest mountain range?
Serra do Estrela
What is the most widely planted red in Portugal?
Castelao
What is the most widely planted white in Portugal?
Fernao Pires (Maria Gomes)
What is the largest DOP in Portugal?
Vinho Verde
Where would you find the Serra do Marao and what impact does it have on viticulture?
Serra do Marao splits the Duoro with the Baixo Corgo to the West and the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior to the East. The range creates a rain shadow to the east, making these regions better suited for grape growing.
