General Portugal Flashcards
Describe the general grape growing area and wine making of Portugal
- Most westerly country of continental Europe
- Bordered by west and south by the Atlantic, east and north by Spain
- Most wines are made into unfortified wines
- More red wines than white
- Some international grapes (Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Mostly wide variety of indigenous grape varieties in high quality wines
What is the wine history of Portugal
cultivated for many centuries, as long as 2000 BCE. Vines planted by Tartessians
Phoenicians brought more vines, grape growing and winemaking, advanced by greeks and romans
Strong English alliance for 600 years, major supplier of wine after 1386 Treaty of Windsor
Negatively affected by the Peninsular Wars and & Portuguese civil war, followed by phylloxera
Prime Ministor Antonia de Olivera Salazar did little to promote quality wine production
Preferential rights given to co-ops, over 1000 founded; poorly equipped, making high volumes of poor quality wines
High quality brands launched in this period; Mateus Rosé and Lancers Rosé - Mateus Rosé made up 40% of Portugals unfortified wine exports
Rerturn to democracy in 1970s and EU ascencion in 1986 promoted quality wine production.
Co-ops closed and many increased their quality wine production
Export has been helpful through economic challenges; ripe reds and fresh whites at inexpnesive and mid-prices commercially successful
Describe the General Climate of Portugal
- West of mainland strongly influenced by Atlantic; cool rainy weather (particularly North West)
- Inland northerly regions protected by mountains; warmer continental climate.
- Drier and warmer to the south; topography is plenty of rolling hills
Describe the General Soils of Portugal
- Significant variations of soil composition, impacting grape varieties grown & styles of wine
- Schist & Granite in mountanous regions; Vinho verde, Duoro & Dao and hilly outcrops of Alentejo
- Southern coastal regions more varied clay soil with limestone, some sandy; Bairrada, Lisboa, Tejo and Peninsula de Setubal
- Some fertile alluvial soils; Tejo
What is the wine production of Portugal
- 192,000 ha undervine, down 84,000 in 30 years; reduction in Tejo and Vinho Verde/Minho; focus on high quality
- Mechanisation possible due to warm, sunny, dry climate, flat topography; Alentjo in particular
- Between 600million and 740 million litres produced annually; vintage variation major factor
Describe the general viticulture in Portugal
- Majority of vineyards pruned to cordon or replacement cane pruned, vsp trellised.
- Bush vines in the Duoroa and Alentejo; many field blend vineyards
- Modern vineyareds now one variety or varietal blocks
- Drought a notable factor in recent years; particularly inland in Douro, Dao and Alentejo
- Irrigation regulated; Douro must notify IVDP when they irrigate; cannot be used for boosting yeilds
4,000ha vineyards certified organic, low compared to EU, but many uncertified growers; many in conversion.
Describe the grapes grown in Portugal
- Wide variety of Portuguese origin grape varieties
- Many grown in many wine regions but many concetrated to particular regions (Castelao mainly in Peninsula de Setubal, but lesser amounts in Lisboa, Alentejo & Tejo)
- International varieties allowed in some regions; Tejo, Alentejo, Bairrada, Lisboa & Peninsula de Setubal - not allowed in Douro, Dao or Vinho Verde
- Alentejo, Lisboa and Tejo shifing towards Portuguese varieities- smaller producing championing native grapes.
Describe the general wines of Portugal
- Both whites and reds are generally blends
- Exceptions are Baga in Bairrada, Encruzado in Dao and Alvarinho in the Moncao e Melbaco subregion of Vinho Verde
Describe the Winemaking in Portugal
- Post EU Admission brought modern winemaking; protective winemaking, stainless steel, temperature control for fruity wines and major improvement to white wine
- Destemming improved red wines, alongside French Oak use being primary
- Some pre-ferment skin contact for premium Portuguese wines.
What are the vessels used for Portuguese wines
- Stainless steel common for fresher wines
- French is the common oak choice
- Smaller producers focus on traditional techniques; large Portuguese oak (3000L-6000L casks) and Brazilian toneis used in high profile wineries in Bairrada
- Reduction of new oak, more large, older oak- some toneis, but mostly foudre from France, Italy and Austria.
- Some experimentation with Chestnut
- Lagares are often used with fermentation and foot treading- made from local granite or stainless steel.
- Clay amphora is common- white and red skin contact DOC (Vinho de Talha, Alentejo)
What are the 3 tiers of Portugals PDO & PGI system
- DOC/DOP; widely used for PDO wines. 31 DOCs in Portugal with their own regulations
- VR; Vinho Regional. PGI wines. 14 VRs in Portugal. Less strict than DOC, allow international varieties
- Vinho; Used for non DOC or VR wines
Describe the general wine business of Portugal
- Wine is 35% of Agricultural output - highest in the world.
- Average production; 6.5 mhL, including fortified and sparkling wine.
- Estimated unfortified wine is 5.5 mhL
- 10th largest producing wine country, 10th largest exporter
- Big growth in unfortified wines both in value and voume.
- Major markets; France, US, UK and Brazil
- Domestic consumption increasing with income growth
Describe the makeup of wine producers in Portugal
- Small vineyard holdings
- Negotiants and Co-ops produced bulk wines before 1974 revolution, shipped to other colonies - still primary resource for Matues Rosé and Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde
- Larger producers acquiring vineyards to increase quality and compete in export markets; Sogrape
- Growth in grower producers - Quinta/Herdade brand
- Decline in co-operatives
