Northern Portugal - Douro

Question 1

3 Regions

1. Baixo C
2. Cima C
3. D Superior

Answer 1

3 regions: 1) Baixo Corgo 2) Cima Corgo 3) Douro Superior

1) Baixo Corgo: coolest & wettest (900mm); wines of lesser quality
2) Cima Corgo: heart of demarcation; around Pinháo; lower rainfall (700mm) + higher temp; largest area

under vine;

3) Douro Superior: most easterly; most arid (400mm; +3C vs Baixo); still relatively unexploited Schist soils usually for Port varieties and granite-based soils for table wine.

Answer 2

Hot continental; very dry; increasingly hot and dry further inland
• V. unpredictable weather: excess heat (50C), frost (Douro sup) & unpredictable rain + Summer & Autumn hail

• Altitude from 80 to 600m w/ better quality in lower altitude.

Question 3

1. TN
2. TR

Others: TF TC

Answer 3

Reds

1. Touriga Nacional
2. Believe to originate from Dao
3. Vigorous vine prone to poor fruit set that produces small quantities of very small berries - Deep coloured, hi tannins, concentrated wines
4. Mainly grown in Douro & Dao
5. Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo)
6. Black grape w thick skin that ripens early (temprano: ‘early’)
7. Thrives in chalky soils & moderate climates for better acidity & elegance
8. Little resistance to pest and diseases
9. • Wines are med->full bodied, low to med+ acidity, w med tannins and flavours of strawberry, cherry, raspberry & plum. Oak and ageing add flavours of herbs, mushrooms, leather & tobacco

Others: Tinta Franca (all arounder), Tinta Cao (red dog, deep colour)

Answer 4

Whites
4. Donzelinho Branco

5. Gouveio
6. Malvasia Fina

Others: Rabigato, Viosinho

Answer 5

38,000ha with around 50% of dedicated to unfortified wines

As with Port, viticulture is labour and cost intensive due to steepness of vineyards (mostly on narrow terraces)

1.3m hl/yr with 60% of Port.

Beneficio system sets quantity for Port production -> excess harvest made into unfortified wine. Now, many vineyards dedicated to high quality unfortified wines, rather than Port.