Port Flashcards
Methuen Treaty 1703
Ensured that Portuguese wines received lower rates of duty in England than any other country
Port vineyards demarcated when?
1756
Retaliation against poor quality imitators
Real Companhia Velha
Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Duoro
Created by Marques de Pombal, prime minister of Portugal
All Ports for export had to be bought from this company
Price fixing
Exclusive supplier of spirit for fortification
Problems for Port in early 19th century
Peninsular Wars
Portuguese Civil War
Mildew
Phylloxera
Small growers sold up - shippers took advantage of low prices and bought quintas
Early 1980s World Bank Scheme
Offered low interest loans to Douro growers to plant/replant up to 10ha of vines on either A or B grade, with only five prescribed varieties
Portugal joined EU when?
1986
From 1991, producers could do what?
Source aguardente on the open market = rise in quality of spirit = rise in quality of Port
Result of joining EU
What has depopulation of vineyard areas meant for Port winemaking?
Alternative solutions to traditional food treading (ie machines now)
DO Porto land under vine
32,000ha
43,000ha under vine in Douro
Climate of Douro Valley
Warm continental
Temperatures 40C plus in the summer
Freezing common in winter
Why is Douro Valley much warmer and drier than Porto and Villa Nova di Gaia?
Distance from Atalantic
Shelter from the Serra do Marao wind
Duoro Valley vineyard area follows the path of which river
Douro River
Three sub regions of Douro Vallsy
Baixo Corog
Cima Corgo
Douro Superior
West - East Douro sub regions
Baixo Corgo - Cima Corgo - Douro Superior
B - C - D
Which Douro sub-region coldest and wettest?
Baixo Corgo
Nearest the cold Atlantic coast
900mm rain
Cooler climate = inexpensive tawny and ruby
Climate of Cima Corgo
Warmer and drier than Baixo Corgo
700mm rain
Climate of Douro Superior
Furthest from coast
Hottest and driest sub region
450mm rain
Drought an issue
What accounts for range of microclimates in Douro Valley?
Winding river Duoro and its tributaries
Altitude
Aspect
=> differences in average temperature and sunlight within a single vineyard
Soils of Douro Valley
Stony, shallow
Free draining
Poor in nutrients = limits vigour
Underlying bedrock is schist
Significance of schist soil in Douro Valley
Ancient tectonic movements = splits into vertical layers, not horiztonal; vine roots can penetrate deep to find water
Gradient of slope in Douro
many slopes over 30%
Three vineyard layouts in Douro
- Socalcos (traditional, narrow terrace)
- Patamares (terraces with steep earth ramp)
- Vinho ao Alto (vertical rows up slopes)
Socalcos
Traditional vineyard layout
Narrow terraces supported by dry rock walls
6,000 vines/hectare
Not suitable for machine (+ labour to maintain)
Not considered for new vyds
Protected by UNESCO; cannot be converted
Patamares
Terraces supported by steep earth ramp (not stone wall)
Small tractors up/down slopes - tracks run diagnolly
Cheaper to implement and maintain than Socalcos
Problems: erosion nd weeds
3,000-3,500 vines/hea
Two kinds: large, wide (two rows of vines) vs. narrow (one row)
Wide version is the original, constructed when bulldozers were large and bulky
Narrow ones newer - new technology
Vinho ao Alto
Vines up vertical rows
Least expensive to plant and maintain
5,000 v/ha (efficient use of land)
Mechanisation not possible above 40% incline (patamares more likely to be used)
Use is limited (water runoff and erosion a problem)
Rootstocks in Port
Drought tolerant 110R 1103P (both hybrids of V rupestris and V berlandieri)
Training and pruning in Port?
Cordon trained and spur-pruned or Head-trained and cane-pruned VSP trellised to promote even sun exposure, allow for machines
Considerations when replanting vineyards in Douro Valley
Increasing vine density
Mechanisation
Best planting material for given land
Max yield in Port
55hl/ha
More likely around 30hl/ha (limited water, hazards, diseases)
Viti hazards in Port
Late spring frosts (highest altitude vineyards)
Wet weather disrupts flowering/fruit set
Downy mildew botrytis bunch rot
Herbicide use in Port
Used to control weeds on slopes of patamares
compete with vines for water and nutrients
Hand or machine harvest in Port
Hand
Topography not suitable for machine
Ageing regional population and depopulation = hard to get pickers
Five prescribed grapes Port
Touriga Franca Tinta Roriz Tinta Barroca Touriga Nacional Tinta Cao
Why is Port mostly a blend of varieties?
Historic field blends
Hedge against vintage variation (diff grapes ripen/don’t ripen depending on weather)
Add different characteristics for balance and complexity
Touriga Franca
Late ripen = warmest sites (low altitude, south facing)
Tight bunches & Thick skins = resist fungal
Vigorous (summer pruning to manage this
Adds: colour, tannin, acidity, juicy red/black fruit, flora
By far the most planted variety in Port
Most grown variety in Port
Touriga Franca
Tinta Roriz
aka Tempranillo, Aragonez Early ripen Cool sites (otherwise water stress) Add: body and deep colour High yields = can lack concentration if not managed
Tinta Barroca
Early ripen (coolest sites, high altitude, north-facing in BC and CC) Earthy flavours Can lack acidity Colour fade quickly High yields
Touriga Nacional
Mid-ripen Thick skin Deep colour, high tannin Retains acid Black fruit and floral, concentration Excessive veg vigour Coulure = lower yield, vine imbalance
Tinta Cao
Low yieling Small thick skinned Resist fungal Tolerates heat Concentrated, acidity, ageing
Malvasia Fina
aka Boal in Madeira Neutral wines, medium acid Full body Slightly honeyed White grape
Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains name in Port
Moscatel Galego Branco