PORT

Question 1

What are the 3 sub-regions in the Duoro in which grapes for port are grown?

Answer 1

Baixo Corgo, Ciima Corgo, Duoro Superior

Question 2

What is the climate like in the Duoro?

Answer 2

Moderate, continental

Question 3

What are climatic / moderating effects in the duoro

Answer 3

rain-bearing Atlantic winds, the Sierra do Marao mountains act as a shield for the rains. altitude moderates the climate.

Question 4

What are the differences in the 3 sub-regions in the Duoro?

Answer 4

Baixo Corgo gets more rain due to its westerly aspect (produces lower quality grapes), Cima Corgo (most premium), and Duoro Superior (also premium)

Question 5

What is the kind of rock in the Duoro region called? What does it do?

Answer 5

Schist bedrock. It cracks and roots can run deep into the ground and get water from reserves from winter rains.

Question 6

What are the 3 vineyard types called for Port sites? What are the differences?

Answer 6

Socalcos (walls built to hold the site together, on steep cliffs which prevent automation)

Patamares (no walls built, roads provide access for vehicles)

Vinha ao Alto (vines planted in line with the slope, cannot be done on steep slopes)

Question 7

What are the 5 grape varieties in the Duoro? What is the principal grape?

Answer 7

Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cao, Tinto Barroca,

Question 8

How is port made?

Answer 8

Fermentation is stopped at 5-9% ABV to create a sweet wine. (fermentation typically lasts 24-48h)

Wine is fortified with spirit or aguardente no greater than 77%

Maturation takes place in old oak barrels

Question 9

What are the 4 methods used to extract tannin and colour quickly from the grape for port production?

Answer 9

Foot treading (traditional - large teams of workers stomp grapes in trough or shallow lagares), Autovinifiers (a pumping over system in which must gathers in a bucket and when it reaches a certain c02 level it is then dumped over skins, repeated very often), Piston Plunger/Robotic Lagares (mechanised feet skim the must and interact the skins with grape juice in a vat or in a lageres).

Question 10

What ABV does the yeast die at in port production?

Answer 10

19-22% ABV

Question 11

What is the average % of total volume of port?

Answer 11

20%

Question 12

What oxidative barrels are used for port production?

Answer 12

Pipes

Question 13

Where is port typically matured? Why?

Answer 13

Port is transported downstream to Porto or villa nova la Gaia for maturation. The climate in these coastal cities is cooler and assists in a slower maturation process.

Question 14

What flavours are not desired in Port? What flavours should each style of Port demonstrate?

Answer 14

New oak flavours are not desired, Ruby port should taste of primary fruit flavours, Tawny port should demonstrate oxidative qualities like nuts, dried fruit.

Question 15

What are the 2 main styles of port?

Answer 15

Tawny and Ruby

Question 16

How long is a Ruby port aged? Typically, what are their price points?

Answer 16

Ruby port is typically aged 1-3 years and is inexpensive, lacks the quality for long aging as fresh fruit characteristics is desired.

Question 17

How long is Tawny port aged? Typically what is the price point?

Answer 17

1-3 years, same as ruby port. These wines are deliberately oxidized but lack the structure for long aging.

Question 18

How long must Reserve tawny be aged for?

Answer 18

6 years

Question 19

How is a reserve ruby/tawny labelling term achieved?

Answer 19

a higher quality of port more suited for aging, assessed by a panel of judges

Question 20

What is a LBV port?

Answer 20

Vintage wines that have been aged between 4-6 years before bottling (hence late-bottled).

Question 21

The vast majority of LBV’s are ___________&________________. What is this style more similar to and why?

Answer 21

Fined and Filtered. These wines are more similar to reserve ruby port and are easy drinking / don’t benefit from extra bottle aging (fruit flavours diminish over time)

Question 22

If a LBV is fined and filtered, what is this style similar to? Why?

Answer 22

Similar to vintage port and can benefit from longer bottle aging. Sediment can add complexity to the wine over time.

Question 23

Describe tawny port with indication of age.

Answer 23

Can be labelled 10, 20, 30 or 40-year port and undergo a long period of oxidation in pipes. The label must state the year of bottling as wines lose freshness after bottling.

Question 24

What is a quinta?

Answer 24

A name for single estate in the Duoro