Port

Question 1

Port enjoys the protection of one of the world’s oldest appellations—the Douro was first demarcated in ?

Answer 1

1756 by the prime minister of the time, the Marquês de Pombal

Question 2

Which is the regulatory body of Port?

Answer 2

IVDP in 1933 and replaced Casa do Douro in 1995

Question 3

What is the Moreira da Fonseca method?

Answer 3

Points are given based on 12 criteria, also known as the Moreira da Fonseca method. Seven soil and climate factors are scored: location, altitude, exposure, bedrock, rough matter, slope and shelter. The next five factors relate to the vine itself: type of vine, planting density, yield, training system, and vine age.

Question 4

What is beneficio?

Answer 4

The IVDP grants each grower’s beneficio authorization—the maximum amount of wine that may be fortified in a given year—based on a matrix of twelve factors. Each factor has a minimum and maximum point score associated with it, and there are a total of 2,361 points available. Vineyards that score over 1,200 are awarded an “A” grade, “B” vineyards score between 1,001 and 1,200 points, and so on through “I”—the lowest grade. A-level sites are licensed to vinify the greatest percentage of Port, whereas vineyards classified G or lower cannot even produce Port.

Question 5

Maximum yields for Douro wines?

Answer 5

Maximum yields in the Douro for red grapes are set at 55 hl/ha; for white grapes the maximum yield is 65 hl/ha

Question 6

For Porto, the preferred red grapes are?

Answer 6

Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cão, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Francisca, Bastardo and Mourisco Tinto. They must constitute a minimum 60% of a vineyard’s plantings.

Question 7

Preferred white Port grapes include?

Answer 7

Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Rabigato, Esgana Cão, and Folgasão

Question 11

The best soils for Port are?

Answer 11

Schist and the worst granite

Question 11

Beneficio—the fortification of wine with spirit—occurs when approximately?

Answer 11

one-third of the sugar content has been converted to alcohol. The wine is fortified to 19-22% abv by the addition of aguardente—“burning water”—a 77% abv neutral grape spirit

Question 12

For most Port, aguardente will be added to the fermenting wine in a?

Answer 12

1:4 ratio, although lower alcohol (and drier) styles of white Port are produced

Question 13

White and rosé Ports—the latter a category pioneered in the ?

Answer 13

late 2000s by Croft

Question 14

The traditional barrel used for both aging and shipping Port wine is called?

Answer 14

pipe ,used in the Douro Valley usually hold 550 liters, whereas pipes in Vila Nova de Gaia may often contain 620 liters. The size of a pipe used for shipping Port is set at 534.24 liters

Question 15

Name the styles of Port

Answer 15

Ruby Port
Ruby Reserve Port
Vintage Port
Single Quinta Vintage Port
LBV Port
Crusted Port

Tawny Port
Reserve Tawny
Tawny with an indication of age
Colheita Tawny

Question 16

What is a Ruby Port?

Answer 16

Ruby Port is often aged in bulk (in wood, cement, or stainless steel) for two to three years prior to bottling. The wine is uncomplicated, deeply colored, and inexpensive. Ruby Port does not carry a vintage date

Question 17

What is a Ruby Reserve Port?

Answer 17

Ruby Reserve, or Premium Ruby, replaced the term “Vintage Character” and offers more complexity and character than a basic Ruby Port.

Question 18

What is a Vintage Port?

Answer 18

Vintage Port is the most expensive style of Port to purchase and constitutes approximately 1-3% of production. A Port house will usually declare a vintage year only in exceptional harvests—often a given house will, on average, declare a vintage three years out of every decade. Vintage Port must be authorized by the IVDP, and is aged in cask before being bottled by July 30 of the third year after harvest. Vintage Port will continue to develop in the bottle for decades, shedding brash fruit in favor of more complex attributes, although many bottles are consumed in their youth—particularly in the US. Mature Vintage Port requires decanting, as it will develop a significant deposit in the bottle. Quality is a chief factor in determining a vintage year, and a house will utilize the best vineyards available to it when creating a vintage blend, yet market concerns also play a role. Back-to-back, or “split” vintages are rare, as few shippers want to flood the market lest prices plunge.

Question 19

What is a Single Quinta Vintage Port?

Answer 19

A single quinta Vintage Port is the product of one estate’s harvest. Often, if a Port house cannot confidently declare a vintage, it may nonetheless showcase the fruit of one of its better estates as a vintage wine. In a vintage year, such an esteemed estate would usually provide the backbone of a shipper’s Vintage Port. Examples include Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha, Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas, and Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim. Many smaller quintas release their own vintage wines as well. Single quinta wines are made in the same fashion as other Vintage Ports, and will improve with additional bottle age.

Question 20

What is a LBV Port?

Answer 20

Late-Bottled Vintage Port (LBV) spends between four and six years in cask prior to bottling. Thus, the wines obtain some of the mellowed tones of a Tawny Port, while retaining the youthful fruit and directness of a Ruby Port. LBV Port is always the product of a single vintage, but quality may vary greatly. The majority of LBV wines are filtered prior to bottling; they will not require decanting and do not usually improve with additional bottle age. However, superior styles may achieve quality nearer that of a true Vintage Port and improve with bottle age, although they will always reach full maturity sooner than a Vintage Port. Such styles are often unfiltered, and may be labeled as Envelhecido em Garrafa, indicating an additional minimum three years of bottle aging.

Question 21

What is a Reserve Tawny Port?

Answer 21

Reserve Tawny Port ages for at least seven years prior to bottling. Reserve Tawny wines are blended from several vintages, and retain some youthful freshness while gaining a hint of the creamy, delicate nature of a true old Tawny. Tawny Port will not improve with additional bottle age.

Question 21

What is a Tawny Port?

Answer 21

Many wines labeled as Tawny Port do not undergo the extensive cask aging that is critical to the style, but are simply paler wines—due to the provenance of grapes, a less-thorough extraction, or the addition of white Port to the blend. Lesser vineyards and vintages constitute these wines, which are a popular aperitif in France.

Question 22

What is a Tawny with an Indication of Age?

Answer 22

Tawny Port may be labeled as 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 Years Old. These wines show a progressively more concentrated and developed character, reaching a pronounced oxidative, rancio state by forty years of age. Tawny Ports that display an age indication result from high-quality fruit, and are matured in seasoned wood. Typically, such Ports are racked once annually, often freshened with additional spirit or wine as evaporation takes its natural course, and are finally blended together prior to bottling. The age indication is not an average age of the blended wines in the bottle, but rather an approximation: for example, the IVDP deems a Port labeled “10 Year Old Tawny” to taste like a 10 Year Old Tawny, regardless of the wine’s actual age. Many Port connoisseurs prefer Tawny Port at 20 years of age, when the balance of fruit and mature characteristics is even, the spirit is finely integrated and the wine is not overtly oxidized.

Question 23

What is a Colheita Tawny?

Answer 23

Colheita Tawny Port is a vintage-dated Port that spends a minimum of seven years in cask—many stay in cask for decades. Some producers, such as Calem, a Port house that specializes in the Tawny style, will not bottle Colheita Tawny Ports until an order is received. Thus, Colheita Tawny Port from a particular vintage may vary in character from bottle to bottle.

Question 28

Portuguese wines received lower rates of duty in England than those of any other country due to?

Answer 28

The signing of the Methuen Treaty in 1703

Question 28

Terraces in Douro are called?

Answer 28

patamares

Question 29

Which is the mountain of Douro?

Answer 29

Serra do Marão

Question 30

The vineyard area follows the path of the River Douro and is divided into three subregions:

Answer 30

Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior

Question 31

Is irrigation permitted in Douro?

Answer 31

Only in extreme circumstances

Question 32

Which are the vineyard layouts of Douro?

Answer 32

Socalcos
Patamares
Vinha ao Alto

Question 32

How many residual sugars has Port on average?

Answer 32

usually 80–120 g/L residual sugar

Question 33

The key methods of extraction during the fermentation include?

Answer 33

Foot treading in lagares
Modern lagares
Pumping over
Stainless steel pistons
Autovinifiers

Question 34

Which are the five main groups of producers that make up 80 per cent of sales by volume?

Answer 34

Porto Cruz is the largest producer and owns the largest single brand (Gran Cruz), followed by Symington Family
Estates which owns Cockburn’s, Dow’s, Graham’s and Warre’s amongst others.
Sogrape, Portugal’s largest wine producer, is the third largest. It owns Sandeman, Offley and Ferreira,
as well as many non-Port brands in Portugal and other countries.
Next is The Fladgate Partnership that owns Taylor’s, Fonseca, Croft and Krohn, and fifth Sogevinus that owns Burmester, Barros, Cálem and Kopke.

Question 34

What is a Crusted Port?

Answer 34

This is a non-vintage Port that is aged in wood for up to two years before being bottled
without fining or filtration, and hence a deposit or ‘crust’ forms in the bottle. The bottling date
must appear on the label. Crusted Port can be released at any time after bottling, however,
after three years of bottle age it can include the term ‘bottle matured’ on the label. These
wines can be similar in style to Vintage Port and have considerable ageing potential

Question 34

The fermentation is stopped when the wine reaches around?

Answer 34

5–7% abv and depends on
the concentration of sugar the producer wants to retain in the final wine

Question 34

Name the quinta of Croft?

Answer 34

Quinta do Roeda

Question 34

Name the quinta of Graham’s?

Answer 34

Quinta dos Malvedos

Question 35

Name the quinta of Taylor’s?

Answer 35

Quinta do Vargellas
Quinta de Terra Feita

Question 36

Name the quinta of Fonseca?

Answer 36

Quinta de Panascal

Question 37

Name the quinta of Dow?

Answer 37

Quinta do Bomfim
Quinta Senhora de Ribeira

Question 38

Name the quinta of Warre’s?

Answer 38

Quinta de Cavadinha

Question 39

Which is the quinta of Sandman’s?

Answer 39

Quinta do Vau

Question 39

Which is the quinta of Niepoort’s?

Answer 39

Quinta do Passadouro

Question 39

Which is the quinta of Calem?

Answer 39

Quinta da Fox

Question 40

Which is the quinta of Cockburn’s?

Answer 40

Quinta dos Canais

Question 41

Which is the quinta of Ferreira?

Answer 41

Quinta do Porto
Quinta do Seixo

Question 42

Which is the quinta of Quinta do Noval?

Answer 42

Quinta do Silval
Quinta do Noval’s Nacional

Question 43

Which are the best vintages of Port?

Answer 43

2010’s: 2011 followed by 2017 and 2016 with 2014 the worst

2000’s: 2000, 2003 and 2007

1990’s: 1991, 1992, 1994 (best), 1997

1980’s: 1980, 1982 ( Graham’s bottled a Quinta dos Malvedos Single Quinta Vintage Port), 1983, 1985 (Classic), 1987 (some great quintas) with 1988 disastrous and small vintage

1970’s: 1977 (tannic and ageworthy) and 1970 ( one of the absolute finest Vintage Ports of the 50 years up to 1970) followed by 1975

1960’s: 1960, 1963 (monumental vintage and very ageworthy wines and powerfull), 1966, 1967

1950’s: 1955 (the best since 1948) with 1950 and 1958 being elegant and delicate

1940’s: 1948 (Magical wines), Classic vintage and the wine can age for 100 years) followed by 1945 (also superlative quality)

1930’s: 1935 (Classic vintage) followed by 1934 (split decision with 1935)

1920’s: 1927 (one of the best of the century 100points)

Question 44

Which vintage is Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira Vintage Port being possibly the best wine that this vineyard has ever produced ?

Answer 44

2013

Question 45

Pairings with Ruby and Vintage Ports?

Answer 45

Ruby port is a youthful, fruity port with bright red berry flavors and a more straightforward profile compared to vintage port.

Pairings:
Chocolate Desserts:

Dark Chocolate: The sweetness and berry flavors of ruby port balance the bitterness of dark chocolate.
Chocolate Cake: Rich chocolate cakes or brownies enhance the fruity notes of the port.
Berries and Fruit Desserts:

Berry Tarts: Strawberry, raspberry, or mixed berry tarts.
Fruit Compotes: Berry or cherry compotes served over ice cream or panna cotta.
Cheeses:

Blue Cheese: The sharp, salty flavors of blue cheese (like Stilton) contrast well with the sweetness of ruby port.
Cheddar: Aged Cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the port’s fruitiness.
Nuts:

Walnuts and Pecans: The nutty flavors pair well with the port’s fruitiness.
Rich Meats:

Game Meats: Venison or duck with berry-based sauces.

Vintage Port
Vintage port is more complex and full-bodied than ruby port, with rich, deep flavors that develop with age. It pairs well with similarly intense and flavorful foods.

Pairings:
Cheeses:

Blue Cheese: Stilton is a classic pairing, but other strong blue cheeses like Roquefort or Gorgonzola also work well.
Aged Cheddar: The sharp, robust flavors complement the intensity of vintage port.
Rich Chocolate Desserts:

Chocolate Truffles: Rich, creamy truffles enhance the port’s complex flavors.
Chocolate Fondant: The molten center pairs beautifully with the port’s rich, fruity notes.
Nuts and Dried Fruits:

Walnuts and Pecans: Their earthy flavors pair well with the port’s richness.
Dried Figs and Dates: The sweetness and chewiness of dried fruits complement the port’s depth.
Hearty Meats:

Steak: A well-cooked steak, especially with a red wine reduction sauce.
Lamb: Roasted or grilled lamb with robust seasonings.
Cigars (for after dinner):

Enjoying a cigar with a glass of vintage port can be a luxurious combination, as the smoky flavors of the cigar can enhance the port’s complexity.
General Tips:
Temperature: Serve both ruby and vintage ports at cool room temperature (around 60-65°F or 15-18°C) to fully appreciate their flavors.

Question 46

Pairings with Tawny Ports?

Answer 46

Tawny ports are aged in wooden barrels, which gives them a nutty, caramelized flavor profile with notes of dried fruits, nuts, and spices. They are versatile and pair wonderfully with a variety of foods. Here are some of the best pairings for tawny ports:

Tawny Port
Characteristics:
Nutty, caramel, and toffee flavors
Notes of dried fruits like figs and raisins
Hints of spice, vanilla, and sometimes chocolate
Pairings:
Cheeses:

Blue Cheese: Stilton, Roquefort, or Gorgonzola. The saltiness and bold flavors of blue cheese contrast nicely with the sweetness and complexity of tawny port.
Aged Cheeses: Aged Gouda, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Comté. The nuttiness and crystalline texture complement the port’s nutty flavors.
Desserts:

Nut-based Desserts: Pecan pie, walnut tart, or almond biscotti. The nutty flavors in both the desserts and the port harmonize beautifully.
Caramel and Toffee Desserts: Crème brûlée, toffee pudding, and caramel flan. The caramel notes in the port enhance these desserts.
Dried Fruit Desserts: Fig cake, raisin scones, and date bars. The dried fruit flavors in the port are mirrored in these desserts.
Nuts:

Mixed Nuts: Especially roasted almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans. The roasted flavors pair well with the port’s toasty notes.
Chocolate:

Milk Chocolate: The creaminess of milk chocolate complements the smooth, rich flavors of tawny port.
Chocolate with Nuts: Chocolate bars or truffles with nuts like almonds or hazelnuts.
Fruit:

Dried Fruits: Apricots, figs, and raisins. These enhance the port’s natural fruitiness.
Fruit Tarts: Tarts made with dried or stewed fruits.
Savory Dishes:

Duck or Game: Dishes with a sweet glaze or sauce, such as duck with orange sauce or venison with a berry reduction.
Foie Gras: The rich, buttery flavors of foie gras complement the sweetness of tawny port.
Spiced Dishes:

Moroccan Cuisine: Dishes with dried fruits and nuts, such as tagines.
Indian Desserts: Spiced desserts like gulab jamun or kheer.
Serving Tips:
Temperature: Serve tawny port slightly chilled, around 55-60°F (13-16°C), to fully appreciate its complex flavors.
Glassware: Use a small port or dessert wine glass to concentrate the aromas and flavors.

Question 47

Which are the oldest Port houses?

Answer 47

Kopke (1638)
Warre’s (1670)
Croft (1588)
Quinta do Noval (1715)
Taylor’s (Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman) 1692
Sandeman (1790)
Graham’s (1820)
Fonseca (1815)
Dow’s (1798)
Offley (1737)

Question 48

Name the top houses for Vintage Port

Answer 48

Taylor’s (Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman)
Overview: One of the oldest and most respected port houses, Taylor’s is renowned for its classic, powerful, and long-lived vintage ports.
Specialties: Consistently produces vintage ports that are highly collectible and capable of aging for decades.
2. Graham’s
Overview: Established in 1820, Graham’s is known for rich, full-bodied vintage ports with great depth and complexity.
Specialties: Vintage ports that are opulent, with intense fruit flavors and excellent aging potential.
3. Fonseca
Overview: Founded in 1815, Fonseca is celebrated for its lush and velvety vintage ports.
Specialties: Produces vintage ports that are rich, complex, and known for their distinctive fruit character and longevity.
4. Dow’s
Overview: Dow’s, founded in 1798, is recognized for its dry, firm, and well-structured vintage ports.
Specialties: Vintage ports that are elegant and powerful, with great depth and a long finish.
5. Warre’s
Overview: The oldest British port house, founded in 1670, Warre’s is known for its balanced and sophisticated vintage ports.
Specialties: Produces vintage ports that are refined and aromatic, with excellent structure and aging potential.
6. Quinta do Noval
Overview: One of the few port houses located in the Douro Valley, founded in 1715, Quinta do Noval is famous for its exceptional vintage ports, including the legendary Nacional.
Specialties: Vintage ports that are elegant, complex, and often described as more terroir-driven.
7. Niepoort
Overview: Established in 1842, Niepoort is known for its traditional and innovative approach to port making.
Specialties: Produces vintage ports that are structured, complex, and known for their longevity.
8. Churchill’s
Overview: A relatively young house, established in 1981, by John Graham, Churchill’s is known for its traditional style vintage ports with a modern twist.
Specialties: Vintage ports that are concentrated and elegant, with a distinctively fresh character.
9. Sandeman
Overview: Founded in 1790, Sandeman combines a long history with a commitment to quality.
Specialties: Offers vintage ports that are robust and rich, with a good balance of fruit and tannins.
10. Croft
Overview: One of the oldest port houses, founded in 1588, Croft is known for its distinctive and stylish vintage ports.
Specialties: Vintage ports that are fruity and complex, with great aging potential

Question 49

Name the top houses for Tawny Port

Answer 49

Taylor’s
Graham’s
Dow’s
Sandeman’s
Quinta do Noval
Warre’s
Niepoort
Fonseca
Kopke