Port Flashcards
Red port grapes
Touriga National, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cao, Tinta Barroca, Sousao
White port grapes
Malvasia Fina, Gouveio, Rabigato, viosinho, Codega
Primary soil in the Douro
Schist. Occasionally granite. Supports good drainage.
Where does port come from
Douro Valley (UNESCO site) 70 mile long valley
Douro River runs where
Starts in Madrid as the Deuro River and cuts across Douro valley and empties into the Atlantic in the town of Oporto
Sub regions of the Dourto
Subzones of douro west to east (Baixo Corgo) lower-basic (Cima Corgo) upper-better (Douro Superior) near Spanish border-superior
What does Corgo mean
Corgo River tributaries off the Douro
What does tinta mean
Red
The Douro has one of the most intricately appraised systems for grapes in the world. Describe the system.
Grapes are rated A to F to determine which grapes are used for port and which ones are used for wine.
Is port usually a blend
Yes. Usually a blend of the top 5 port grapes and vines are often interplanted (field blend)
Are ports grapes still trodden by foot
yes. Especially vintage ports
What is Port fortified with
neutral grape spirit (brandy)
There are approximately 10 different styles of Port that fall intot two broad categories. What are they
1). Creme Broulee Ports (carmel like oxidized ports aged in wood) ie Tawney Port. 2). Chocolate Ports (aged in bottle with little exposure to air) darker denser with red berry quality and chocolate like flavor ie vintage port. Can also display a blueberry menthol quality.
Popular summer port cocktail
White port with tonic and lime
Aged Tawney Port blended from several years kept for a minimum of 10 years in a barrel.
Ten, twenty, thirty, forty years aged with highest quality grapes that are used for vintage port. Tastes like toasted nuts, brown sugar, vanilla
How long does Vintage Port spend in the barrel
Two years before being bottled
When is Vintage Port made
Only in exceptional years that a good vintage is declared. Represents only 3% of port production
In the past 100 years a vintage port has been declared how many times
25 times. 50% or more of the shippers declare the grapes to be exceptional
Who must approve the decision to declare a vintage
Samples are sent to the Port Wine institute for approval
How are Vintage Ports aged
Reductively. In a bottle for a long time.