Portugal Flashcards
What is Portugal flanked by?
- Atlantic Ocean to the west
- Spain to the east (and north –> Rain Baixas DO)
what are the 3 specific climates of Portugal and where are they?
- Martime = Northern Portugal including northern coastal area; humid, cooler than the other areas
- Mediterranean = central + southern coastal areas
- Continental = interior areas from north to south
how many indigenous Portuguese cultivars are there?
> 200
wines WITHOUT geographical indication are called this in Portugal:
vinho
wines WITH geographical indication in Portugal have 2 classification levels:
- IGP (Indicação Geográfica Protegida)
2. DOP (Denominação de Origen Protegida)
what qualification must an IGP wine meet to use the IGP designation?
- 85% of the grapes must be from the indicated region
- several grapes allowed to be planted / used
- it’s a larger regional designation, so where the grapes can come from is a bigger area than that of DOP
- minimum abc for regional designations
what qualifications must a DOP wine meet to use the DOP designation?
- style, yields, minimum abv, and ageing requirements are regulated per DOP
- DOP is the top quality designation in Portugal
- DOPs are smaller regions nested within IGPs
what are the 5 dop regions in Portugal to known for this exam?
- vinho verde DOP (north coast)
- Douro DOP (North interior, next to Spain)
- Dão DOP (north-central interior)
- Bairrada DOP (central/ north-ish coast)
- Alentejo DOP (south interior, next to Spain, HOT)
what is the largest DOP in Portugal?
Vinho Verde DOP
where is Vinho Verde DOP?
What are its borders?
- Northern Portugal
- Borders Atlantic coast
- Borders Spain’s Rías Baixas DO
what does the name ‘Vinho Verde’ tell you about the wine that comes from this DOP?
translates to ‘green wine’ , indicating it youthfulness and when it should be drunk (young)
what is the climate of Vinho Verde dop?
- maritieme
- cool, rainy, humid
what are the white grapes grown in vinho verde dop?
- loureiro (highest plantings)
- trajadura
- alvarinho (aka albariño in Spain)
what is the style of vinho verde dop?
- fresh
- lip-smacking acidity
- effervescent
- light bodies (usually low abv)
how do vinho verdes get their effervescence?
most are force carbonated
which DOP lies directly east of vinho verde dop?
Douro DOP
what is the location of Douro DOP?
- northeast Portugal
- Along border of Spain
what is the river that runs through Douro dop?
What river does it become in spain?
- Douro River
- Becomes the Duero River in Spain, which runs through Ribera del duero.
the … wine region in Portugal was one of the first demarcated in the world.
Douro
the Douro valley (not the Douro DOP) is best known for what style of wine?
fortified wines from the Porto DOP, aka port wines
what are the 3 subregions of Douro DOP?
What are their climates like?
from west to east:
- Baixo Corgo - somewhat influenced by Atlantic
- Cima Corgo - drier, more continental climate
- Douro Superior - hot and dry
what is the landscape of Douro DOP like?
mountainous, isolated, lots of steep and terraced mountainsides
what is the soil in Douro DOP’s top vineyards?
schist/ granite
what is the Douro DOP’s top red grape?
touriga nacional
there are several other varieties, but this is Portugal’s most important and cherished red grape
what does the word ‘Quinta’ translate to in English?
single vineyard
what style of wine is the Douro DOP known for?
- full bodied, rich, intense, dry, concentrated red wines
- almost always blends of varying red grapes, including both indigenous and international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
