Portugal Flashcards
When was the vine first planted in Portugal and where?
2000BCE.
the Tagus and Sado Valleys by the Tartessians (Tejo / Península de Setúbal VR)
When was the the Treaty of Windsor?
1386
When was the Methuen Treaty?
1703
When did the Phylloxera hit Portugal?
1867
What are the 2 most successful brands launched in 1940s?
Mateus Rose in 1942
Lancer Rose in 1944
What was the event in the mid-1970 to return to democracy?
The Carnation Revolution
When did Portugal join the EU?
1986
Where would you find the fertile Alluvial soils?
Tejo
What are the top 5 varieties planted in Portugal?
Aragonez, Tinta Roriz (Dao/Douro) - Tempranillo
Touriga Franca
Touriga Nacional
Fernao Pires / Maria Gomes
Castelao
What are the categories of geographical indications?
- DOC/ DOP
- VR
- Vinho
What is the climate of Vinho Verde?
a moderate maritime climate with high rain fall
What is the soils of Vinho Verde?
granitic bedrock with a shallow topsoil of decomposed granite with a sandy texture
What are warmer and drier subregions of Vinho Verde?
Baião
Monção e Melgaço
- Avesso does well here
What are the common diseases in Vinho Verde?
fungal diseases including rot and mildew
What are the common modern trellising systems?
- single or double Guyot
- VSP
- lyre
all are trained relatively high from the ground to increase air circulation and reduce the chance of rot
What are the most planted grapes in Vinho Verde?
- Loureiro (mid-ripening)
- Alvarinho (traditionally grown in the north - Monção e Melgaço)
- Pederna (Arinto) (mid-ripening)
- Avesso (late-ripening) (needs warmer drier conditions - Baião)
- Trajadura (Treixadura in Spain)
Red
- Vinhao (Sousão in Douro, Souson in Galicia)
Moncao e Melgaco
single variety Alvarinho
only sub appelation to have Alvarinho labelled
min 11.5%
min 30% Alvarinho - otherwise Minho VR
How much Alvarinho is required for Moncao e Melgaco sub-region?
30%
Is irrigation allowed in Douro?
Yes, since 2019
What is the benefit of fermenting wine in lagares?
Can be easier to monitor the level of extraction in an open lagar than a closed tank
What are the fermentation temperature for red Douro wines?
relatively low (24-28C / 75-82F), to allow greater control over tannin extraction
What are the main grapes of Douro DOP?
Red: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Sousao
White: Viosinho, Ragigato, Gouveio (Godello), Moscatel Galego Branco (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)
Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) Tinta Barrocca, Tinta Cao (D5)
What is the climate of Dao?
surrounded by mountains - protect from Atlantic (west), arid conditions (east).
Mediterranean, warm dry summers, mild winters
rainfall relatively high (1600mm west, 1100 east, autumn/winter)
What are the soils of Dao?
Granite with sandy or loamy texture (low organics, free draining (water stress))
Main grapes of Dao?
80% Red
Touriga Nacional
Tina Roriz
Jaen (Mencia)
Alfrocheiro
White
Encruzado
What are the main grapes of Bairrada?
Red (2/3) ; Baga (famously used for Mateus Rose - focus on quality now)
White: Maria Gomes (Fernao Pires), Bical, Arinto, Cercial
Internationals allowed: SB, Chard.
What is the best soils for Baga?
limestone-clay
Does Baga ripen early or later?
late-ripening
What is the climate of Alentejo?
Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and mild winters
drip irrigation widely used. gets drier further south 800 -> 500mm
What are the soils of Alentejo?
a wide range; granite, schist and limestone with textures that range from sand to clay
What are the main grapes of Alentejo?
75%
Red: Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Syrah, CS (declining), Petit Verdot (increasing)
White: Roupeiro, Arinto, Antao Vaz, Chard, Viognier
other local internationals too, Alvarinho increasing!
What are the main grapes of Alenquer and the styles?
Touriga Nacional and Aragonez
Full bodied reds. Many other varieties grown. Still finding path.
What is the main grape of Bucelas DOC and the styles?
Arinto (75% of blend)
Range of styles.
What is the climate and soils of Colares?
the cool, foggy, coastal climate, and ungrafted old bush vines on the deep, phylloxera-free sandy soils
Lisbon suburbs - cool trendy, lesser known local grapes
What are the rivers run through Penninsula de Setubal?
the Tejo and Sado rivers
What are the DOP of Peninsuala de Setubal?
- Palmela DOP
- Setubal DOP
What are the main red and white varieties of Palmela?
Red: min 67.7% Castelao
White: Fernao Pires, Arinto, Moscatel
What is the name of the river in Tejo?
the Tejo River (River Tagus)
What is the climate of Tejo??
a Medeterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters
variance over region:
north - more rainfall
river - mainly white wines, fertile soils, vigour controlled
south - driest hottest, poor sandy soils
What are the soils of Tejo?
- clay-limestone and schist soils in the north
- fertile alluvial soils around the river
- sandy soils in the south
From roughly north - south, what are the important VR’s
Minho VR
Duriense VR
Beira Atlantico VR
Terras do Dao VR
Lisboa VR
Tejo VR
Alentejano VR
Peninsula de Setubal VR
