PORTUGAL Flashcards
Portugal’s location/geography?
Portugal is located on the southwest portion of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Atlantic Coast to the west being a dominant feature.
Portugal’s climate?
Portugal can be divided into three areas.
{North}
Cool, humid due to the influence of Atlantic, with a lot of rainfall, green environment akin to Rias-Baixas across the Spain border.
{South}
Warmer and more Mediterranean climate.
{Interior}
Continental with hot, arid condition
Portugal Topography/Aspect
Rugged, difficult terrain for viticulture inland.
Portugal’s grape varieties
Portugal has over 200 indigenous varieties.
Portugal wine law
Vinho
-without geographic indication
IGP
-85% must be from the stated region
-Minimum alcohol is regulated
DOP
-Specific regions, located inside a larger IGP
-Regurated wine style, maximum yield, minimum alcohol, and aging requirements
Vinho Verde DOP?
Important Appellation of Portugal
Vinho Verde= “green wine”
refreshing and youthful nature of the wines and drink them while young.
Is the largest DOP in Portugal.
Vinho Verde’s location/geography, Climate, Grape varieties, Vinification
On the Atlantic Coast.
South of Spain.
Loureiro(most planted), Trajadura, Alavarinho (Albarino)
The most wine is low-alcohol white wine with lively acidity and slight effervecence due to an injection of carbon dioxide at bottle.
What is The Douro Valley known for?
Its production of the fortified wine, “Port”.
This area has been gaining repute as high quality producer of dry, unfortified red wine.
Douro DOC’s location, climate, topography, and soil?
Northern Portugal along the Douro River (known fir Duero river in Spain)
Very different climate with each sub-regions. Became drier and hotter as move inland from the Atrantic Ocean.
Mountainous, rugged, wild and remote
Schist (Top vineyards)
Three sub-regions of Douro DOP?
Baixo Cordgo
Cima Corgo
Douro Superior
Douro DOP’s Grape varieties, Viticulture, Vitification?
Touriga Nacional (+many indigenous varieties)
Incredibly steep, terraced vineyards along the banks of the Douro.
Rich, dry, ripe and powerful red wine.
Usually blend with indigenous grapes.
In which DOP will you find wines made from the Alvarionho, Trajadura, and Loureiro grapes?
Vinho Verde
The Douro DOP shares the same appellation boundaries as which fortified wine?
Port
What description best characterizes the white wines from Vinho Verde DOP?
Youthful, high acid, low alcohol, slightly effervescent
Baixo Corgo is a sub-zone of which wine region?
Douro DOP
