Portugal Flashcards
Climatic influence
Western Portugal is dominated by atlantic ocean bringing cold and humid air
Mountain on the east trap the air and create morning fogs
Wine law
Douro is considered one of the first demarcated wine area in the world in 1756.
1. Denominacao de origen controlada DOC composed by 31 areas
2. Vihno regional IGP
3. Vihno de mesa TABLE WINE
Principal white grapes
Alvarihno (vihno verde)
Loureiro (vihno verde)
antao vaz (tahla wines in alentejo)
arinto (coastal side)
bical ( bairrada)
encruzado (dao)
fernando pires(maria gomes) most planted variety
Malvasia fina (dao, douro and madeira)
Principal red varieties
alicante bouschet (north alentejo)
baga (bairrada)
bastardo (port blend)
touriga franca (most planted in douro)
touriga nacional (settled in port)
vihno verde
north east
granite soil
grape: alvarihno
area:moncao, melgaco, lima, cavado, basto, ave, amaranto, sousa, baiae, pavia
Vines are trained high so they don’t benefit from reflecting sunshine deliver unripe grapes.
High acidity, dry, low alcohol
Douro
Climate: hypercontinetal and arid
Key area:
-cima corgo (village of pinthiao soil: schist slopes overlooking the river
-Winds blowing from spain and Atlantic breeze create balance in the fruit
-Baixo corgo: cooler area designated for table wine
Considered one of the first wine region after the institution of “douro wine company”
Schist soil is considered a key feature for high quality production
Douro DOC born in 1998
Bairrada
West of dao mountain – flat side where ocean bring rain and fog
Name after the clay soil called barro perfectly suite baga grapes
Strong colour, flavour and alcohol
Style: sparkling wine (baga)
Grape: baga (red) | maria gomes and bical (white)
Mihno subregion
moncao, melcago, ave, basto, baiae, lima, cavado, amaranto, sousa, pavia
dao subregion
serra de estrela - alva - besteiros - singuleiros- castendo - terra de azurara
grape varieties of dao
touriga nacional (red)
encruzado and malvasia fina (white)
grape varieties of colares
ramisco and pasqueta(red)
malvasia fina (white)
specific of colares
westernmost wine region of europe
strong influence of ocean
Winemakers dig 2 m hole to plant grapes in order to protect it from the strong winds
soil called chao rijo based on limestone
prephylloxera grapes
setubal
low lying impacted by warm mediterranean winds
DOC: moscatel de setubal (sweet fortified wine made with a long postforticication process)
palmela (full body castelao)
alentejo
south of tagus river and north of algarve
Great diurnal swing
Min alc. 11,5 max 17.5
Vihno de talha
inside alentejo region
Wine are fermenting in clay pots mainly with antao vaz grape variety