Portugal * Flashcards
What are Portugal’s main wine classification tiers?
Portugal’s 2009 Reform created DOP (Denominação de Origem Protegida, equivalent to DOC), IGP (Indicação Geográfica Protegida, or VR), and basic table wine (Vinhos de Mesa).
How many DOPs and IGPs exist in Portugal?
Portugal has 31 DOPs and 14 IGPs. DOPs are nested within IGPs but can be declassified to the broader category.
What is the lowest category of Portuguese wine?
Vinhos de Mesa (table wine) is the simplest category with no geographic designation.
Define “Garrafeira” in Portuguese wine terms.
Garrafeira indicates additional aging: for white/rosé, 1 year total (6 months in bottle); for red, 30 months total (12 in bottle). Port Garrafeira requires 8 years in glass demijohns.
What does “Reserva” mean on a Portuguese wine label?
For still wine, “Reserva” means the wine has at least +0.5% ABV above the legal minimum. For sparkling, it requires a minimum of 12 months on lees.
What does “Colheita Seleccionada” imply on a label?
It indicates the wine is +1% ABV above the legal minimum for that category.
Name the main IGP and DOP covering the Douro and Port.
The IGP is Duriense, which contains two DOPs: Porto DOP (for fortified Port) and Douro DOP (for dry wines).
What are the three subzones of the Douro from west to east?
Baixo Corgo (westernmost), Cima Corgo (central), and Douro Superior (easternmost).
List key red grape varieties in the Douro.
Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, and Trincadeira (Tinta Amarela) are the major red varieties.
Name some important white grapes in the Douro and Port region.
Arinto, Cercial, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Sercial (Esgana Cão), Verdelho, and Viosinho are notable Douro whites.
Where is Porto located relative to the Douro vineyards?
Porto (and Vila Nova de Gaia) is on the Atlantic coast about 80 miles west of the main Douro vineyards around Pinhão.
Describe the Douro’s climate and terrain.
It is continental: hot, dry summers and cold winters, protected by mountain ranges. Soils are poor, often schist or slate, producing concentrated grapes.
What historical treaties boosted Port wine trade with England?
The 1386 Treaty of Windsor and the 1703 Treaty of Methuen facilitated strong trade partnerships for Portuguese wine, especially fortified Douro wines.
When was the Douro Wine Company established, and why is it significant?
Established in 1756, it was one of the first attempts at regulating wine production (Port) by demarcating vineyard zones and quality controls.
What are typical styles of dry Douro DOP wines?
Douro DOP includes dry reds (tannic, oak-aged blends), whites (fresh or oaked), rosado, sparkling (minimum 9 months on lees), late-harvest, and Moscatel do Douro (fortified).
Name the primary styles of Port DOP.
Tawny, Ruby, White, Rosado (Pink Port) are broad categories, with further subdivisions such as Vintage, LBV, Colheita, Aged Tawnies, etc.
How is Vintage Port aged and bottled?
Vintage Port is bottled by July 30 of the second year after harvest and must age at least until the third year before release. It’s typically unfiltered and meant for long bottle aging.
Define LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) Port.
LBV is from a single vintage, aged 4–6 years in cask before bottling. It’s ready to drink upon release, though some LBVs can age further in bottle.
What is Colheita Port?
A single-vintage Tawny Port aged at least 7 years in cask before bottling (often aged much longer).
Explain Aged Tawny Port categories (10/20/30/+40 years).
These indicate an approximate average age in cask, labeled as 10, 20, 30, or over 40 years, with “Velho” used from 10–30 and “Muito Velho” at 40+.
What is “Crusted” Port?
Crusted Port is typically a blend of vintages, bottled unfiltered, creating sediment (crust) in the bottle, somewhat akin to Vintage Port in style.
How long must Reserva Tawny Port age in cask?
Reserva Tawny requires a minimum of 7 years cask aging. (Ruby Reserva doesn’t require a specific time.)
What is a Single Quinta Vintage Port?
A Vintage Port produced from a single estate (quinta), often in non-declared vintage years when the house believes the vineyard merits a special bottling.
Name a few famous Port houses and their key quintas.
Dow’s: Quinta do Bomfim; Graham’s: Quinta dos Malvedos; Quinta do Vesuvio (independent); Taylor-Fladgate: Quinta de Vargellas; Warre’s: Quinta da Cavadinha.
