Portugal Flashcards
Which parts of Portugal experience a Continental climate?
Alentejo- Hot and Dry
Douro- Hot but dryness is reduced by the Douro River and its tributaries
The name of the first red wine of real quality produced in the Douro DOC
Barca Velha
What is Setubal and where is it found?
Setubal is a fortified dessert wine and is produced in Terras Do Sado VR in Portugal
What is the dominate climate type in Portugal?
Maritime with warm summers and cool wet winters
Name 3 subareas of Vinho Verde
Amarante, Ave, Baiao, Basto, Cavado, Lima, Monacao, Paiva, Sousa
Grapes of Portugal
Black: Baga, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Periquita
White: Loureiro, Alvarinho, Encruzado
Vini
1) Traditional Ferm. and use of old wood
2) Modern Ferm. with temp control and use of stainless and new oak
Soils of Portugal
Sandy near the coast
Douro and Doa- Granite
Bairrada- limestone and clay
Weather of Portugal
Rain can be a problem near the coast
Climate of Portugal
Maritime near coast (warm summers, cool damp winters) Continental inland (Douro, Dao, Alentejo) Mediterranean in the south
What is the single most important influence in Portugal?
The Atlantic Ocean
List the 5 most important red varietals in Portugal as discussed in WSET textbook
Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Aragones/ Tempranillo), Castelao, Baga, Trincadeira
List the 7 most important white varietals in Portugal as discussed in WSET textbook
Arinto, Trajadura, Loureiro, Alvarinho, Fernao, Pires, Antao Vaz
Describe the climate of the Dao
Because of its altitude and surrounding mountains is hot in summer but quite wet in winter
What style of wine is Setubal?
Sweet fortified wine- Muscat grape (Moscatel)
What are the varietals used for the best red wines in the Dao?
Touriga Nacional
Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
Alfrocheiro
When can Setubal be labeled Moscatel De Setubal?
When produced from a minimum of 85% Muscat D’ Alexandria
What is Garrafeira and what is its significance?
Garrafeira is a label term unique to Portugese wines. All wines using this term must have.
- Vintage stated on label
- Extra .5 ABV above the minimum for the DOC
- Specific aging requirements.
What is Colares and what is it famous for?
Colares is a DOC and it is famous for its ungraded ramisco vines.
Climate in Portugal?
Much climatic diversity. Most important influence is Atlantic—Maritime climate: warm summers, cool/ wet winters in land v/yards areas (Douro, Dao, Alentejo/ Alentejano)–Continental: Hot and Dry
Diversity in style of wine come from large differences in annual rainfall and avg. temp
How to identify IPR and DOC wines?
Paper seal (Selo De Origem) originally on neck of the bottle, now more as back label
In regards to wine law in Portugal what is the traditional Portugese equivalent to IGP that is registered with the EU?
Vinho Regional
In regards to wine law in Portugal what is traditional Portuguese equivalent to DOC that is registered with the EU?
DOP- Denominacao De Origem Protegida
Why has Portugal’s entry to the EU come as a blessing?
It has released funds to modernise the industry (stagnant under dictatorship of Antonio Salazar). First emphasis was on improving the cellars and equipment, now to v/yards. Greater respect to indigenous grape varieties, being more featured on labels. Single estate (Quinta) Instead of cooperative cellars, have come to the fore, decline in quantity, distinct increase in quality.
Indigenous or international grapes in Portugal?
Profusion of indigenous grapes (known in different regions under different names). For vinhos regionais international varieties are planted; eg Syrah, CS, blended with local varieties
Alentejo: Name? where? Also important for? Climate? Soil?
‘Beyond the Tagus’. South east of Lisbon, stretching to Spanish frontier. Is cork oak region. Continental climate, very low rainfall, hot summers. Soils predominately loam, mixed with granite and schist
Alentejo red?
Trincadeira: Dark plummy wines, hints of chocolate and coffee, further enhanced when aged in oak. Aragonez contributes to blends or bottled separately.
Tapada
Walled vineyard
Barriada Winemaker
Luis Pato
Ribatejo
Central South Coast (NR Lisbon)
Maritime Alluvial River Plans
Fernao Pires (Neutral White)
Castelao Frances/ Perquita (Red crisp acid and Raspberry fruit)
Palmela Geography and Winemaking
Coast South of Lisbon Warm Maritime Limestone Hills Sandy Plains Mechanised and stainless steel
Dao grapes
Jaen- lighter tannins
Touriga Nacional
Tina Roriz
Encruzado (full bodied nutty white)
Red bairrada
From Baga grape (style compared to Nebbiolo). Traditional fermented with stalks, took decades to reach their peak, needed decanting. Modern Baga still plenty of tannins and acidity but more peppery berry fruit.
White Bairrada?
15% of Bairrada production is white, mainly from highly acidic Bical grape. When made from fully ripe grapes: wonderful exotic, really perfume which becomes toasty with age.
Which grape dominates Bairrada and what kind of wine does it produce?
Baga is the dominant varietal and it makes up a minimum of 50% of the red blends and some of the best reds found in Portugal
Barriada Grapes
Baga (Red)
Bical (White)
Baga Wines
Like Nebb, Restrained fruit, High acid, High tannin (harsh), Decades of aging needed new styles destemmed, less tannic, pepper and berry.
Bical
High acid nutty in Barriada
Vinho Verde Trellising
Cruzeta (high cordon) on older plantings.
Double cordon wires for recent
Vinho Verde Grapes
Alvarinho- northern Monaco
DOC
Loureiro
Paderna
Vinho Verde Vinification
Traditionally Malo gave CO2 prickle
Now MLF avoided CO2 injected.
Vinho Verde ABV
Below 11.5% unless Alvarinho
Dao Geography
South of Duero, 80K inland.
Plateau 200/ 400m above sea level
Sheltered by mountains
Alentejo
Fashionable.
Lafite Rothchilds invested in 90s.
Inland South Central.
Few wine traditions so innovative.
What is Portugal’s largest DOC?
Vinho Verde
Describe the Portuguese wine quality pyramid.
High to low= DOCs> IPRs> Vinho Regional> Vinho De Mesa
Which portions of Portugal enjoy a Mediterranean climate? Maritime climate?
Med= inland and to the South Maritime= Coastal areas
Name Portugal’s largest wine producing region.
Estremadura
What is the soil composition of the Douro Valley?
Pre-Cambian schist and decomposed schist with outcroppings of granite and small areas of sand, Quartz and clay
What is the Cadastro? Name four of its criteria.
Vineyard ranking system in the Oporto: soil composition, production, slope, stoniness, locality, altitude, shelter, sun exposure/ aspect, grape varieties, training method, age of vines, density- graded A through F
Why is Vinho Verde (Green Wine) called Vinho Verde?
A young wine made for early consumption
What is Vila Nova De Gaia?
Town in Oporto, at one point it was the only place where you could legally store and ship port
What is the meaning of “Quinta”?
Farm
What are the main varieties used for red wines in the Douro?
Touriga Nacional Tinta Cao Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
List Vinho Verde DOP subregions
North to South: Moncao and Melagco, Lima, Cavado, Basto, Ave, Soussa, Amarante, Baiao, Paiva,