portugal

Question 1

what is the climate of portugal?

Answer 1

small land lot of differences:

1) country has a maritim climate due the atlantic ocean
2) inland vineyards climat is hot dry and continental
3) in some regions the altitude helps to mitigate (matigen) the heat
4) large difference in annual temp

Question 2

vinho verde climate:

Answer 2

1) its nearest the atlantic ocean
2) moderate maritim climate
3) high annual rainfall
4) without carefull canopy management the high levels of rainfall can lead to vigoreous growth of leaves and the risk of fungal diseases and unripe grape is big
- – now they do VSP spur pruned ipv pergola system
- – vsp create airflow in the humid environment and allows mechanisation

Question 3

how does a classic vinho verde ?

Answer 3

1) pale lemon
2) high in aci
3) low alc 8%: usually off dry
if a certain subregion, grape variety or authorised quality labelling term is mentioned the wine can have up to 14% abv

Question 4

what are the grape varieties of vinho verde ?

Answer 4

• Loureiro
• arinto
• —- traditionally these wines has a slightly sparkling touch on the palet that enhance their freshness
• alvarinho: grow in a small designated subregion of Moncao en Melgaço
• – slightly has higher alc 11,5- 14% abv and riper more tropical aromas
• black varieties are also grown for the production of red and rosé ( reds deep and tannic, rosé light and fruity)

Question 5

what about the wine laws in portugal ?

Answer 5

1) pdo: Denominaçâo de Origem Protegida or Controlada
2) pgi: Indicaçao Geografica Protegida
- — but vinho regional is still marked on the label
3) tabel wine: vinho

Question 6

douro stretches from the ___ mountains till the frontier of spain.

Answer 6

thrue

Question 7

wine production is dominated by port, but dry unfortified wines always be made of the 5 black varieties:

Answer 7

1) Touriga Nacional
2) touriga franca
3) tinta roriz tempranillo
4) tinta barroca
5) tinta câo

Question 8

what kind of grape is touriga nacional ?

Answer 8

• considered as the highest quality grape
• low yields
• intense colour flavour and tann

Question 9

what kind of wine is a douro unfortified ?

Answer 9

• full body
• deeply coloured
• high ripe tann
• black fruit flavours
• the best subtle toast aromas

Question 10

do they make white in the douro ?

Answer 10

yes they tend to be fresh varietal fruit and med to high aci

Question 11

what is the climate and environment from dao ?

Answer 11

1) lies on a highly mountanious area 80 km south of Douro
2) the vines are planted on the gentler hills and slopes
3) the vineyards lay between 200 and 400 m above sea level
4) cold, wet winters, combined with a significant diference betw day and night temp
- — excellent conditions for high quality grapes

Question 12

the red wines from dao often display:

Answer 12

• red fruity delicate
• soft tann
• high aci

Question 13

what are the grape varieties of dao ?

Answer 13

• touriga nacional
• tinta roriz (tempranillo)
• Jaen (mencia in spain)
• alfrocheiro

Question 14

what are the features of wines from grape alfrocheiro ?

Answer 14

• deep in colour

- intense aromas of blackberry and strawberry

Question 15

are there white wines in dao ?

Answer 15

the best dao whites are made of encruzado grape and can be light and fresh to richer barrel ferm wines

Question 16

what can you tell me about bairrada ?

Answer 16

1) lies between dao and the atlantic ocean
2) maritim climat
- - rain arround harvest time can sometimes being a problem for lateripening varieties
3) Baga is the black grape variety:
- late ripener
- thick skin
- deep colour
- high tann
- – if unripe the wines can give an high aci and astringent tann
- – later picking wines gives softer wines with rich black fruit
- — gentler crushing and maceration techniques has also led to smoother wines
4) other portugese black grapes are very important as: touriga nacional, alfrocheiro as wel as international varieties like cab s, merlot and syrah

Question 17

what kind of grapes are there in bairrada for white wines ?

Answer 17

Bical and maria gomez

Question 18

overall alentejo has a warm growing season but small climatic differences among the subregions allow different styles of wine:

Answer 18

1) those in the cooler north give more elegant wines

2) those in the hotter, drier example gives richer examples

Question 19

what is the typical blend of alentejo ?

Answer 19

• aragonez (tempranillo)
• trincadeira: drought tolerant grape with red berry flavours and high level of tann
• alicante bouchet: high in colour and high tann
• – the use of touriga nacional and syrah has increased the last years that give wines with deep colour, soft tannin and expressive ripe fruit flavours

Question 20

what white grapes makes a alentejo white ?

Answer 20

• arinto
• antao vaz
• roupeiro make fruity floral wines with med to high acidity
• some are ferm or aged in oak to add complxity

Question 21

the largest vinho regional is arround alentejo

Answer 21

thrue