Portugal

Question 1

Portugal’s location

Answer 1

• most westerly country of continental Europe
• bordered by Atlantic on west and south
• bordered by Spain on north and east

Question 2

• overview of Portugal’s wines

Answer 2

• most famous for fortified (Port, Madeira)
• most grapes are made into unfortified wines
  
  • more red than white
  • wide range of quality indigenous grapes, though also international Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 3

Earliest days of wine in Portugal (up to 5AD)

Answer 3

• 2000BC Tartessians (from what is now Andalucia in S-W Spain) planted vines in Tagus & Sado valleys
• then Phoenicians (1500BC - 300BC) brought more vines
• Greeks 600BC onwards
• Romans 210BC - 5AD

Question 4

What links Portugal’s wine to England historically?

Answer 4

On-off wars with France

• Treaty of Windsor 1386 (close ties v Spain & France)
• Methuen Treaty 1703 (military, but gave low wine taxes, especially on Port)
• light, astringent reds from NW Portugal, then Port and later wines from around Lisbon

Question 5

Why were the 19th & 20th Century not kind to Portugal’s wine industry?

Answer 5

• Peninsular War (1807-14 with UK v France)
• Portuguese Civil War (1828-34)
• 1867+ Phylloxera devastation
• Antonio de Oliviera Salazar PM 1932-72 gave preference to coops. Over 100 in 50s & 60s volume poor wine: damaged Portugal’s reputation

Question 6

What two major Portuguese brands arose in 1940s ?

Answer 6

1. Mateus Rosé (1942)
   
   1. in 1980s it was (together with a white version) 0ver 40% Portugal still wine exports
2. Lancers Rosé (1944)

Question 7

Why did Portugual’s wine business improve from 1974 onwards?

Answer 7

• Carnation Revolution April 25 1974 overthrew Fascists
• Joined EU in 1986
  
  • low-interest loans, no trade restrictions ecouraged producers to make own wine
  • coops w/o govt protection had to change
  • money for training, modernisation (eg temp controlled tanks)
• 2011-14 EU/IMF bail-out forced dev of global export market - fortunately Portugal makes fresh white, ripe reds at inexpensive- med price with rare grapes

Question 8

Climate and growing environment of Portugal

Answer 8

• Very varied. Lots of microclimates
• West Portugal strongly influenced by Atlantic (cool, wet, esp to NW)
• More inland in north protected by mountains - continental climate, warmer, drier growing season
• Warm, drier South topography is rolling hills & plains
• Climate change
  
  • drought an issue in continental, inland areas eg Douro, Dao, Atlentejo
  • extreme weather eg Douro hail & storms, Dao wildfires in 2017

Question 9

Soils and their impact in Portugal

Answer 9

• In mountainous regions (Vinho Verde, Douro & Dão & hilly outcrops in Alentjo) schist or granite common
• Coastal regions further south (Bairrada, Losboa, Tejo & Peninsula de Setúbal) more varied - some clay with high limestone, others sandy.
• Fertile alluvial around riverbanks esp Tejo and Vinho Verde/Minho (though many grubbed up post 1986 joining EU, as emphasis on quality)

Question 10

What has the effect of joining the EU had on the Portuguese wine industry?

Answer 10

• Reduction in vineyards
  
  • 190000ha 2018 - 85000 less in 20 years
  • focus on quality, indigenous, better sites, more commercial, popular appeal eg
• Atlentejo
  
  • warm, sunny, flat topography (mechanisation), consultants, EU investment
  • quality, ripe, soft style for export & domestic
  • close to Lisbon - new estates cater for wine tourism

Question 11

what is Portugal’s annual production of wine in volume terms?

Answer 11

• Last ten years between 560m litres and 710m, depending on weather
• 99% mainland (1% Madeira, Azores)

Question 12

Risks and threats to wine production in Portugal

Answer 12

• Climate change extreme weather
  
  • hails and storms (Douro)
  • drought (Douro, Dao, Atlentejo)
  • wildfires (Dao 2017)
• Wet weather near coast - poor fruit set/ fungal disease
• ESCA (trunk disease) European grapevine moth