Portugal

Question 1

Whites from Portugal are best drunk when?

Answer 1

Young

Question 2

What is the most important climatic influence in Portugal?

Answer 2

The Atlantic

Question 3

Much of Portugals climate is Maritime. What is much of the climate where it is not Maritime? What is the major moderating influence in these parts?

Answer 3

Dry, hot, continental

Altitude

Question 4

What contributes to the wide array of wine styles and native varietals in Portugal, despite the country’s size?

Answer 4

Large differences in annual average temperatures around the country

Question 5

What are the five main DOCs?

Answer 5

DOC Vinho Verde
DOC Douro
DOC Dao
DOC Bairrada
DOC Alentejo

Question 6

What is a Vinho Regional? What is the largest in Portugal?

Answer 6

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

Vinho Regional Alentejano

Question 7

What is the most significant climatic feature of Vinho Verde?

Answer 7

Rainfall

Question 8

Trellising systems in Vinho Verde have shifted from … to …, why?

Answer 8

Pergola to VSP

To allow for mechanisation and improve health and quality of the grapes

Question 9

What pruning method is used on the VSP-trellised vines of Vinho Verde?

Answer 9

Spur-pruning

Question 10

What is the ABV of classic Vinho Verde wines? (colour/intensity, acidity, ABV %s, sweetness)
What changes if the wine is labelled with a variety, sub-region or authorised quality labelling term?

Answer 10

Pale lemon, high acidity, 8-11.5% ABV, off-dry

Wines can be up to 14% ABV and are more likely to be dry

Question 11

The low alcohol (8-11.5%) Vinho Verde whites traditionally have a slight sparkling sensation which adds to freshness. These wines will be made from which two local varieties?

Answer 11

Loureiro

Arinto

Question 12

A white wine from Vinho Verde that exhibits riper, more tropical aromas, might be made from which grape and have an ABV between … and …%?

Answer 12

Alvarinho

11.5% and 14%

Question 13

Reds from Vinho Verde might be rich and tannin; roses are?

Answer 13

Fresh and fruity

Question 14

What is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world?

Answer 14

Douro

Question 15

Which of the Port grapes grown in Douro is best known? What is significant about this grapes yields? It’s intense colour and flavour is matched by high…?

Answer 15

Touriga Nacional
Low yielding
Tannins

Question 16

Douro white wines will show fresh varietal characters and medium to high acidity, especially when grown where?

Answer 16

High altitude vineyards

Question 17

What is the climate in Douro?
What blocks most of the Atlantic rain reaching the vineyards?
What is significant about soils in Douro and the vines’ access to water?

Answer 17

Maritime
Serra do Marao
Schist bedrock which easily cracks vertically, allowing roots access to underground water reserves

Question 18

What is the topography like in Dao?
What are the winters and summers like?
How's the diurnal? 
Is altitude a moderating influence?
What do these conditions result in?

Answer 18

Mountainous with vineyards on gentler hills and slopes
Winters are cold and wet
Summers are warm and dry
Diurnal is Large
Yes
High quality grapes

Question 19

Vineyard improvement schemes in Dao have seen new plantings of which four high quality black varieties?

Answer 19

Touriga Nacional
Tinta Roriz
Alfrocheiro
Jaen (Mencia)

Question 20

What two intense aromas are typical of Alfrocheiro? Where is this grape most relevant?

Answer 20

Blackberry
Strawberry
Dao

Question 21

Where is the black grape Baga the dominant grape variety?

Answer 21

Bairrada

Question 22

Baga is thick-skinned and ripens when?

Answer 22

late

Question 23

What is done to manage Baga’s high tannin and astringency? (4)

Answer 23

Later picking
Gentle crushing
Gentle maceration
Blending

Question 24

Which two black grapes that are relevant in Dao also relevant in Bairrada?
What international grapes make an appearance here?

Answer 24

Alfrocheiro
Touriga Nacional
Merlot, Cab Sauv and Syrah

Question 25

Bical and Maria Gomes are what colour grapes from which Portugese region?

Answer 25

White

Bairrada

Question 26

While in the northern subregions it is cooler and wetter, the overall growing season temperature for the region is warm. Where are richer wines found?

Answer 26

In the middle and southern subregions

Question 27

What two grapes are typically blended in Alentejo?

What third grape is often used in blends, bringing tannin and colour?

Answer 27

Aragones (Tempranillo)
Trincadeira (tannin, red fruit, drought resistant)

Alicante Bouschet

Question 28

Spicy red berry notes, drought resistant with high levels of tannin describes which native grape?

Answer 28

Trincadeira

Question 29

What are Aragones and Tinta Roriz?

Answer 29

Portugese names for Tempranillo

Question 30

Arinto, Antao Vaz and Roupeiro are all what colour grapes from which region in Portugal?

Answer 30

White

Alentejo

Question 31

What is the name of the largest Vinho Regional (IGP or IGP)?

Answer 31

Vinho Regional Alentejano

Question 32

Winemaking regulations are much more liberal in Vinho Regional Alentejano, particularly when it comes to the use of more grape varieties, in particular … varieties?

Answer 32

International