Portugal - Alentejo Flashcards
Where does it lie? What’s the size?
Extends over much of SE Portugal, with Spanish border to the E and the Algarve mountains to the S, with a total planted area of 23,000 ha.
The DOC, Alentejo, is made up of 8 non contiguous sub zones.
Which DOC covers the same area as Alentejo DOC?
Vinho de Talha, introduced in 2010 for wines fermented on skins in talha (amphora), a traditional method thats seeing a renaissance
Which VR is used?
Alentejano, for P sourcing grapes from outside the 8 subzones.
What is the general climate of Alentejo?
Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and mild winters, the most inland parts have the most extreme temperatures.
Water availability in Alentejo?
500mm rainfall in the S, 800mm in the N, mainly falling in autumn and winter. With long periods of dry weather, drip irrigation is common.
What is topography, soils and typical training?
Generally plains and gentle slopes, though there’s mountains in the N, S and E of the region.
Wide range of soils, including granite, schist and limestone with textures ranging from sand to clay.
Most vineyards are trellised with double cordon and VSP. Replacement cane is declining due to the greater need for skilled labour; Alentejo is one of most sparsely populated areas of Portugal.
Which part of Alentejo is the least hot and dry? What’s the key subregion?
The northernmost in the Alto Alentejo. The sub region of Portalegre has vineyards planted over 800m, altitude and northerly latitude makes it the coolest, producing wines with fresher fruit and higher acidity.
Unlike the other subregions, Portalegres vineyards are small, different to other subregions, and are often orchard or Garden sized, and retains a significant number of field blend vineyards.
Which varieties are permitted?
A wide range range, for reds and whites, single varietal wines are the exception rather than the rule.
Black grape varieties make up just over 75% of plantings.
Which are key black varieties? Their characteristics?
Aragonez (Tinta Roriz), Alicante Bouschet and Trincadeira, often produced as a blend.
Harvest time is key for Aragonez, as an early ripening variety, if left on the vine it can become extra ripe, and is thought it grows best in cooler areas and sites.
Alicante Bouschet is red fleshed, contributing deep colour, acidity, tannins and red and black berry fruit.
Trincadeira is very susceptible to rot, but grows well in the dry climate in Alentejo, it tends to produce high yields, which need to be limited to fully ripen reliably. It has medium tannins and acidity, and blackberry and spice.
Touriga Nacional is sometimes blended to bring tannin and acidity.
Which international varieties are grown?
Some are permitted, Syrah is the most widely grown.
Cab sauv is decreasing, Petit Verdot (colour, spice and tannin) is increasing.
What are the typical styles of red wine produced? Significant P?
Range from inexpensive and fruity to super premium with concentrated flavours, spice from new oak and the structure to age for a decade or more.
Cartuxa and Mouchão.
What are key white varieties of Alentejo? Characteristics?
Arinto (Pedernã in Vinho Verde) is grown, and used for its ability to retain acidity.
Antão Vaz is tolerant of drought so well suited. Made in a range of styles including early picked and fresh to later picked, fuller bodied wines (often oaked) with tropical fruits, and talha wines with skin contact influence. It can lack acidity in the warmest sub regions (unless picked early) and therefore blended with Roupeiro and Arinto.
Which other white varieties are permitted, and which are growing in popularity? Typical winemaking and quality?
Chardonnay and Viognier, as are many Portuguese and international.
Alvarinho on the rise.
Either fermented in steel or barrels for texture.
Good to very good, most inexpensive to mid.
How much of domestic and export sales does Alentejo account for?
Larger sales than any other region.
37% of domestic sales by volume, and 40% by value.
20% of Portuguese exports. Main markets are Brazil, Angola, USA, Switzerland and Canada.
What has production been in the last 2 years?
•DOC
2017: 510,000hL
2018: 592,000hL (Reverse trend to the rest of Portugal)
•VR Alentejano
2017: 414,000hL
2018: 480,000hL
What are the average land holdings?
Different to the rest of Portugal, the average is high.
With high sunshine, dry summers, relatively flat topography and expansive plains and estates, Alentejo was seen as well suited to cost-effective, high volume, mechanised viticulture and EU funding enabled P to pursue this model.
In 1995 there was 45 P and 13,500ha. In early 2019 there were 285 P and almost 22,000 ha.
Vineyards tend to be relatively young and sizeable.
What other factor can be played on to enhance income?
Given the proximity to Lisbon, the region can be strongly focused on tourism.
A number of estates have designer wineries with large cellar doors and often produce a range of other products on site, such as olive oil and iberian ham, a model pioneered in the 1990s by successful business men José Roquette of Esporão and João Portugal Ramos.
