Portugal and Fortified Wine Flashcards
What is Enforcado?
A traditional vine training method similar to a pergola system used in Vinho Verde.
What are the French, Italian, and Portuguese terms for pomace brandy?
Marc, Grappa, and Bagaceira
Describe the Canteiro method of Madeira production.
Used for the best wines, cask aged for at least 2 years in lodge attics. A more gentle, natural warmth than estufagem. May only be bottled after 3 years of aged, but many are age 20+ years before being transferred to glass demijohns. Fortified during or immediately after fermentation, and may be fortified again if alcohol decreases over time.
Who makes Quinta do Agua Alta?
Churchill
What are the sub-regions of Encostas de Aire?
Alcobaça and Ourém (northern end of the Lisboa IGP)
What are the subregions of the Douro Valley?
Cima Corgo, Baixo Corgo, Douro Superior
Name the single quinta bottling from:
A. Fonseca
B. Graham’s
C. Taylor’s
A. Quinta do Panascal
B. Quinta dos Malvedos
C. Quinta da Vargellas
Name three white Port grapes.
Arinto, Verdelho, Viosinho, Donzelina Branca, Malvasia Fina, Rabigato
What are the red grapes of Vinho Verde?
Red: Amaral, Borraçal, Alvarelhão, Espadeiro, Padeiro, Pedval, Rabo-de-Anho, Vinhão
What are the two processes used to subject Madeira to heat?
Estufagem & Canteiro
What are the four noble white grapes of Madeira?
Sercial (aka Esgana Cão), Verdelho (aka Gouveio), Bual (aka Boal, Malvasia Fina), Malmsey (Malvasia Candida)
Approximately how many miles off the coast of Portugal does Madeira lie?
625
What is the major city of Douro?
Lamego
What were the two categories that the Douro Wine Company originally established for Port vineyards in 1756?
Feitoria – the 335 best vineyards, marked with stones, signifying fruit destined for export.
Rama – lesser vineyards for domestic consumption
What is the regulatory body for Port?
Douro Port Wine Institute (IVDP)
What does it mean for Madeira to be called Vinho do Roda, Vinho da Torna, or Vinho da Volta?
Wines that underwent to “torna viagem” (round trip) to the North American colonies. These wines commanded higher prices early on in Madeira production.
What does “torna viagem” mean in the context of Madeira production?
Translates to “round trip” and describes the wines that were naturally heated as they traveled through the tropics to the North American colonies and back.
Name the 14 IGPs of Portugal.
Minho, Transmontano, Duriense, Terras do Dão, Terras de Cister, Terras de Beira, Beira Atlântico, Tejo, Lisboa, Alentejano, Península de Setúbal, Algarve, Terras Madeirenses, Açores
What does Garrafeira directly translate to? What does it mean on a bottle of Tinto? Branco? Port?
Translates to “private wine cellar” – indicates a min. period of aging prior to release. Tinto - 30 months, with at least 12 in bottle. Branco & Rosado – 12 months, with at least 6 in bottle. Port – must be aged for 8 years in glass demijohns after cask aging.
What does “Reserva” denote on a bottle of Portuguese wine?
DOP or IGP still table wines with .5% ABV higher than required. For traditional method sparkling wines, this indicates 12 months on the lees prior to disgorgement.
What does “Colheita Seleccionada” mean on a bottle of Portuguese wine?
1% higher ABV than required
What grape did Fonseca bottle under the “Periquita” brand, becoming a synonym for the grape?
Castelão
What is the most widely planted red grape in Portugal?
Castelão
What does “casta” mean in Portugal?
Grape varietal
Name two synonyms for Touriga Nacional.
Bical Tinto, Mortágua Preto
What is the Portuguese synonym for Mencía?
Jaen
Name two Portuguese synonyms for Tempranillo.
Tinta Roriz, Aragonez
What is the most planted white grape in Portugal? What is a synonym for it and in what region is it called that?
Fernão Pires, known as Maria Gomes in Bairrada
What IGP is in the far northwestern corner of Portugal?
Minho
What DOP shares exact geographic boundaries with the Minho IGP?
Vinho Verde DOP.
What is the largest DOP in Portugal?
Vinho Verde DOP.
What is the most planted white grape of the Minho? What are the secondary grapes?
Loureiro; Trajadura (Treixadura), Avesso, Pedernã (Arinto), Alvarinho.
What sub-region of Vinho Verde is well known for its varietal Alvarinho? What sub-region of Rias Baixas is it directly across the Minho river from?
Monção & Melgaço; Condado do Tea
What are the methods used for achieving slight effervescence in Vinho Verde?
Whites are traditionally injected with CO2, reds undergo carbonic maceration.
Name the 9 sub-regions of Vinho Verde, from north to south.
Monçao & Melgaço, Lima, Cávado, Basto, Ave, Sousa, Amarante, Baião, Paiva
What IGP is located to the east of Minho along the Spanish border?
Transmontano
What is the DOP zone of the Transmontano IGP?
Trás-o-Montes
What are the 3 non-contiguous sub-regions of the Trás-o-Montes DOP from west to east?
Chaves, Valpaços, Planaito Mirandés
What IGP were Douro and Porto once a part of before the creation of the Duriense IGP?
Transmontano
What IGP borders Duriense on the north?
Transmontano
What are the DOPs of Duriense?
Douro & Porto
What mountain ranges define the Duriense IGP?
Marão & Montemuro mountains
What is the preferred soil type for Port?
Schist
Name the three sub-zones of the Douro, from west to east.
Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, Douro Superior
What does “Reserva” and “Grande Reserva” denote on Douro wines?
White & Rosado – 11.5% instead of 10.5% ABV, with at least 6 months aging
Reds – 12% vs. 11% ABV, 1 year aging
Grande Reserva is determined by a tasting panel
When did Portugal attain EU membership? What Port shipping law was changed?
Prior to 1986 (EU membership), all Port was required to be shipped from Villa Nova de Gaia, a suburb of Oporto, the Atlantic. This was restrictive for smaller quintas.
What four IGPs in the Beiras zone split into?
Terras do Dão, Terras de Cister, Terras da Beira, and Beira Atlântico
What is the designated sub-zone of the Beira Atlântico IGP?
Terras do Sicó
What are the three sub-zones of the DOP Beira Interior?
Beira Castelo Rodrigo, Cova da Beira, Pinhel
What style of wine accounts for 3/4 of production in the Dão DOP.
Red wine.
What sub-region of the Dão is named for Portugal’s highest mountain range? Name the other six sub-regions.
Serra da Estrela; Alva, Besteiros, Castendo, Silgueiros, Terras de Azurara, Terras de Senhorim
What is the major red grape of the Dão?
Touriga Nacional
Name three white grapes of the Dão?
Encruzado, Bical, Cercial
What additional designation may be assigned to wines from the Dão? What does it designate?
“Nobre” (aka “Noble”) – more alcohol, barrel aging, and cepage requirements.
What are the cepage requirements for the Barraida DOP?
At least 50% Baga.
What white grapes are common in the Bairrada DOP?
Maria Gomes & Arinto
What does “Bairrada Classico” denote?
All native grapes, with at least 12.5% ABV (vs. the 11% required by the DOP).
What are the DOPs of the Terras do Dão IGP?
Dão DOP & Lafões DOP
What is the DOP of the Terras de Cister IGP?
Távora-Varosa DOP
What is the DOP of the Beira Atlântico IGP?
Bairrada DOP
What is the DOP of the Terras da Beira IGP?
Beira Interior DOP
What geographic feature defines the southern end of the Lisboa IGP?
The Tagus River meets the Atlantic
What are the nine DOPs of the Lisboa IGP?
Bucelas, Colares, Carcevelos, Arruda, Torres Vedras, Alenquer, Óbidos, Lourinhã, and Encostas de Aire
What IGP releases the greatest volume of wine?
Lisboa IGP
What is the main grape of the Bucelas DOP? What style of wine is made there?
Dry white wines from min. 75% Arinto
What DOP of Lisboa produces aguardente rather than wine?
Lourinhã
What style of wine is made in the Carcavelos DOP of Lisboa?
Fortified, sweet wines that are aged for two years in barrel and 6 months in bottle.
What is Vinho Abafado?
A partially fermented must preserved with alcohol; used for fortification in the Carcavelos DOP of Lisboa.
What IGP is located across the Tagus Estuary from Lisboa? What other estuary defines the region?
Peninsula de Setúbal; Sado
What are the two DOPs of the Peninsula de Setúbal IGP?
Setúbal & Palmela
Where would you find the Arrabida Mountain range?
Palmela DOP of the Peninsula de Setúbal IGP.
What Portuguese wines gained notoriety alongside Madeira for their “torra viagem” process?
Licoroso wines from the Peninsula de Setúbal.
Who is the leading licoroso producer of the Peninsula de Setúbal?
JM Fonseca
What is another name for Portugal’s Tagus river, and which regions derive their name from it?
Tejo River; Alentejano & Tejo
What is the only IGP of Portugal that is landlocked by other Portuguese IGPs?
Tejo IGP; Lisboa to the west, Alentejano to the east, Beiras to the north, Peninsula de Setúbal to the south.
What is the DOP of Tejo IGP? What was it formerly known as? What are its six sub-regions?
DoTejo DOP, formerly Ribatejo. Sub-regions: Almeirim, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Coruche, Santarém, Tomar
What IGP covers 30% of Portugal’s landmass?
Alentejano
What is the DOP of Alentejano IGP?
Alentejo DOP
What are the 8 sub-zones of Alentejo DOP?
Moura, Granja-Amareleja, Évora, Vidigueria, Reguengos, Redondo, Borba, Portalegrew
What is the most prominent grape variety of the Alentejo DOP?
Trincadeira
What region of Portugal has the most widespread plantings of quercus suber (cork trees)?
Alentejano IGP
What is the southernmost IGP on the Portuguese mainland?
Algarve
What are the 4 DOP zones of the Algarve IGP?
Lagos, Lagoa, Portimão, Tavira
What are the traditional red and white grape varietals of Algarve IGP?
Red – Castelão & Tinta Negra Mole
White – Arinto & Síria
Where would you find the Açores islands?
About 1000 miles off the coast of Portugal
Which three islands of the Açores isles have DOP zones? What are the DOPs? How many islands are there total?
9 total islands
Pico, Pico DOP
Terceira, Biscoitos DOP
Graciosa, Graciosa DOP
Which island of the Açores is a World Heritage Site, and what style of wine is made there?
Pico; fortified wine that must be at least 16% ABV and aged for a minimum of three years in barrel. Verdelho, Artino & Terrantez are used in production.
Name the three DOPs of the Açores isles and the styles of wine made on each.
Pico & Biscoitos – fortified white wine from Verdelho, Arinto & Terrantez
Graciosa – unfortified, dry table wines
Name the two inhabited isles of the Madeira archipelago.
Madeira & Porto Santo
What are the two DOP zones of the Madeira archipelago, and what styles of wine are made on each?
Madeira – DOP for fortified wine
Madeirense – Unfortified wine, may be branco, tinto, or rosado
What are the three major methods of fortification? Name an example of each.
1) Fermentation arrested with spirit, leaving RS (Port)
2) Fortification after fermentation (Sherry)
3) Fortification before fermentation (Mistelles, Pineau des Charantes, etc.)
When was the Oporto appellation first demarcated?
1756
What is the regulatory body for Port production?
IVDP – Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro
What is the “law of the third”?
Lei do Tergo – a decree from the IVDP that restricts annual sales of Port to 1/3 of the house’s total inventory.
What is beneficio authorization? Who grants it? What is it based on?
Beneficio authorization is the maximum amount of wine that may be fortified in a given year; it is given to growers by the IVDP. It is based on a matrix of 12 factors.
For beneficio authorization, how many total points are available? How many points give you an “A” grade? How many a “B” grade?
2,361 total points available. Over 1,200 is an “A”; 1,001-1,200 is a “B”.
What are the 12 factors for beneficio authorization in Portugal?
7 soil & climate factors: location, altitude, exposure, bedrock, rough matter, slope & shelter
5 vine factors: type of vine, planting density, yield, training system, and vine age
What are the max. yields for Port production?
55 hl/ha for red grapes; 65 hl/ha for white grapes.
What are the 9 preferred red grapes for Port? What portion of the blend must they make up?
60% – Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cão, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Francisca, Bastardo & Mourisco Tinto.
What are the preferred white grapes of Port production?
Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Rabigato, Esgana Cão, and Folgasão
What does it mean for vines to be planted “Vinhos ao Alta”? Where would you find this?
It is a method that abandons terraces and instead plants vines in a vertical line directly up a slope; used rarely in the steep slopes of the Douro for Port production.
What are patamares?
Wider terraces that can be navigated by tractors in the Douro.
Is mechanized harvest allowed for Port production?
No.
What are autovinifiers, and where were they traditionally found? Why? What other “auto” has been commonplace in this region?
Autovinifiers are an Algerian vinification technology whereby fermenting wine would be pumped over the cap by virtue of its own build-up of gas. Labor was/is scarce in the remote Douro, which caused Port producers to adopt this method, as well as automated treading machines.
What are lagares?
Traditionally, for Port production, grapes were foot crushed and fermented in low, open, granite troughs called lagares – rare nowadays.
What is the average length of fermentation for Port?
2-3 days
What is the word used for mutage in Port production?
Beneficio
Approximately how much of the sugar content of has been converted to alcohol when Port is fortified?
1/3
What is used to fortify Port, and to what ABV is it fortified to?
Aguardente – “burning water” – a 77% ABV grape distillate. The wines are fortified to 19-22% ABV
In approximately what ratio is aguardente added to the wine in the process of fortifying Port?
1 part aguardente: 4 parts wine
What is the size of a pipe, and where is it used?
The traditional barrel for aging and shipping Port. 534.24 liters is the set size for shipping, but pipes for aging can range from 550-620 L.
Where were Tawny Ports traditionally aged and why? When did it cease being mandatory?
Until 1986 – when Portugal joined the EU – Tawnies were aged in lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia, a suberb of Oporto, because it was cooler than the Douro.
What are the aging requirements for Vintage Port?
Must be aged in cask before being bottled by 7/30 of the third year after harvest?
How long must a Reserve Tawny Port be aged?
At least 7 years in cask before bottling
What does the age statement (10, 20, 30, 40) indicate on a bottle of Tawny Port?
It is not the average age of the blend, but an assessment by a tasting panel at the IVDP
What is Colheita Port?
Tawny port that is vintage dated and must spend at least 7 years in cask.
Describe LBV Port? What does it mean if it is labeled “Envelhecido en Garrafa”?
Late-bottled Vintage Port. Spends between 4-6 years in cask prior to bottling, single vintage, are filtered (unlike vintage port) and generally do not improve with bottle age. If labeled “Envelhecido en Garrafa,” it indicates an additional min. 3 years of bottle aging.
How many Madeira producers are there? Name them.
Only 8 producers (not shippers, traders, etc.): HM Borges, Henriques & Henriques, Madeira Wine Company, D’Oliveira, Barbeito, Vinhos Justino Henriques, Faria & Filhos, Artur de Barros e Sousa (does not export)
Who is the longest continually operating Madeira producer?
Henriques & Henriques, founded in 1850. D’Oliveira was also founded in 1850, but as a partidista.
Who is the largest independent Madeira producer, and the only company to rely on estate vineyards vs. purchased fruit?
Henriques & Henriques
What producer makes Blandy’s & Cossart Gordon Madeira?
The Madeira Wine Company
Who is the largest Madeira producer today, responsible for half of all exports?
Justino Henriques
What are poios?
Terraces on the isle of Madeira that line the island’s perimeter; sustained by walls of basalt
How are vines trained on the isle of Madeira? What are latadas, and how do they relate to training?
Vines are trained in a pergola system, suspended on low trellises known as latadas in order to combat fungal disease (sub-tropical climate!)
What are leradas?
Canals used on the isle of Madeira to irrigate the island with the rainfall from higher altitude sites.
What is the regulatory body of Madeira?
IVBAM – the Wine, Embroidery, and Handicraft Institute of Madeira
What are the three types of companies involved in the Madeira wine trade? Give an example of each.
1) Production companies (Henriques & Henriques, D’Oliveira, Barbeitos)
2) Shipping companies – usually based in London (Broadbent)
3) Partidistas – store wine and sell it at maturity to other traders (rare)
What is Madeira’s capital?
Funchal
What are the four noble white grapes of Madeira? Name synonyms where appropriate?
Sercial (Esgana Cão), Verdelho (Gouveio), Boal (Bual, Malvasia Fina), Malmsey (Malvasia Candida, Malvasia Branca de São Jorge)
What is the most planted grape of Madeira, making up 85% of all production? What is it a crossing of?
Tinta Negra; Garnacha x Pinot Noir
How much of a grape must be present in a bottling of Madeira if it is varietally labeled?
85% if NV, 100% if vintage
When did phylloxera hit Madeira, and what were four major outcomes?
1872–
- Tinta Negra replaced Verdelho as the the most planted grape
- American hybrids were introduced
- Two noble grapes of the 19th century – Bastardo & Terrantez – were not replanted
- Hectares of vines decreased from 3000 to approx. 500
Order the four noble white grapes of Madeira from sweetest to driest.
Malmsey
Bual
Verdelho
Secial
Describe the four noble white grapes of Portugal in regards to when they are harvested and how long they spend fermenting on the skins.
Malmsey & Bual are harvested first and undergo a short fermentation with skins; Verdelho & Sercial are harvested last and separated from skins prior to fermentation.
Which of the four noble white grapes of Madeira is Terrantez said to have approximately equivalent sweetness to?
Verdelho
What is the ABV of the spirit used for Madeira fortification, and where does it come from?
95% ABV; France
Describe the Estufagem process of Madeira?
Wines are heated in estufa, stainless steel vats that circulate hot water via coils to a temperature of 45-50’C (113-122’F). Heated for at least 3 months.
What is estágio?
The period of rest that Madeira must undergo after being heated and before barrel age – approx. 90 days.
When in relation to harvest can Madeira heated through Estufagem be released?
Not until 2 years after harvest.
What are armazens de calor?
Armazens de Calor are heated rooms used for Madeira production; a gentler variation on the Estufagem process. Lower temps over a longer period of time.
What is the minimum age that a Canteiro Madeira may be released at?
3 years of age
What grape(s) is Rainwater Madeira usually composed of?
Usually 100% Tinta Negra
How old are Seleccionada Madeiras?
3-5 years of age.
What are the age designates for Reserva Madeira, Reserva Especial, and Extra Reserve?
Reserva – 5-10 years
Reserva Especial – 10-15 years
Extra Reserve – 15-20 years
If a Madeira is aged in solera, what method must be used to heat it?
Canteiro
What are the conditions for Colheita Madeira?
- 85% of the grapes must come from the stated vintage
- Aged for a minimum of 5 years before bottling
What are the conditions for Frasqueira Madeira?
- Aged for a min. 20 years in casks
- 85% of stated vintage (may be topped up with younger wine)
- Heated via the Canteiro method
What is the hottest wine region in Spain?
Jerez!
What province is Jerez located in?
Cádiz
What river borders Jerez to the NW? What town marks its border on the SE?
Guadalquivir River; Chiclana de la Frontera
What are the three towns that are at the center of Sherry production? How many towns are there total? Name the others. Which is the only outside the province of Cádiz?
1) Jerez de la Frontera
2) Puerto de Santa María
3) Sanlúcar de Barrameda
4) Chiclana de Frontera
5) Puerto Real
6) Rota
7) Chipiona
8) Trebujena
9) Lebrija (in Seville, not Cádiz)
What are the three principal soil types of Jerez? What defines each? Which is the most desirable and why?
1) Albariza – chalky, porous, limestone rich. Most desirable as it allows roots to penetrate and retains moisture. Concentrated in Jerez Superior
2) Barros – fertile clay in low lying valleys
3) Arenas – sandy, more prominent in coastal areas
What are the two DO zones for Sherry?
Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda
What two winds help define the climate of Jerez and what does each do?
The levante wind intensifies the region’s heat, blowing from the east and cooking the grapes on the vine during ripening; the humid, Atlantic poniente wind promotes the growth of flor
Where is Jerez Superior?
Between Sanlúcar de Barrameda and the Guadalete River, which flows into the Bay of Cádiz, just south of Jerez de la Frontera.
What is the largest Pago in Jerez? How big is it?
Macharnudo, over 2000 acres
What are the three grapes authorized for production in Jerez? Include synonyms where appropriate. Which makes of 95% of the vineyard acreage?
Palomino (aka Listán) – 95% of vineyard acreage in Jerez
Pedro Ximénez
Moscatel (Muscat of Alexandria)