Portugal History

Question 1

Where does Portugal rank in production in the world’s Top 20?

Answer 1

No.11

Question 2

Where does it rank in consumption?

Answer 2

No.7

Question 3

About how many native varietals are in Portugal?

Answer 3

over 200.

Question 4

What ancient cultures pre-date the arrival of wine in Portugal?

Answer 4

Phoenicians
Greeks
Celts
Romans

Question 5

What was the treaty of Windsor?

Answer 5

Signed in 1386 by the Portuguese, 100 years after dispelling the Moors after the fall of the Roman Empire. Established a diplomatic alliance between the two countries that would allow for extensive trading.

Question 6

T or F. Portuga developed the first real Navy in Modern Europe?

Answer 6

True.

Question 7

In what year was the Madiera archipelago discovered?

Answer 7

1419

Question 8

How far away in miles is Madiera from Portugal?

Answer 8

625 mi

Question 9

What is Madiera known as?

Answer 9

The isle of wood.

Question 10

What supposedly happened for seven years after they found this island?

Answer 10

Set a fire that burned for seven years because the forest was so heavy wooded. They wanted to make it suitable for agriculture.

Question 11

Did this become and important stopping point for ships on their way to The New World and India.

Answer 11

Yes

Question 12

In what year did two Englishmen discover Porto (Port) in Lamego?

Answer 12

1678 - Lamego a mountain town in the Douro Valley.

Question 13

What did the English find in the town of Lamego, in the Douro Valley?

Answer 13

Porto - a monastery (abbot) that practiced “mutage”

Question 14

What is “mutage”?

Answer 14

arresting of fermenting wine with brandy in order to preserve sweetness.

Question 15

What was the Treaty of Methuen?

Answer 15

1703, establishing a long-lasting trade agreement between the two nations and preferential tariffs for Portuguese wines. In the last 50 years or so there was off and on again embargo on French wines.

Question 16

By the mid-18th century, Portuguese wine accounted for nearly what % of all imported wine in England, and Port was its most desirable product.

Answer 16

two-thirds

Question 17

Who was Christiano Kopke?

Answer 17

A German who founded the house of Kopke in 1638, four decades before the first recorded shipment of Porto to England, but the English market drove the wine’s fame and popularity.

Question 18

What English Port houses had been established by 1700?

Answer 18

Warre & Co.
Croft
Taylor’s

Question 19

Why did the price of Port in the 1740’s ad 1750’s drop so rapidly.

Answer 19

Houses were using improper methods of production to meet a high demand that they couldn’t keep up with.

1. aromatized wines
2. added excessive amounts of sugar and alcohol
3. achieved deeper color with the addition of elderberry—a technique perhaps borrowed from the Champenoise

Question 20

What restored the English confidence in Port after producers used incorrect methods of production?

Answer 20

Portuguese government created the Companhia Geral dos Vinhos do Alto Douro, or Douro Wine Company

Question 21

When were the Douro boundaries and practices firmly established and by whom?

Answer 21

1756 by the Douro Wine Company.

Question 22

What was the Douro Wine Company responsible for improving?

Answer 22

Developed a methodology for grading port vineyards. Developed the boundries of the Douro region and practices.

Question 23

What was a feitoria vineyard in 18th century Douro?

Answer 23

A better vineyard that provided fruit for port that would eventually be sent to England.

Question 24

What were rama vineyards in 18th century Douro?

Answer 24

Lesser vineyards whose fruit was destined for the domestic market.

Question 25

What was the lasting impression of the Douro wine Company?

Answer 25

regulated grape prices, fixed pricing on the finished wines, managed exports and monopolized the sale of Portuguese brandy (aguardente) used in the fortification process. The company, whose dual role as a regulator and a shipper of wine caused stern criticism, survives as the Royal Oporto Wine Company, but its regulatory functions were lost over time. Today, the government-run Douro Port Wine Institute (IVDP) manages the appellation and its regulations.

Question 26

What is the name of Portuguese brandy that is used for fortification?

Answer 26

aguardente

Question 27

Where was Madiera wine most successful?

Answer 27

In the colonies of the United States.

Question 28

By what century was most Madiera wine fortified?

Answer 28

middle of 18th century.

Question 29

Why were ship captains persuaded to use Madiera Pipes as ballasts?

Answer 29

so they could take their journey through different climates hot/cold - to develop the wine.

Question 30

What was the specific term used for Madiera that was aged on the island?

Answer 30

Vinhos Canteiro

Question 31

What was the specific term used for Madiera wines that took a sail around the world?

Answer 31

Vinhos ao Roda

Question 32

When did estufagem begin to replace the lengthy voyages?

Answer 32

Early 1800’s

Question 33

What was difficult about the 19th century for Portugal?

Answer 33

At the early part of the century France and Spain invaded.
Spanish and French wines now were in the English market again.
American Civil war led to American consumption of Madiera in the mid-19th century
Phylloxera and powdery and downy mildew settled in the last part of the century.

Question 34

What was the Região Demarcada?

Answer 34

Established in 1929, Madeira, Dão, Vinho Verde, and other areas.

Question 35

What was the Junta Nacional do Vinhos?

Answer 35

Took a lot of smaller vineyards and established them as co-ops.

Question 36

What were the two large brands that emerged after WWII?

Answer 36

Commercial brands of sweet, semi-sparkling rosé
Mateus
Lancers

Question 37

When did Portugal become apart of the EU?

Answer 37

1986

Question 38

What changed when Portugal became apart of the EU?

Answer 38

1. Smaller quintas (houses) broke off from their co-ops and were able with the help of the gov to start producing wine again.
2. Portugal designed new appellation system Regiões Demarcadas as Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC)