Portugal - Introduction Flashcards
Where is Portugal?
Most wetly country of Europe, bordered on the west and the south by Atlantic, on the north and east by Spain
What has Portugal’s relationship with the UK been?
Over 600 yrs of alliance, major supplier of wine to England during wars with France, or highly taxed
When was Mateus Rosé launched? followed by Lancers ?
1942 1944
Why has the focus been on export markets?
to help Portugal recover from recent debt crisis 2011-14 Bailout by EU and IMF
Why are Portuguese wines difficult to understand?
Lots of indigenous varieties, makes wines of Portugal difficult to understand, same grape varieties have different names in different regions
Climate/soil in Portugal?
West is strongly influenced by Atlantic - cool rainy weather
Ranges of mountains protect the more inland wine regions.
The South is drier and warmer
Vineyard Management?
Since Portugal joined the DU in 1986 many vineyards have been grubbed up, focus now on high quality planting and sites
Which area has seen significant investment and vineyard growth?
Alentejo, warm sunny and dry climate with a flat topography = mechanisation possible
Soft ripe style popular in domestic and export market.
Alentejo close to Lisbon = tourism
What is the split between production of Portugal vs Islands?
99% Mainland
1% Azores/Madeira
What are the climate threats in Portugal?
Drought, esp inland Douro Dao and Alentejo
Hail and storm
Wildfires in Dao
Wet weather in coastal region = poor fruit set
Esca and grapevine moth
What trellising system is mostly used?
pruned and trained Cordon or replacement-cane and VSP trellising
Some old bush vines in Douro and Alentejo
How is Irrigation Monitored?
Douro must notify IVDP when they irrigate
Generally irrigation only use where lack of water could jeopardise quality.
Where do international varieties feature in Portugal
Featured heavily in the past, esp in Tejo, Alenentajo and Bairrada, but now a growing tendency to return to Portuguese varieties, and artisnal producers are reviving native grapes.
What did entering the EU in 1986 mean for Winemaking in Portugal?
Modernisation of winemaking practices and equipment, use of S/S, temp control.
De-stemming equipment controlled tannin and introduction of FR Oak, some American Oak plus Portuguese Oak/Brazillian hardwood.
Describe Vinho de Talha in Talenjejo DOC wines
Fermenting/ageing wine on skin in clay (Talha means clay amphora)
Portuguese Wine Laws?
DOP/DOC widely used
VR = Vinho Regional widely used terms for PGI wines
Vinho = not PDO or PGI status
Wine Business - What has Sogrape’s strategy been?
Since 1980s has acquired leading Port brands and estates in Vinho Verde, Douro, Dao, Alentejo and Lisboa. Biggest wine company in Portugal.
Where does Portugal come in for production/export?
Growth?
Markets?
12th largest wine producing country, 9th largest exporter.
Steady growth in volume of unfortified wine
France, Angola, Germany and UK plus USA and Brazil.
Who is the promotional body of wines?
Rise in Domestic Sales?
Wines of Portugal
Significant rise in Tourism helped domestic sales
Where is Vinho Verde DOC?
Topographical Influences?
North west corner of Portugal
Atlantic to west, River Minho forming the border with Spain (and R Baixas in Galicia in north
Mountains of Peneda-Gerês National Park to the East
What is the climate in Vinho Verde?
Moderate maritime climate due to Atlantic and river valleys that funnel Atlantic wines.
Rainfall is high 150cm - throughout the year.
Describe the Vineyard in Vinho Verde
Land rises in the East, soils become poorer, climate more continental
Vineyard land granitic bedrock with shallow topsoil of decomposed granite with a sandy texture, providing good drainage. Natural fertility is low so fertilisers (ie, manure) often used.
Describe the trellising in Vinho Verde DOC
Fungal disease is high - rot/mildew, traditionally vines were trained up trees to benefit from better air circulation. Now most vineyards are now planted in rows, single or double guyot with VSP or lyre system, high from the ground to increase air circulation.
summer pruning/green harvesting used
What is the split between red/white wine in 1960s, 2008 vs 2019 in Vinho Verde?
1960s 80% Red
2008 - 70% white
2019 - 81% white, 5% rosé
What are the key white grape varieties in Vinho Verde DOC?
Loureiro
Alvarinho
Arinto/ Pedernã
Avesso
Trajadur
What is the key red grape variety in Vinho Verde?
Wine Style?
Vinhão
(aka Sousão in Douro
Sousón in Galicia)
Deeply colour wine with cherry fruit and high acidity
Describe a classic white Vinho Verde
Pale lemon
high in acidity, low in alcohol (8-11.5%). Wines with lower alcohol usually off-dry.
Describe the Loureiro Grape/wine
Grown throughout the region, mostly towards the coast, mid-ripening and produces wines with med+ acidity with citrus, pear, floral and herbal aromas
Describe the Alvarinho (Albarino) grape, specific region and wine style?
2nd most widely planted, almost exclusively in North of Vinho Verde in Monção e Melgaço,
citrus, peach, some tropical flavours with med+body med+ acidity to hi acidity.
Describe Monção e Melgaço,
Often Single Varietal Alvarinho grape, made to lower max yields, min alcohol level of 11.5 but up to 14% and has riper and more tropical aromas.
How is a wine allowed 14% abv?
if grape variety, a sub-region or authorised quality labelling term is mentioned, the wine can have up to 14% abv.
What is the spritz in Vinho Verde Wines?
Traditionally a by-product of MLF, but now added at the end via CO2
Describe Pederna(Aristo), Avesso and Trajadura grapes
Arinto/Pederna is mid-ripening, produces wine more neutral that Loureiro or Alvrinho, subtle citrus and apple fruit and high acidity.
Avesso - late ripening, grown inland = warmer, lower acidity
Trader (Treisadura in Sp) low in acidity with apple/peach flavours, blended with more hi acid grapes
How are wines made in Vinho Verde?
Hi Volume?
Small Volume?
- High Volume = source from across the region using protective methods, cool Ferment (12-16º) in S/S, released soon after fermentation.
- Higher priced wines from smaller boutique producers, single varietal, ambient yeast, old oak for ferment/maturation on lees = complexity/texture - v good quality
What can Moncão Melgaco have on their label?
What do other producers have to do?
Name Alvarhino on the label as a single variety.
Producers from other reigns must declassify their wine to Minho VR if they wish to label their wine as single varietal Alvarhino.
What % of Alvarhino needs to be in the blend for the grape name to appear?
Min 30% of blend.
Wine Business Vinho Verde DOC
Ownership v fragmented, on average every grower owns less than 1/10 ha
Most deliver grapes to co-ops/merchants
Only 400 bottle their own wines. Exports slowly growing
Germany, USA, Brazil and France.
Describe the Douro Region
Oldest demarcated region in the world, 80km east of Porto
Fortified wine of Pork has great historic renown, hi alcohol, and residual sugar helped surprise when shipped to international markets.
When was the first unfortified wine released?
1952 By Fernando Nicolau de Almeida. Wasn’t popular but now commands super-premium prices - after 1986 when Portugal joined the EU which included using S/S temp control.
What are the 3-sub-section os the Douro?
Baixo Corgo in the west
Cima Corgo in the centre
Douro Superior (Upper Douro in the east.
What Mountain range marks the western limited of the region? What does it help with?
Serra do Marão Mountain Range
Helps shield Douro region from worst of the cooler, damper Atlantic weather = warm continental climate
What is the climate in the 3 main regions
Plus what other influences?
Baixo Corgo = coolest/wet
Cima Corta warmer/drier
Douro Superior hot and arid
Valley sides with variety of aspects/altitudes = microclimates
Describe the soil in the Douro
Bedrock has schist on top, shallow topsoil of decomposed schist, low in organic matter and stony in texture, but schist splits into vertical layers = roots can break through in search of water.
What are the weather risks in Douro?
Hillside vineyards are not set up for Irrigation, and becoming more drought prone. IVDP relaxed regulations about irrigation - only allowed in extreme circumstances. Must notify IVDP
Unfortified wines use the same grapes as fortified - what are they?
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Franca
Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
Tinta Barocca
Tinta Cão
Describe Touriga Nacional
Considered the highest-quality variety, most well-known. Gives low yields, and produces wines that have intense colour and flavours with high levels of tannin. notes of violet, rose or orange blossom.