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.
Describe wines from Douro DOC
Mostly blends (some single variety of Touriga Nacional) with deeply coloured and full-bodied with high level of ripe tannins and rich black fruit flavours, good examples show subtle toasty aromas from new oak.
Describe Douro White wines
Usually made from traditional Portuguese white grapes, med-high acidity, citrus and stone fruit, grown in vineyards of highest altitude producing cooling conditions. Mostly blended.
Name the 4 white grape varieties found in the Douro?
Viosinho
Rabigato
Gouveia (Godello in Spain)
Moscatel Galego Branco (MBaPG)
How is still wine made in the Douro DOC?
Grapes are destemmed (lower tannin)
Ferment in S/S
Low temp (for red wine) 24-28ºC to allow greater control over tannin extraction
Wines for early drinking pressed off the skins after fermentation, tho some post-fermentation maceration can extract more tannin for wines made for ageing.
What system is still used in the Douro for winemaking?
Lagares - one benefit being able to monitor extraction.
What % of Douro wines are white?
25%
How are they made?
Cool ferment in S/S and bottled soon after.
What is the style of a Douro white?
light to med aromas and flavours
med to med+ acidity
good quality
Any Rosé
small volume of dry Rosé by limited maceration time on skins, simple drinking young.
Wine Biz - Douro
What % does Port wine account for in production?
60%
Who makes premium still dry wines in the Douro?
Most of the well-known producers: Symington, Quinta do Noval and Nieport make a range of wines, select estate-grown grapes.
Who are the main markets for dry still wine from Douro?
Canada, Brazil and UK
Describe Dão DOC location
Further south vs Vinho Verde, inland from Bairrada
Located in mountainous area 80km South of Douro region
Describe the Topography of Dão
Surrounded by mountains protecting from cool maritime weather from west and arid conditions from east.
Vineyards lie between 200-400m,
What is the climate in Dão?
Mediterranean, Cold wet winters and warm, dry summers and hi diurnal range provided excellent conditions
Hi Rainfall 110cm
What is the soil in the Dao?
Weathered Granite with sand/loamy texture
low in organic matter, free draining = less vigour
Weather Hazards in Dão?
Hail, spring frost in lower areas
Vineyards in Dão?
Planted on gentle slopes, most plantings now double or single Guyot replacement-can pruned or cordon-trained with VSP
Harvest size?
Harvest size varies significantly based on weather from
255,000 hL 2017
155,000 hL 2018
What is the style of red wine produced in Dão?
Red wine production %?
tend to be less full bodied and intense than those from the Douro
80% is red wine
What are the 4 key red grapes in Dão?
Touriga Nacional
Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
Jaen (Mencia in Spain)
Alfrocheiro
Describe Alfroncheiro
Med tannin and body with strawberry and blackberry flavours
usually made in a soft juicy style for early consumption
What is the key white grape in Dão?
Encruzado, high quality wines
med+ acidity
lemon peach floral note
fermented in neutral or
oak-fermented with lees ageing - can age in bottle
Good to v good in quality with some outstanding/premium examples
Wine Biz Dão?
small vineyard holdings
90% less than .5ha
Sogrape led the way producing hi quality wines at all price points.
Only 15-20% of Dão wine is exported
Canada, Brazil, USA, China
Describe Bairrada region
West of Dão
Maritime as close to coast
2/3 of production is Baga grape - late ripening, threat from rain in spring/autumn 80-120 cam
Soil in Bairrada region?
Fertile alluvial soil from river estuaries that have silted up, limestone/clay slopes
Cantanhede (unofficial sub-region) have intensive plantings of Baga vineyards
Trellising?
Traiditonall high trained bush vines, now are trellised with Guyot (replacement-cane pruned) with VSP
Describe red wines from Bairrada
Wine style?
2/3 of production is red
Baga is dominant grape
high acidity and tannins
med body
cranberry, cherry and plum
soft and complex with bottle ageing.
What famous wine is Baga a key grape in?
Mateus Rosé
Describe the Baga grape
late-ripening
small, thick-skinned berries = deep colour/tannins
late ripening and productive
best on warmest sites
ripens best on limestone/clay soil = good drainage/water retention
Light coloured soils reflect the solar energy back into the vines
Describe modern winemaking for Baga
De-stem (some whole bunch)
fomentation in S/S to open concrete vats to lagares
maturation in large barrels from Portuguese oak or Brazilian hardwood.
What other grapes are allowed in the Baga blend?
Local?
International?
Touriga Nacional
Alfroncheiro
Jaen
Cab Sav
Merlot
What is the blend in Baga Clássico?
50% Baga and 85% of any blend of Baga, Alfroncheiro, TN
What are the white grapes in Bairrada?
Maria Gomez
Bical
Aristo
Cercial
Describe Maria Gomez?
Bical?
Most planted white grape variety, early ripening (favourable in damp climate)
hi yielding
Citrus and floral aromas.
Often blended together along with Aristo and Cercial
Describe a White Bairrada wine?
Citrus flavours, fermented at cool temp in S/S
Who are Baga Friends?
small group of producers who promote high-quality wines made with 100% Baga
What other style of wine is made in Bairrada?
Sparkling wine from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and some local grapes
Where/what is Alentejo?
Spread of 8 sub-regions in the south east of Portugal
Spanish border to the East, Algarve’s mountains to the South
What wine is undergoing a renaissance in Alentejo?
Vinho de Talha DOC 2010 - wines fermented on skins in talha (amphora), traditional production method
What is the climate in Alentejo?
Mediterranean, hot dry summers, mild winters.
annual rain around 50cm south 80cm in the north
What is the topography of Alentejo?
Soils?
plans and gentle slopes, mountain in the north, south and east of the region
Range of soils:
granite, schist, limestone and sand/clay
vineyard management?
Trained and trellised to double cordon with VSP
Describe the sub-region Portgalegre
Vineyards over 800m altitude
Alto (Upper) Alentejo less hot and dry is cooler than rest of Alentejo producing wines with fresher fruit and higher acidity, vineyards are small and have a significant number of old field blend vineyards
What grapes are permitted in Alentejo DOC?
Wide range of grapes - making white and red.
Black grapes = 75% of plantings:
Aargonez (tinta roriz/tempranillo)
Alicante Bouschet
Trincedeira
Why is harvest time important for Aargonez
early ripening, if left on the vine it becomes extra ripe, grows best in cooler areas/sites
Describe Alicante Bouschet
Red-fleshed grape contributing deep colour, acidity,
tannins and red/blackberry fruits to red blends
Describe Trincadeira
V susceptible to rot, grows well in dry climate
Yields need to be limited to fully ripen
Med tanins and acidity
blackberry and spice flavours
international grape varieties in Alentejo?
Syrah
Cab Sav (declining)
Petit Verdot increasing - colour, spice and tannin
Name one key produced in Alentejo?
Mouchão
What is the most planted white variety?
Roupeiro most planted
retains acidity
suited to warm dry due to rot
Other white varieties in Alentejo?
Arinto
Antão Vaz - drought tolerant
Make fruity floral wines.
Styles of white wine produced in alentejo?
Early picked fresh wines,
later picked fuller-bodied wines (oaked) quality of good to v good, inexpensive to mid-priced.
How does Alentejo do commercially?
larger sales in Portugal than any other Portuguese wine region
37% of domestic market
40% by value
Wine Exports = 20%
Why do grapes grow so well in Alentejo?
High sunshine hours
flat topography
suited to cost-effective, hi volume viticulture.
Proximity to Lisbon = wine tourism - large number of Wine Cellar doors include sale of olive oil, Iberian ham.
Describe Lisboa region?
Coastal mountain range?
Long thin strip runs from Lisbon in the South to 150km in the north
Serra de Montejunto splits the region into 2.
What is the growing environment of Lisboa
Western side runs alongside Atlantic = wet weather and strong winds
East side more protected and better suited to production of riper fuller-bodied wines.
What are the most common grape varieties grown in Lisboa? 2 Red 1 White
Touriga Nacional
Aragonez (tempranillo)
Arinto
What international varieties are grown?
Syrah
Cab Sav
Pinot Noir
Sav Blanc
Riesling
Describe wines from Colares
small DOC, great historic importance
cool foggy coastal climate, ungrafted bush vines on deep phylloxera-green sandy soils = fresh, high acidity reds and white wines from rarely seen local grapes.
Describe the Wine Biz in Lisboa
Vast majority of Production is from Lisboa VAR
history of production of inexpensive wines for sale to Portuguese colonies.
More wines being labelled DOC.
Describe where is Peninsula de Setúbal (rivers)
Located between estuaries of the Tejo and Sado rivers, south of Lisbon
What is the climate in Setúbal?
Mediterranean - hot dry summers, mild, wet winters. Mountains in the south provide cooler sites at high altitude on clay-limestone soils, other latter land is sandy.
Describe Palmela DOC in Setubãl
Palmela DOC - red wine made from 67% Castelão
Deep in colour
full-bodied
red berry fruit
matured in oak = spice
Describe Setubãl DOC
Larger area, can be made from Portuguese grapes or international ones.
Where is the Tejo region?
Located inland from Lisboa region, named after Tejo River
What kind of wines did Tejo previously produce?
volume and high yields on fertile soils near river
What is the climate in Tejo?
Mediterranean
What does Tejo produce most of?
White wines, plus reds.
