Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > Portugal: Northern + Port > Flashcards

Portugal: Northern + Port Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
WSET ® Level 4 D2 Business of Wine flashcards Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

Which treaties between Portugal and England established a long lasting trade agreement, and preferential tariffs for Portuguese wines? When were they signed?

A

1386 Treaty of Windsor: diplomatic alliance

1703 Treaty of Methuen: preferential tariffs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

when did the English “discover” port? Where?

A

1678, in Lamego, a mountain town in the Douro Valley.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What spurred the creation of the Douro Wine Company? What is it now?

A

Lots of English demand for Port wines lead to producers turning to fraudulent practices (added sugar, alcohol, color, aromatizing). The English stopped buying as much, and the Douro Wine Company was created to eliminate fraud and establish regulatory measures. It demarcated the Douro appellation, and rated the top vineyards

It survives as the Royal Oporto Wine Company, but is no longer regulatory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is feitoria?

A

(Portugal, Douro Wine Company’s vineyard ratings)

best vineyards were feitoria, and they were marked with stones, and set aside for the english market

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is rama? (portugal)

A

(Portugal, Douro Wine Company’s vineyard ratings)

lesser vineyards, provided domestic wines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the names for the Portuguese wines that made the trip across the atlantic? Name of the trip? Name of wines matured on the island?

A

Vinhos ao Roda - wines on trip
Torna Viagem - round trip
Vinhos Canteiro - mature on island, in estufagem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What were Portuguese DOP originally?

A

DOC: Denominação de Origem Controlada. DOPs were established in 2009 to line up with EU standards. The DOC may still be used within the country.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the 3 quality levels of Portuguese wine?

A

DOP/DOC
IGP (IG) / Vinhos Regional
Vinhos de Mesa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

List the aging requirements for garrafeira wines Portugal

A

“private wine cellar”

tinto: min 30 months, including 12m in bottle

branco & rosado: min 12 months, including 6m in bottle

port: 4-8 years in cask, min 15 years in bottle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does the term reserva indicate for Portuguese still wines? for Sparkling?

A

still: .5% higher alcohol than minimum

sparkling: min 12 months on lees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does the term Colheita Seleccionada refer to for Portuguese wines?

A

1% higher alcohol than minimum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the Portuguese word for grape varietal?

A

Casta

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Most planted red and white grapes Portugal?

A

red: Aragonez (aka tinta roriz / tempranillo)

white: Ferñao Pires (aka Maria Gomes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Top red grapes Portugal

A

Aragonez
Touriga Nacional (Bical Tinto, Mortagua Preto)
Castelão (sometimes Perequita)
Jaen (Mencia)
Touriga Franca
Alfrocheiro
Tricadeira
Baga

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Top white grapes Portugal

A

Fernão Pires (Maria Gomes in Bairrada)
Encruzado
Arinto
Antão Vaz
Alvarinho
Sercial (Esgana Cão - “dog strangler” on mainland)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Which IGP and DOP share the same geographical boundary in Northwestern Portugal?

A

Minho IGP and Vinho Verde DOP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was the traditional type of vine training used in Minho / Vinho Verde? Why?

A

Enforcado - a trelissing system that keeps vines high off the ground. Vines would grow on tree trunks, telephone poles and stakes, creating an overhead canopy. Helped combat grey rot (area is cool, rainy, Atlantic influenced)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What rivers flow through Vinho Verde?

A

Minho River - separates part of Vinho Verde from Rias Baixas

Douro in the South

smaller: Lima (just south of Minho), Cavado

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Styles of wine made in Vinho Verde DOP? Grapes?

A

red, white, rose, late harvest and sparkling

White: Loureiro*, Trajadura (Treixadura), Avesso, Pedernã (Arinto), Alvarinho

Red: Vinhão, Espadeiro, Borraçal, Alvarelhão

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Subregions of Vinho Verde DOP?

A

Subregions: Monção e Melgaço- varietal Alvarinho, still and sparkling

Lima, Cávado, Basto, Ave, Amarante, Sousa, Baião, Paiva

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Vinho Verde - climate? viticultural threats?

A

Cool, rainy, Atlantic influenced. Grey rot

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Vinho Verde - soil types?

A

shallow, granitic soils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Transmontano - where is it? What is the climate?

A

Northern Portugal, east of Minho, along Spanish border. Dry, hot, mountainous.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the DOP of Transmontano IGP? Subregions?

A

Tras-o-Montes DOP

subregions: Chaves, Valpaços, Planalto Mirandés

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Rivers in Transmontano?

A

(Northern Portugal)

Douro, Sabor, Tua and Tameg

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Which IGP encompasses the Douro River Valley? Which DOPs are there?

A

Duriense IGP. It includes Douro and Porto DOPs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Which mountains surround the Douro valley?

A

Marão and Montemuro

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What is the preferred soil type for Port?

A

Schist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What are the subzones of the Douro?

A

Baixo Corgo - to West. highest density of plantings

Cima Corgo- highest total vineyard acreage

Douro Superior - stretches to Spanish border, largest, most arid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What styles of wine are made in Douro DOP?

A

Vinho: Branco, Rosado, Tinto

Vinho Espumante (sparkling)

Colheita tardia (late harvest)

Vinho Licoroso: Moscatel do Douro (fortified)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Douro DOP important red grapes

A

Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cão, Tinta Barroca

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Douro DOP important white grapes

A

Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Rabigato, Gouveio

33
Q

Douro vinho tinto reserva requirements

A

(red wines)
min 12% alcohol (regular is 11%)
min 1 year aging

34
Q

Douro vinho branca reserva requirements

A

(white wines)
min 11.5% alcohol (regular is 10.5)
min 6 months aging

35
Q

What does Grande Reserva indicate on a bottle of Douro wine?

A

The wine meets reserva requirements and scored exceptionally well in blind tasting analysis

36
Q

Where were Port wines required to be aged and shipped from until 1986?

A

Villa Nova de Gaia, a suburb of Oporto, near the Atlantic coast - it is south of IG Minho, and west of IG Duriense. Traditionally, port casks were shipped from Pinhão in the Cima Corgo downriver to Villa Nova de Gaia for maturation at their lodges.

Removing this restriction allowed a new generation of small quintas to produce and ship their Port from their premises in the Douro.

37
Q

Port houses leading table wine production in the Douro

A

Barca Velha, Niepoort, Quinta do Crasto, Ramos Pinto, Quinta do Vale Meão

38
Q

Which IGPs make up the former Beiras province in Northern Portugal?

A

Terras do Dão
Terras de Cister
Terras da Beira
Beira Atlântico

39
Q

Which DOPs are in Terras do Dão IGP?

A

Dão DOP and Lafões DOP

(south of Duriense, Beira Atlantico to west, Terras do Dão to east

40
Q

Which DOP is within Beira Atlantico?

A

Bairrada DOP

subzone: Terras do Sicó

41
Q

Which DOP is within Terras de Cister IGP?

A

Távora-Varosa DOP - a center of sparkling wine production

42
Q

Which DOP is within Terras da Beira IGP? Subzones?

A

Beira Interior DOP

subzones:
Beira Castelo Rodrigo
Cova da Beira
Pinhel

43
Q

In which IGP is the Dao DOP located? Styles of wine made?

A

within Terras do Dão IGO

Branco (may be labeled Nobre, Reserva and/or Garrafeira)

Tinto (may be labeled Nobre, Reserva, and/or Garrafeira)

Rosado
“Novo” Tinto (nouveau)
Vinho Espumante (sparkling)

44
Q

Dão DOP recommended red grapes

A

Touriga Nacional, Jaen (Mencia), Touriga Franca, Alfrocheiro, Aragonez, Bastardo, Rufete, Trincadeira, Tinta Cão

45
Q

Dão DOP recommended white grapes

A

Encruzado, Bical, Cercial

46
Q

What does garrafeira indicate on a bottle of wine from the Dão DOP in Portugal?

A

regular garrafeira aging requirements (red 30m, incl 12 in btl, white and rose 12 incl 6 in btl)

PLUS higher min alcohol- 11.5%

47
Q

What does reserva indicate on a bottle of wine from the Dão DOP in Portugal?

A

red: min 2 years aging
white: min 6 months aging

48
Q

What does “nobre” refer to on a bottle of wine from the Dão DOP in Portugal?

A

Red: min 15% Touriga Nacional (with other recommended); min 3 years aging, min 13% alcohol

White: min 15% Encruzado, max 15% Cercial, Bical, Malvasia Fina, Verdelho; min 1 year aging, min 12% alcohol

49
Q

What is the climate of Dão DOP? Soil?

A

hot dry growing season
rainfall in colder months
protected by mountains from coastal humidity

mountains: Sierra de Estrella, Montemuro, Marao

granite

50
Q

What are barros?

A

clay soils found in Bairrada DOP (in Beira Atlantico, Northern Portugal)

51
Q

What are the main red and white grapes of Bairrada DOP?

A

red: Baga (in clay / barros soils)
white: Maria Gomes and Arinto (in sandy soils)

52
Q

Historically, where have the best sparkling Portuguese wines come from?

A

Bairrada

53
Q

When was the Douro first demarcated?

A

1756- one of the world’s oldest wine appellations

54
Q

What is lei do terço?

A

the law of the third

restricts sales of Port to one third of a house’s total inventory annually

55
Q

What is beneficio in terms of Port production?

A

fortification of wine with spirit.

beneficio authorization: the maximum amount of wine that may be fortified in a given year. the amount is determined by a score based on 12 factors

56
Q

What is the Moreira da Fonseca method?

A

the 12 factors used to determine a Port house’s beneficio, or amount of wine they may fortify in a given year. the factors are based on the soil, climate, and conditions in the vineyard.

Max 2,361 points based on these factors. Vineyards that score over 1200 are given an ‘A’ grade, ‘B’ vineyards score between 1001 and 1200, etc. A-level sites are allowed to vinify the most Port

57
Q

Moreira da Fonseca - soil and climate factors? (7)

A

location, altitude, exposure, bedrock, rough matter, slope, shelter

58
Q

Moreira da Fonseca - vineyard factors? (5)

A

type of vine, planting density, yield, training system, vine age

59
Q

What are the preferred red grapes for Port production?

A

Touriga Nacional
Touriga Franca
Tinta Roriz
Tinta Cão
Tinta Barroca
Tinta Amarela
Tinta Francisca
Bastardo
Mourisco Tinto

60
Q

What are the preferred white grapes for Port production?

A

Gouveio
Malvasia Fina
Viosinho
Rabigato
Esgana Cão
Folgasão

61
Q

What are patamares?

A

wide terraces in the Douro that can be navigated by tractor

62
Q

What are lagares?

A

In Port- low, open granite troughs for foot-crushing grapes

63
Q

How long does Port fermentation take?

A

it’s short- two to three days. fortification occurs when around 1/3 of the sugar has been converted to alcohol

64
Q

To what percentage is Port fortified?

A

Aguardente is added to the base wine, bringing it to 19-22% abv

65
Q

What is a pipe in Port?

A

traditional barrel used for both aging and shipping, usually 550 liters in the Douro. pipes in Villa Nova de Gaia may be 620 liters

66
Q

When must Vintage Port be bottled?

A

Vintage port is aged in barrel and must be bottled by July 30th of the 3rd year after harvest

67
Q

What is a single quinta vintage port?

A

Vintage port from a single estate. A port house may not declare a vintage from the larger house, but choose to showcase one of it’s estates as a vintage wine.

68
Q

List 3 examples of a single quinta vintage port

A

Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha

Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas

Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim

69
Q

What is the name for the traditional cargo boat used to ship Port?

A

Barco Rabelo

70
Q

How long does Late Bottled Vintage Port age?

A

Wines are aged in cask for at least 4 years and bottled before December 31 of the 6th year after harvest.

LBV wines additionally aged for 3 years in bottle may carry the designation “Envelhicido em garrafa,” or bottle-matured.

71
Q

How long does reserve tawny port age prior to bottling?

A

At least 6 years

72
Q

What is Colheita Tawny?

A

vintaged dated port that spends a minimum of 7 years in cask before bottling.

73
Q

What is the regulatory body that oversees Port production?

A

the government run Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto (IVDP) / Douro Port Wine Institute. Regulates both growers and shippers. Supervises the promotion, production, and trade of all Porto and Douro wines.

74
Q

Douro- maximum yields?

A

red: 55 hl/ha
white: 65 hl/ha

75
Q

How are vines traditionally planted in the Douro? What is Vinhos ao Alta?

A

Most vines planted on steep, terraced slopes

Vinhos ao Alta: newer system of planting vines in vertical rows directly up the slopes

76
Q

What is garrafeira Port?

A

Wines that are aged in cask for at least 4 years, maximum 8 years, with an additional minimum 15 years of bottle maturing.

77
Q

What do the terms Velho and Muito Velho mean on a bottle of Port?

A

Wines that are 10 or 20 years old may be labeled “Velho”;

wines that are 30/40 or 50 years old may be labeled “Muito Velho” (very old)

78
Q

What does VVO indicate on a bottle of Port?

A

For wines over 80 years old (Cannot have an age statement on the bottle just VVO/W)

79
Q

What is selo de garantia?

A

Portuguese term (also selo de origem) for the control seal that wines with DOC status bear on the neck of the bottle or as a back label

Master Sommelier Theory 2025 (57 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions