Portuguese Wines Flashcards
What are the five main DOCs in Portugal?
Vinho Verde Douro Dão Bairrada Alentejo
What contributes to the diversity of wines found in Portugal?
The differences in annual average temperatures.
Describe the climate and its impact on the vines in Vinho Verde.
NW Portugal, near Atlantic Ocean, moderate maritime climate and high annual rainfall. Vines are spur pruned VSP to create airflow in the humid environment and allow for mechanisation and better quality/health of grapes.
Describe the wine styles and grape varieties from Vinho Verde.
Vinho Verde wines are pale lemon coloured, high in acidity, low in alcohol (8-11.5% abv). Lower alcohol wines are usually off-dry styles.
Made from local grape varieties such as Loureiro and Arinto. These wines often have a slight sparkling sensation that enhances freshness.
Vinho Verde Alvarinho is made with 100% Alvarinho grapes and is grown in the sub-region of Monção e Melgaço. It has higher alcohol (11.5-14%abv) with riper, more tropical aromas.
Red wines are deeply coloured and tannic
Roses are fresh and fruity.
What two things is Douro famous for.
oldest demarcated wine region in the world.
Port production
Which 5 varieties make Port and unfortified wines in Douro?
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cão.
What is the most well known, highest-quality grape variety in Douro?
Touriga Nacional - produces wines with intense colour and flavours with high tannins.
Describe the red wine style in Douro.
Red wines tend to be deeply coloured, full-bodied, high levels of ripe tannins and rich black fruit flavours. The best examples display subtle toasty aromas from new oak maturation.
Describe the white wine style in Douro
They show fresh varietal fruit and medium to high acidity.
Describe the location and climate of the Dão.
It’s located in the mountains 80km south of Douro. The vines are planted on gentler hills and slopes (200-400m). The climate has cold, wet winters with warm, dry summers with a large diurnal range, which provides excellent conditions for high quality grapes.
Describe the varieties and styles of wines from the Dão.
-Red wine style: delicate red fruit aromas, soft tannins and high acidity. Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Jaen (Mencia in Spain) and Alfrocheiro are used.
Alfrocherio makes wines that are deep in colour, intense blackberry and strawberry aromas.
-White wine style: Encruzado variety and range from light and fresh to richer, barrel fermented versions .
Describe the location and climate of Bairrada.
lies between the Dão and Atlantic Ocean. Maritime climate with rainy winters and warm summers.
Describe the varieties and styles of wines from Bairrada
- Baga is the dominant black variety. It is late-ripening with small, thick-skinned berries giving wines that are deep in colour with high tannin levels. Gentler crushing and maceration techniques as well as blending with other black varieties gives softer wines.
- Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro are important, as well as international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
- White wines are made from indigenous varieties such as Bical and Maria Gomes.
Describe the climate and location of Alentejo.
Alentejo - eight sub-regions in the SE of Portugal. It has a warm growing season but small climatic differences among the sub-regions allow for different styles to be produced. Elegant wines are from cooler, wetter northern areas and hotter dryer central and southern areas produce richer examples.
Describe the varieties and wine styles of Alentejo.
- Typical varieties for red wine blends - Aragones (Tempranillo), Trincadeira (drought-tolerant grape with spicy red berry flavours and high tannins). Alicante Bouschet is a grape variety high in colour and tannins and is also used in blends. Touriga Nacional and syrah are also becoming more popular. The wines are deep in colour, high yet soft tannins, full body and expressive ripe fruit flavours.
- White wine blends - Arinto, Antão Vaz and Roupeiro make fruity and floral white wines with medium to high levels of acidity. Some are aged in oak to provide extra depth and complexity.
