21. Portugal Flashcards by Shaun Walton

What is Portugal’s PDO?

Denominacao de Origem Controlada/Protegida

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What is Portugal’s PGI?

Vinho Regional

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What is Vinho Verde’s climate and why?

Moderate maritime due to its proximity to the Atlantic and the river valleys funneling winds

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What are Vinho Verde’s soils and its benefits?

1) Granitic bedrock with shallow decomposed granite topsoil.
2) Good drainage, low fertility

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What does the climate of Vinho Verde become further inland?

Continental

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What are two inland sub-zones of Vinho Verde?

1) Baiao
2) Moncao e Melgaco

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What is the rainfall like in Vinho Verde?

High - 1,500mm

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What are the two main viticultural hazards in Vinho Verde?

1) Rot
2) Mildew

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How are humidity risks combatted in Vinho Verde? (2)

1) Training the vines high for air circulation
2) Green harvesting and shoot thinning

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What is Vinho Verde’s most widely grown variety? Describe it

Loureiro

Predominantly towards the coast it’s mid-ripening; citrus, floral

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What is the main quality variety of Vinho Verde and what flavours does it offer?

Alvarinho - citrus to tropical

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What is the black variety of Vinho Verde? Describe it

1) Vinhao (Sousao)
2) Deep colour, high acid, cherry

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Describe typical Vinho Verde winemaking (4)

1) Protective
2) CO2 added at bottling
3) Cool fermentation
4) Small r/s possible

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More premium Vinho Verde might see what three winemaking techniques?

1) Oak
2) Lees
3) Ambient yeasts

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What is the premium sub-zone of Vinho Verde

Moncao e Melgaco

The only sub-zone permitted to name Alvarinho as a single varietal on the label and still be classed Vinho Verde

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What is the main business size in Vinho Verde?

Less than 1ha on average meaning co-ops and large merchants make most of the wine

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Name a significant Vinho Verde producer

Anselmo Mendes

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What are the Douro’s three sub-regions?

1) Douro Superior - upper (east)
2) Cima Corgo - centre
3) Baixo Corgo - west

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What mountain range shields Douro from the Atlantic?

Serra do Marao

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What’s Douro’s climate?

Warm continental

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What is unusual about Douro’s soil?

The schist splits vertically allowing for root penetration

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What are the six key black varieties in Douro?

1) Touriga Franca
2) Touriga Nacional
3) Tinta Roriz
4) Tinta Barroca
5) Tinta Cao
6) Sousao

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What are the four key white varieties in Douro?

1) Viosinto
2) Rabigato
3) Gouveio
4) Moscatel Galego Branco

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Are Douro reds destemmed? Why?

1) Yes
2) Tannic varieties used don’t need stem tannin

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Name a significant Douro producer

Prats and Symington

What is a benefit of fermentin in lagares?

Easier to monitor the level of extraction than in a closed tank

Why might Douro red fermentation temperatures be unusual?

24-28 - low; allows for tannin extraction control

What is Dao's climate and why?

1) Mediterranean 2) Surrounded by mountains giving protection from cool maritime in the west and arid in the east

Describe Dao's rainfall? (2)

1) Relatively high (1,100 - 1,600mm) 2) Falls mostly during autumn and winter

What is thought to bring a signature note to Dao's wine?

Pine and eucalyptus forests

What is Dao's elevation?

400-500m but as low as 200m and as high as 900m

Describe Dao's soils

Granite low in organic matter so free draining

Why is water stress an issue despite Dao's high rainfall?

The free-draining soils

Besides water stress what are two other weather hazards in Dao?

1) Summer hail 2) Spring frost on the lower lying vineyards

What are Dao's four main black varieties?

1) Jaen (Mencia) 2) Touriga Nacional 3) Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) 4) Alfrocheiro

How do Dao red wines compare with Douro?

Less full-bodied and intense with fresher fruit and high acidity

What is Dao's key white variety?

Encruzado - medium acid; can be full-bodied; lemon, peach, floral

What's Dao's producer model?

30,000 small (0.5ha) vineyard holdings

What is the climate of Bairrada?

Maritime due to the proximity to the coast

What is Bairrada's main black variety?

Baga

Describe Baga (3)

1) High acid/tannin 2) Medium body 3) Red fruit (cranberry, cherry, plum)

When does Baga ripen? Why could this be problematic?

1) Late 2) The region's high rainfall in autumn can be a problem

Describe Bairrada's best soils for Baga

Limestone - free-draining, low nutrient, light reflecting

What four other local varieties are permitted in Bairrada? Three are found in Dao

1) Touriga Nacional 2) Jaen 3) Alfrocheiro 4) Camarate

What two international varieties can be found in Bairrada? Why?

1) Cabernet Sauvignoon 2) Merlot 3) To soften the tannin profile and bring body

Describe a typical Bairrada vineyard planted to Baga (3)

1) South facing 2) Limestone-clay 3) Protected from cool north winds by pine/eucalyptus forests

What are four key white varieties of Bairrada?

1) Maria Gomes (most planted white in Portugal) 2) Bical 3) Arinto 4) Cercial

Why is Maria Gomes favourable in Bairrada? (2)

1) It ripens early (damp climate) 2) Yields high

What international white varieties are found in Bairrada?

1) Sauvignon Blanc 2) Chardonnay

What is Bairrada's best sub-region for premium wine and why?

1) Cantanhede 2) Limestone opposed to sand found elsewhere

Bairrada Baga was traditionally known for what key feature? Why?

Tannin and ageability due to fermentation on stems

Where is Alentejo?

South-east Portugal along the border with Spain in the east and the Algarve mountains in the south

What is Alentejo's Vinho Regional and what is it used for?

1) Alentejano 2) International varieties

Why is replacement cane falling from favour in Alentejo?

Skilled labour is needed and this is a sparsely populated region

Name and describe one of Alentejo's eight sub-regions

1) Portalegre 2) Northern + 800masl = cooler

What are the four key black varieties in Alentejo?

1) Aragonez (Tinta Roriz/Tempranillo) 2) Alicante Bouschet 3) Trincadeira 4) Touriga Nacional

What is Alentejo's most common international black variety?

Syrah

What are the three key white varieties of Alentejo?

1) Roupeiro 2) Arinto 3) Antao Vaz

Why is Roupeiro suitable in Alentejo?

Retains acidity in the hot climate

Why is Antao Vaz suitable in Alentejo?

Drought tolerant

Why is Alentejo suited to volume production? (3)

1) High sunshine 2) Dry summers 3) Flat and expansive

Where are Alentejo's wines commonly sold?

Domestic - to Lisbon tourists (more Alentejo wine sold in Portugal than any other region's)

What separates Lisboa's growing regions? What effect does it have?

1) The Serra de Montejunto mountain range 2) Offers protection from the Atlantic to the vineyards in the east

What are Lisboa's two best known DOCs?

1) Alenquer 2) Bucelas

What two black varieties are common in Alenquer?

1) Touriga Nacional 2) Aragones (Tempranillo)

What variety is common in Bucelas?

Arinto

What makes the Colares DOC in Lisboa of interest? (3)

1) It is cool, and foggy 2) Phylloxera-free sandy soils 3) Ungrafted bush vines

Why is Lisboa Vinho Regional often preferred by producers? (2)

1) More flexible regulations 2) Lisboa as a name offers more recognition than smaller DOCs

Name is the main red wine DOC of Peninsula de Setubel

Palmela

Palmela must be what per cent of what variety?

67% Castelao

What are the two distinct areas of Peninsula de Setubal

1) Mountains in the west - cool; clay and limestone 2) Eastern - flat, sandy with clay and schist

What vineyard area is best for Castelau?

Warm sandy plains

What is the main white variety in Setubal DOC?

Fernao Pires/Maria Gomes

What are the three main areas of Tejo?

1) North 2) River 3) South

Describe the north of Tejo (2)

1) Higher rainfall 2) Clay-limestone and schist

What is the general wine style of Tejo?

High volume of local and international varieties of good quality for early consumption

What are the three types of vineyard layout in place in the Douro?

1) Socalcos. 2) Patamares. 3) Vinha ao Alto.

Describe the Douro Socalcos vineyard layout (2).

1) Narrow terraces supported by walls of dry rock. 2) Typically unsuitable for mechanisation.

Describe the Douro Patamares vineyard layout.

Terraces supported by a steep earth ramp

What are the two main advantages of Vinha ao Alto in Douro?

1) Least expensive to plant and maintain. 2) Allows high-density planting (~5,000 VPH).

How are Douro vines a) trained and b) trellised?

1) Cordon-trained and spur-pruned or head-trained and cane-pruned. 2) VSP to promote sun exposure and permit mechanisation.

What is the vineyard layout of Vinha ao Alto in Douro?

Vines are planted in vertical rows up the slopes.

What are the four key characteristics of the Touriga Nacional grape?

1) Mid-ripenng. 2) Thick-skinned. 3) Can suffer from excessive vigour. 4) Susceptible to coulure.

What does Tourica Nacional contribute to a wine (4)?

1) Deep colour. 2) High tannins. 3) Black fruit and floral aromas. 4) Long ageing potential.

Portugal's wine region's are broadly Mediterranean except for which three? What climate type are they?

1) Vinho Verde - maritime 2) Bairrada - maritime 3) Douro - continental

What are the eight main growing regions of Portugal?

1) Vinho Verde 2) Douro 3) Dao 4) Bairrada 5) Alentejo 6) Tejo 7) Lisboa 8) Peninsula de Setubal

Describe the river area of Tejo

Fertile alluvial; best for whites

Describe the south of Tejo

Hot, dry; sandy soils

Touriga Nacional is common in all regions except which one two ? (According to the book?)

1) Vinho Verde 2) Peninsula de Setubal

Tempranillo is common in all regions except which three? (According to the book?)

1) Peninsula de Setubal 2) Bairrada 3) Vinho Verde

Alfrocheiro and Jaen are found in which two regions?

1) Bairrada 2) Dao

What white variety can be found in most of Portugal's regions except Douro and Dao (according to the textbook)

Arinto

Granite is common in which two regions?

1) Vinho Verde 2) Dao

Limestone can be found in which three regions?

1) Bairrada 2) Tejo (north) 3) Setubal (west)

What is the primary soil of Douro?

Schist

21. Portugal Flashcards

(95 cards)