Port and Madeira

Question 1

Who formally established the boundaries and practices of the Douro appellation in 1756 and who manages the appellation and its regulations today?

Answer 1

The Douro Wine Company

IVDP: (government run) Douro Port Wine Institute

Question 2

In the destruction of phylloxera, what country switched to cork production and remains one of the foremost supplies of cork to this day?

Answer 2

Portugal

Question 3

In order to maintain EU protection, Regioes Demarcadas were reclassified as what in 2009?

Answer 3

Denominacao de Origem Protegida (DOP)–more superior designation or Indicacao Geografica Protegida (IGP)–geographical designation

Question 4

For Portuguese wines to have a geographic designation on the label, what % of grapes must be from that region?

Answer 4

85%

Question 5

For Portuguese DOP/IGP wines to be vintage dated, how must the bottle be labeled?

Answer 5

Garrafeira “private wine cellar”

It indicates a minimum period of aging prior to release

Question 6

What does Tinto garrafeira mean on a label?

Answer 6

Wines must be aged a minimum 30 months, at least 12 of which in bottle

Question 7

What does Branco/rosado garrafeira mean?

Answer 7

Wines must be aged for a minimum 12 months, of which 6 must be in bottle

Question 8

What does reserva indicate on a Portuguese wine label? What about Colheita Seleccionada?

Answer 8

Still/Table Wines: Wines must have an abv content 0.5% highre than the legal minimum established by the respective DOP/IGP

Sparkling wines (traditional method): minimum of 12 months on leese prior to disgorgement

Colheita Seleccionada: at least 1% abv higher than maximum for the region

Question 9

What is the most widely grown red casta (grape) in Portugal?

Answer 9

Castelao

A full-bodied, tannic wine with meaty, red-fruit aromas

Question 10

What is Portugal’s most cherished red casta (grape), also known for it’s use in Port?

Answer 10

Touriga Nacional

Accounts for 10% of vineyard acreage, yielding inky, full-bodied, structured wines

Question 11

Other red castas in Portugal?

Answer 11

Alfrocheira
Trincadeira
Baga
Aragonez

Question 12

What castas of Portugal

Answer 12

Fernao Pires/Maria Gomes--most planted 
Encruzado (in the Dao)--nobler wines
Alvarinho--vinho verde 
Loureiro--vinho verde
Sercial/Esgana Cao--prized for dry Madeira

Question 13

Where is the Minho IGP and Vinho Verde DOP?

Answer 13

Northwest corner of Portugal

Question 14

What is the largest DOP in Portugal?

Answer 14

Vinho Verde, representing 15% of total vineyard acreage

Question 15

Port is produced in _______ region and released as ________ DOP?

Answer 15

Douro region, Porto DOP

Question 16

In the Douro, to be labeled as reserva, what must take place?

Answer 16

White/rose: min 11.5% abv and aged for a min 6 months

Red: min 12% abv and aged for 1 year