Portugal Flashcards
(48 cards)
What is the overall climate of Portugal and the general exception?
Mostly maritime, but inland it can be hot, dry, and continental.
What is the major geographical influence in Portugal?
The Atlantic
What can mitigate the very high temperatures in some sub-regions of Portugal?
Altitude
What is the vintage variation like in Portugal?
The are large differences in average annual temperatures.
What is the largest Vinho Regional?
Alentejano
What is Alentejano based around?
Alentejo DOC
How is Alentejano different from Alentejo?
Alenejano is a Vinho Regional with more liberal regulations and the allowance to grow international varieties. Alentejo is a DOC that covers 8 sub-regions.
What is the growing season like in Alentejo DOC and what are the exceptions and resulting wine style?
Warm overall, with small climatic differences in its sub-regions that results in a range of wine styles
What is the style of wines from the cooler, wetter sub-regions of Alentejo?
More elegant
What is the style of wines from the hotter, drier sub-regions of Alentejo?
Richer
What are the traits of Alentejo red wines?
winemaking style + appearance + body + tannins + flavor characteristic
Blends deep color full body high, soft tannins expressive ripe fruit
What are the white wines of Alentejo like, and what is the exception like?
(Main variety + style)
Arinto
Fresh, floral
Some: oak fermented and/or matured
-More depth and complexity
What is the climate in Vinho Verde and why?
Moderate Maritime
Proximity to the Atlantic
A) What is a major natural factor affecting Vinho Verde,
B) what problems does it cause,
C) what is generally done to mitigate it,
D) and what are the benefits of this change?
A) High annual rainfall
B) Excessive growth and fungal disease
C) Canopy management - Modernized away from traditional Pergola growing towards spur-pruning and VSP training
D) Airflow and ability to integrate mechanisation
What is the terrain like in Dao DOC?
Mountainous
Where are vineyards typically planted in Dao DOC?
On gentler slopes and hills around 200 to 400km altitude
What is the weather like in summer and winter + one other important natural factor in Dao DOC, and how do these things together affect its wines?
Cold, wet winters + dry summers
High diurnal range
Conditions for high quality wine grape growing
Which DOC of Portugal is described as “mountainous”?
Dao DOC
Which is the most important variety in Bairrada DOC?
Baga
What is the Baga grape like?
Small, thick-skinned, late ripening
What is the climate of Bairrada and why?
Maritime - proximity to the Atlantic
What is the seasonal weather like in Bairrada and what is an occasional weather issue there?
Rainy winters + warm summers
Sometimes it can rain around harvest time causing issues for late-ripening varieties
What are the traits of wines made from Baga, including unripe vs later harvested grapes?
Deep color
High tannins
Unripe: High acidity, Astringent tannins
Riper: Softer with rich black fruit notes
Which Portugese grape is late-ripening and small with thick skin, resulting in deeply colored highly tannic wines that can be high in acid and astringent when underripe, but softer with rich black fruit when riper?
Baga
