UK City-TastingJanuary, 2010

By Sarah Ahmed, The Wine DetectiveWine Writer

Portugal and its wine regions

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ViniPortugal is a private association dedicated to promoting Wines of Portugal. Its members are wine producers, including grape growers, cooperatives, farmers and government representatives.

Cube Communications is ViniPortugal’s UK generic office.

Portuguese Wine Regions and Contemporary Winemaking

A World of Difference

  Vineyards in hectar Wine production in hl hl/hectar

Germany 102,000 9 million 88.24

France 915,000 62 million 67.76

Portugal 240,000 7 million 31.25

Austria 40,000 2.8 million 70

Australia 57,000 4 million 70.18

Portuguese Wine Regions and Contemporary Winemaking

Southwest of Europe

560km long 160km wide

Diversity of conditions

Diversity of grapes(450!)

Terroir

Wines of the PlainsRibatejo, Terras do Sado,

Southern Alentejo, Algarve

(South) warm and dry in the summer, mild

winters

. Short vegetative cycle

. Medium to high alcohol. Low acidity. Drink young or age for a while

Mountain WinesDouro, Dão, Beira Interior,

Northern Alentejo

(Interior North)warm summers, cold

winters

. Long vegetative cycle

. Low to medium alcohol

. Medium to high acidity

. Full to medium wines

. Ageing potential

Atlantic WinesVinho Verde, Bairrada, Lisboa

(Atlantic North) fresh winds and humidity

. Long vegetative cycle

. Low to medium alcohol

. High acidity

. Light to medium wines

. Aromatic and floral wines. Drink young

Indigenous White Grape Varieties (some examples)

EncruzadoEncruzadoArinto Arinto Arinto Arinto Alvarinho Alvarinho

Alvarinho Alvarinho

Fernão Pires Fernão Pires Fernão Pires Fernão Pires

•Vinho Verde(Monção Melgaço);low-yield grape;•dry, crisp, aromatic wines; •notes of peach, citrus fruits, apple, and often with mineral character.

•The most planted white variety in Portugal (Palmela, Tejo, Sado, Setúbal, Bairrada …);•very versatile grape •crisp, aromatic whites, sparklings, but also sweet dessert wines.

•Pedernã in Vinho Verde;•balanced acidity;•hints of lemon and pineapple;•with aging potential.

•Widely planted in Dão region;•floral and mineral aromas;•usually fermented in oak for more complexity.

Indigenous Red Grape Varieties (some examples)

BagaBagaTrincadeiraTrincadeira TrincadeiraTrincadeira Aragonês Aragonês Aragonês Aragonês Touriga Touriga

NacionalNacional Touriga Touriga

NacionalNacional

•Low yield;•high concentration of sweetness, aromas, tannins and color;•with aromas of dark berry fruits, notes of pine, eucalyptus and rockrose.

•Tinta Amarela in Douro and Dão;•wines with considerable power and balanced tannins; •notes of blackberry, plum, chocolate, pepper and herbs on the nose.

• Popular in Bairrada;•produces full-bodied, tannic and complex wines;•notes of blackcurrants, blackberries, pepper, herbs and smoke on the nose; •good aging potential.

CastelãoCastelão

•= Tinta Roriz, or Tempranillo;•produces fruity, dark and aromatic wines.

•Widely planted;•notes of raspberry and red currant ;•smooth and easy to drink wines.

Region

- rolling hills and montains

- small parcels

(below 0.8 ha)

- very green landscape

(Vinho “Verde“)

- Average

28,000 ha planted

VINHO VERDE

Climate- influence from the Atlantic- frequent rain falls

Soil - granitic soil,

occasionaly schist

ALENTEJO

Region - vast and rural area of flat plains with occasional low hills;

- large sized properties;

- other traditional cultures:

cereals, cork and olives.

Climate:

warm and dry

Soil: rich clay soil,

with granite and

schist

ALENTEJO Varieties: Roupeiro, Antão Vaz, Aragonês, Trincadeira.

Wines: reds are full-bodied, fruity and have good ageing potential.

Peninsula de Setúbal

Main varieties: Moscatel de Setúbal, Castelão, Fernão Pires

Wines:- Early maturing red wines with notes of red currants and raspberries. Wine with ageing potential.

- Moscatel de Setúbal – fortified wine with long ageing time in barrel and with nutty, raisiny and honeyed aromas.

Climate

- very hot in the summer

- cold in the winter

- low precipitation

Soil:

schist;

rocky soils;

low yields

Region: vineyards planted on stone-walled terraces on the hills and on the banks of the river Douro and its tributaries.

DOURO / PORTO

- 3 Sub-regions: Baixo-corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior- one of the wildest landscapes in the world - av. 40,500 ha of planted vine- average property size – 1.2 ha

Wines: dark colours, inky, opaque, ripe black berried with notes of rockrose.

Main varieties: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Aragonês), Tinta BarrocaTouriga Nacional, Tinta Amarela...

Over 100 Grapes!

DOURO / PORTO

DÃO Region: rolling hills and small holdings

- forest (pine trees and eucalyptus).

-In other areas, empty and wild landscapes

- average property, bellow 0.8 ha

Climate:warm in the summer, long and cool Autumns and Winters; high precipitation

Soil: granite, slate, schist, lime and clay.

MADEIRA

RegionCharacterised by the steep orography of the terrain. The particular conditions of the soil (of volcanic origin), the proximity of the sea, the climatic conditions and the one-of-a kindproduction process give the wine its unique and singular characteristics

SoilsBasaltic (volcanic origin), in general, they have a clayey texture.

Climate - Characterised by its microclimates, has hot and humid summers andmild winters.

MADEIRA

Wines

Sweetness balanced by a good dose of acidity, full body, with good structure, notes of dried fruits.

Main varietiesSercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malvasia e Tinta Negra.

Association of Portuguese Wine Importers: 6 Point Selling Plan

1. Diversity

2. Value for Money

3. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, is the oldest alliance in the world 

4. Wines for today's market

5. The Port link

6. Opportunity and Support

www.viniportugal.co.uk

Are you a retailer or importer?

List your wines for free on viniportugal.co.uk and consumers can search for wine by the name, location, importer, producer or retailer.

For further information please contact Cube Communications in the UK: 0208 401 5502. sarah@cubecomm.co.uk

UK City-TastingJanuary, 2010

By Sarah Ahmed, The Wine DetectiveWine Writer

Thank you for coming