1. Portugal and its wine regions
UK City-Tasting
January, 2010
By Sarah Ahmed, The Wine Detective
Wine Writer
A copy of this presentation can be ed to you

2. 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.

3. Portuguese Wine Regions and Contemporary Winemaking
A World of Difference

4. Diversity of conditions
Portuguese Wine Regions and Contemporary Winemaking
Southwest
of Europe
560km long
160km wide
Diversity of conditions
Diversity of grapes
(450!)
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

5. Terroir Atlantic Wines Mountain Wines Wines of the Plains
Douro, 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 Wines
Vinho 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
Wines of the Plains
Ribatejo, 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

6. Indigenous White Grape Varieties (some examples)
Alvarinho
Fernão Pires
Arinto
Encruzado
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.

7. Indigenous Red Grape Varieties (some examples)
Touriga
Nacional
Aragonês
Trincadeira
Baga
Castelão
• Popular in Bairrada;
•produces full-bodied, tannic and complex wines;
•notes of blackcurrants, blackberries, pepper, herbs and smoke on the nose;
•good aging potential.
•Tinta Amarela in Douro and Dão;
•wines with considerable power and balanced tannins;
•notes of blackberry, plum, chocolate, pepper and herbs on the nose.
•Widely planted;
•notes of raspberry and red currant ;
•smooth and easy to drink wines.
•Low yield;
•high concentration of sweetness, aromas, tannins and color;
•with aromas of dark berry fruits, notes of pine, eucalyptus and rockrose.
•= Tinta Roriz, or Tempranillo;
•produces fruity, dark and aromatic wines.

8. VINHO VERDE Soil - granitic soil, occasionaly schist Region
- rolling hills and montains
small parcels
(below 0.8 ha)
very green landscape
(Vinho “Verde“)
Average
28,000 ha planted
Climate
- influence from the Atlantic
- frequent rain falls
Soil - granitic soil,
occasionaly schist

9. 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

10. ALENTEJO Varieties: Roupeiro, Antão Vaz, Aragonês, Trincadeira.
Wines: reds are full-bodied, fruity and have good ageing potential.

11. 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.

12. DOURO / PORTO
Region:
vineyards planted on stone-walled terraces on the
hills and on the banks of the river Douro and its
tributaries.
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
Climate
- very hot in the summer
- cold in the winter
- low precipitation
Soil:
schist;
rocky soils;
low yields

13. DOURO / PORTO Over 100 Grapes! Main varieties:
Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Aragonês), Tinta Barroca
Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarela...
Wines:
dark colours, inky, opaque, ripe black berried
with notes of rockrose.

14. 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.

15. MADEIRA Region Climate Soils
Characterised 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 kind
production process give the wine its unique and singular characteristics
Climate
- Characterised by its microclimates, has hot and humid summers and
mild winters.
Soils
Basaltic (volcanic origin), in general, they have a clayey texture.

16. MADEIRA Wines Main varieties
Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malvasia e Tinta Negra.
Wines
Sweetness balanced by a good dose of acidity, full body, with good structure, notes of dried fruits.

17. Association of Portuguese Wine Importers: 6 Point Selling Plan
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

18. 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:

19. Thank you for coming UK City-Tasting January, 2010
By Sarah Ahmed, The Wine Detective
Wine Writer