48. Port

Question 1

What are the key aspects of vinification of port wine?

Answer 1

rapid extraction of color and tannin within 36 hours, followed by fortification; rapid extraction is required because the usual extraction that occurs during fermentation is shortened for port production

Question 2

What are the characteristics of ruby port?

Answer 2

deeply colored, fruity, bottled ready to drink, sold at less than 3 years old

Question 3

What are the characteristics of white port?

Answer 3

made from white grapes, golden in color, low in acidity, with some honey and nut aromas, some wood ageing is used to add nutty complexity

Question 4

Name two grapes used in white port.

Answer 4

Sercial (Esgana Cao) and Malvasia

Question 5

Name the top 5 black grapes used in Port.

Answer 5

Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cao, Tinta Barroca

Question 6

What is the beneficio in Port production?

Answer 6

the system used to control production, based on vineyards grades, it is essentially an allotment among the different vineyards

Question 7

What are the 3 subzones of the Douro Valley used for port production?

Answer 7

Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, Duoro Superior

Question 8

Which subzone of the Douro Valley produces the lightest wines?

Answer 8

Baixo Corgo

Question 9

Which subzone of the Douro Valley produces the greatest number of top vineyards?

Answer 9

Cima Corgo

Question 10

Which subzone of the Douro Valley has the highest percentage of flatter vineyards?

Answer 10

Duoro Superior

Question 11

Which subzone of the Douro Valley is the easiest for mechanization?

Answer 11

Duoro Superior

Question 12

What are socalcos in Port vineyards?

Answer 12

narrow FLAT TERRACES supported by stone walls

Question 13

What are patamares in Port vineyards?

Answer 13

made by bulldozers, these wider slightly SLOPING TERRACES supported by banks of shist (not walls) have road access built in,

Question 14

What are vinha ao alto in Port vineyards?

Answer 14

rows of vines are planted up and down the slope and accessed by roads where mechanization is operated by winches, UNTERRACED

Question 15

Where is autovinification used?

Answer 15

for production of port wine to enhance extraction similar to pump over without use of electricity

Question 16

What does autovinification involve?

Answer 16

crushed grapes are placed in sealed vats for fermentation, CO2 forces wine through a pipe over the cap to create better extraction; replaces manual treading in the troughs

Question 17

What are the lagars used in port production?

Answer 17

granite troughs for manual treading to maximize extraction

Question 18

What is the relationship of fermentation and fortification in port production?

Answer 18

fortification halts fermentation for production of port

Question 19

What is the name given to the warehouses in which Port matures?

Answer 19

(shippers’) lodges

Question 20

When is Port transported to the maturation warehouse?

Answer 20

in the spring following the harvest

Question 21

Where is Port matured?

Answer 21

in traditional wood casks at the shipper’s lodges

Question 22

What styles of Port use new wood for maturation?

Answer 22

none

Question 23

What is the aspect of the vineyards in the Baixo and Cima Corgo?

Answer 23

very steep

Question 24

What is the soil type of the vineyards in the Baixo and Cima Corgo?

Answer 24

shallow soil over shist bedrock

Question 25

What is the susceptibility of Douro Valley vineyards to disease?

Answer 25

low risk of mildew and rot due to dry, hot springs and summers

Question 26

Which Ruby Port style needs to be decanted?

Answer 26

Bottle matured LBV with a driven cork.

Question 27

What is LBV?

Answer 27

late bottled vintage port is a ruby port that has been aged for 4-6 years before bottling

Question 28

What are the two styles of LBV?

Answer 28

Modern LBV and Bottle Matured LBV

Question 29

What are the characteristics of tawny port?

Answer 29

paler and browner with complex aromas due to oxidative ageing, mellow and smooth

Question 30

Which are aged longer, tawny port or ruby port?

Answer 30

generally about the same

Question 31

How long are Vintage Ports aged in wood prior to bottling?

Answer 31

18 - 36 months (unfiltered and unfined they are intended for ageing in the bottle)

Question 32

Name 4 styles of Port.

Answer 32

White, Ruby, Tawny, Vintage

Question 33

What is the difference between Vintage Port and Late Bottled Vintage Port?

Answer 33

initial ageing in cask is less for Vintage Port (although the Bottle Matured LBV and Vintage Port may have similar tannic structure and fruit complexity)

Question 34

What is the twin city of Oporto?

Answer 34

Vila Nova de Gaia

Question 35

What is a crusted port?

Answer 35

a port sold as a crusted or crusting port is a blend of different years bottled early enough to be sure of throwing a sediment in bottle (required decanting)

Question 36

What region do Tawny Ports come from?

Answer 36

Biaxo Corgo (produces lightest wines)