Bounce Magazine February 2016

FEBRUARY 2016 | ISSUE #40 |
FOOD & DRINK
Wines
of Portugal
It was in 1678 that the importation of French wines was forbidden as
a result them being our enemy.
BY ‘WINE BUFF’ FRED FISHER
This led to an opportunity to deal with Portugal for
wine imports. By 1703 the Methuen Treaty bound
us together even more such they had become our
oldest ally.
This Treaty gave preference to Portugese trade
and boosted their wine industry.
They have existed over the years as a basic wine
producer with Port being the most important
product. In 2003 a commission was set up to
provide a strategy for producing sustainable
quality wine.
Similar to other European nations Portugal has a
Classification system with the initials DOC & DOP
for top quality, and IGP and VR for the medium
quality wines. Furthermore Reserva and Garrafeira
are quality terms. Reserva for DOC wines and
Garrafeira for all wines DOC or IGP. For Garrafeira
the minimum age has to be 30 Months maturing
including 12 in glass bottles. Table wines are simply
called Vinho.
On wine labels look for these classifications
especially the initials IGP as these are a relatively
new development and follow the 2003 strategy
mentioned above.
The Climate
Diverse climate mostly influenced by the Atlantic
Ocean thus described as a Maritime Climate,
warm summers and cool wet winters. Inland the
climate can be hot and dry.
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