A Vinho Verde Master Class

with Tim Gaiser MS www.timgaiser.com/blog

Society of Wine Educators Conference

August 2, 2013

Orlando, FL

Today’s Session

• Background

• A brief history of the area

• A regional snapshot: climate, soils and more

• Subregions

• Major grape varieties

• A tasting of wines across a wide range of styles and grapes …

Background

• Portugal’s northernmost and largest wine producing region

• Location: on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula in northern Portugal

• Climate: similar to Vancouver or Seattle due to proximity to the Atlantic

• Excellent place for viticulture

3

22 Centuries of History

• The oldest historic references to wine are from the Romans Seneca and Pliny: 96 - 51 B.C.

• Vinho Verde the first Portuguese wine exported to European markets (Britain, Flanders and Germany)

Official Demarcation

• The Vinho Verde Region was named as a Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC) on September 18, 1908

• Laws regulating wine production set in 1929

• Overseen by Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes (Wine Commission of the Vinho Verde Region)

5

Modern Era

• Modern wine era within the last 25 years

• Before most wines consumed locally or exported to Portuguese communities in the U.S. or former colonies

• 1986: Portugal’s entry into the European Union

• Brings dramatic change: funding for roads, vineyards, wineries and better access to foreign markets

6

Vinho Verde Today

• One of Europe’s largest wine regions

• 21,000 ha vineyards (Portugal’s total 240,000 ha)

• 25,500 grape growers

• 600 wine bottlers

• 2,000 wine brands

• Average of 92 million liters of wine is produced annually and exported to 90 markets worldwide

7

THE SEAL OF GUARANTEE

Is the result of a rigorous certification process

CHEMICAL

ANALYSIS CURRENT ACCOUNT

SENSORIAL

ANALYSIS LABELLING

GUARANTEE OF QUALITY

EN 45011 EN ISO/IEC 17025

Label Language

Sales in the Portuguese Market by Region

TOTAL QUALITY WINES - INA+INCIM – BY REGION

Source: AC Nielsen

31.5

20.818.2

9.3

7.16.5

3.7 2.5

Alentejo

Vinho de Mesa

Vinho Verde

Terras do Sado

Douro+ToM

Beiras

Lisboa

Tejo

• 18.5 millions liters

• 42.1 millions euros

• 96 export markets

• USA is #1 market at 9 million €

• Canada #4 with 3.2 million €

Vinho Verde Exports in 2012

Source: INE

The Wines

• Wine style: long known for vibrant fruit, low alcohol and tart acidity

• One of the most versatile partners with food

• Consumers discovering Vinho Verde as one the best wine values

• Never been a better time to discover Vinho Verde wines

11

Geography

• Located above 40° latitude in northern Portugal

– To the west of the Douro region where Port is made

– To the south of the Rias Bixas region of Spain, separated by the Minho River

• Entire region covers over 2,700 square miles

• Roughly 8% of the country’s land surface

12

Regional of Small Producers

• 25,500+ grape growers farm over 50,000 acres of vineyards planted in small plots

• Averaging less than 3 acres in size

• Long history of using cooperative wineries

Climate

• Similar to the American Pacific Northwest – Temperatures range between 46° to 68°F

– Average mean temperature is 58°F

• Annual rainfall is just over 47 inches – Most of the rain occuring in the winter and spring

months.

– Coastal regions (Cávado and Ave) more rainfall and cooler temps vs. warmer drier inland subregions such Baião and Basto

14

Topography and Soils

• Region a series of granite-based plateaus and river valleys

– Minho, Ave, Cávado, Lima, Douro, Sousa and Tâmega rivers

• Most soil types based on weathered granite with elements of quartz and schist

15

Subregions

Vinho Verde is divided into nine subregions, each with its own distinctive climatic features

Nine Subregions

• Ave

• Cávado

• Paiva

• Lima

• Monção e Melgaço

• Basto

• Baião

• Amarante

• Sousa

Subregions: Coastal

• Climate: cooler and wetter at lower elevation

• Wine styles: lighter, less alcohol and higher acidity

• Subregions:

–Ave

–Cávado

Subregions: Transitional

• Climate: hot summers with cold, wet winters

• Wine styles: ripeness yet with high acidity

• Subregions:

–Paiva

– Lima

–Monção e Melgaço

Subregions: Inland

• Climate: hot and more continental with less rainfall

• Best for late ripening grapes such as Azal and Avesso (white) and Rabo de Ovelha and Amaral (red)

• Subregions:

– Basto

– Baião

– Amarante

– Sousa

Wine Styles

• Overall the wines known for their fresh, vibrant quality and youthful fruit

• Most of the wines are intended to be enjoyed within 12-18 months

21

Traditional Vine Training

Ramadas Enforcado

Modern Trellising

Whites

• Whites are often blends but bottlings from single grape varieties such as Alvarinho and Loureiro are common

• Whites offer tart apple/pear and citrus flavors and range 8.5 to 11% in ABV

24

Rosés and Reds

• Rosés offer aromas of tart red fruits and citrus and range between 9.5 to 11% in ABV

• Red wines range offer notes of tart red fruit and fresh herbs and range between 10 to 13% in ABV

25

Grape Varieties

• Over 30 indigenous vitis vinifera grapes are native to the Vinho Verde region

• The CVRVV* recommends 7 white grapes and 8 red grapes

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*Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes

Grape Varieties: Whites

• Alvarinho: considered finest white grape of Minho region

– Also known as Albariño in the Rias Baixas region of Spain

– Markers: floral, peach/apricot and sweet citrus notes and vibrant acidity

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Grape Varieties: Whites

• Loureiro: indigenous variety grown throughout Minho – Very adaptable to different climates – Pronounced floral-peach notes and rich

palate

• Arinto:

– Grown throughout the Minho region

– Commonly used in blends

– Green pear and citrus fruit with vibrant acidity

Grape Varieties: Whites

• Avesso: cultivated in Baião, Amarante, Paiva and Sousa

– Orange, peach, almond and white floral notes with minerality

• Azal: widely grown in inland subregions:

Amarante, Basto, Baião and Sousa – Needs warmer climate and exposed soils to

ripen fully – Green apple, lemon and lime citrus

29

White Grape Varieties

30

• Batoca: plantings throughout the Minho

– Tendency to fully ripen with higher alcohol and lower acidity

• Trajadura: plantings throughout the Minho – Known delicacy and finesse with apple/pear

and ripe peach notes – Grape adds richness, texture and body to

white blends

Red Grape Varieties

• Red and Rosé Vinhos Verdes are not as widely available in the U.S.

• The eight red grapes recommended by the CVRVV are:

– Alvarelhão, Amaral, Borraçal, Espadeiro, Padeiro, Pedral, Rabo de Anho, Vinhão

31

Today’s Wines

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1. 2012 Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde

2. 2011 Tapada dos Monges, Azal

3. 2012 Quinta da Raza Dom Diogo Arinto

4. 2012 Quinta de Gomariz, Loureiro

5. 2012 Quintas do Melgaço, Alvarinho

6. 2012 Muralhas de Monção, Vinho Verde

7. 2012 Arca Nova Rosé

8. 2011 Aphros Vinhão

2012 Quinta de Azevedo

• Grape Varieties:70% Loureiro, 30% Pedernã

• Sub-Region: Cávado

• Technical Data:

– 11% ABV

– 7.5 TA

– 1.3 grams R.S.

• SRP: $11.99

2011 Tapada dos Monges

• Grape Varieties: Azal and Arinto

• Sub-Region: Ave

• Technical Data:

– 11.5% ABV

– 6 grams TA

– 4 grams R.S.

• SRP: n/a

2012 Quinta da Raza Dom Diogo Arinto

• Grape Varieties: Arinto

• Sub-Region: Basta

• Technical Data:

– 12.5% ABV

– 7.8 grams TA

– 9.8 grams R.S.

• SRP: $11.99

2012 Quinta de Gomariz Loureiro

• Grape Varieties: Loureiro

• Sub-Region: Ave

• Technical Data: – 11.5% ABV

– 5.9 TA

– 8.5 grams R.S.

• SRP: $12.99

• Production: 2,500 cases

2012 Quintas do Melgaço Alvarinho QM

• Grape Varieties: Alvarinho

• Sub-Region: Monção and Melgaço

• Technical Data:

– 13% ABV

– 6 grams TA

– 2.2 grams R.S.

• SRP: $23.99

2012 Muralhas de Monção

• Grape Varieties: Alvarinho and Trajadura

• Sub-Region: Monção e Melgaço

• Technical Data:

– 12% ABV

– 6.8 TA

– 3.6 grams R.S.

• SRP: $12.00

2012 Arca Nova Rosé

• Grape Varieties: Espadeiro

• Technical Data:

– 11.5% ABV

– 6.4 grams TA

– 8.6 grams R.S.

• SRP: $12.00

2011 Aphros Vinhão

• Grape Varieties: 100% Vinhão

• Sub-Region: Lima

• Technical Data: – 12% ABV

– 7.2 grams TA

– 4.2 grams R.S.

• SRP: $18.99

• Production: 480 cases