Portugal ranks as the world’s 11th largest producer of wine; the country is 1st in the world in per capita consumption.
Although its fame in the world of wine rests squarely on the shoulders of two great fortified wines, the country is rapidly developing an arsenal of modern table wines, sourced from a diverse array of over 200 unique native varieties. Worldwide decline in the sales (and interest) of fortified wines has prompted Portuguese producers to look beyond Port and Madeira in an effort to compete, but years of geographical and—until the last decades of the 20th century—political isolation have left an inscrutable, perplexing vineyard terrain. Rather than adopt the same international varieties that characterize newer winemaking regions worldwide, Portuguese producers instead look to their own bounty of grapes and traditions. New research continues to identify the best indigenous varieties and clonal selections for quality table wines, and technological advancements in the winery allow Portugal’s table wines to overcome past criticisms of rapid oxidation and rusticity.
The history of wine in Portugal closely parallels that of its Iberian neighbor Spain through the Age of Exploration. Wine in Portugal predates the Phoenicians, Greeks, Celts, and Romans, each of whom arrived in turn prior to the Common Era. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the ensuing Germanic and Moorish conquests of the region frustrated—but did not eradicate—viticulture. Portugal expelled the Moors and affirmed its national identity by 1250, over two centuries before Spain would conclude
Thanks, Keith Mattrick. We've addressed the typos and will consider your other comments asap.
The section on label designations for the Dão DOP includes the following text: ‘With additional aging and an extra half-degree of minimum alcohol, nobre wines may also labeled as reserva or garrafeira’. Minor typo: ‘may also labeled’ should read ‘may also be labeled’.
The section on the label classifications for the Dão DOP includes the following text: ‘Red nobre wines must contain a minimum 15% Touriga Nacional and at least 85% of combined Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Rufete, Alfrocheiro, and Aragonez. Red nobre wines must undergo a minimum three years aging prior to release and contain a minimum 13% alcohol. White nobre wines must contain a minimum 15% Encruzado and a maximum 85% of Cercial, Bical, Malvasia Fina, and Verdelho.’ I suspect there’s an error here, as Decreto-Lei n. 376/93 does not appear to support the claim above that red nobre wines face a 85% minimum of the listed grapes, whereas white nobre wines face a 85% maximum of the listed grapes. The Compendium page for the Dão DOP lists both as minimums, but I wonder if that is correct as the wording in Decreto-Lei n. 376/93 would make me think they are both maximums, but I am not entirely certain of that.
The section on Minho includes the following text: ‘Red and rosato wines, produced from grapes like Vinhão, Espadeiro, Borraçal, and Alvarelhão, represent a minority of exports.’ Minor typo: ‘rosato wines’ should read ‘rosado wines’.
The section on Portuguese wine classifications includes the following text: ‘Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada (IPR) has been eliminated as an official category, and former IPRs have been upgraded to DOP status.’ Minor typo: ‘Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada’ should read ‘Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada’.