🇵🇹PORTUGAL–Minho

MINHO IG.     DOC.- 1      @Braga

  • BRANCO= Alvarinho(Indigenous), Arinto, Avesso, Azal Branco, Batoca, Loureiro(Indigenous), Rabo de Ovelha, Trajaduro(Indigenous)
  • TINTO= Alvarelhao, Amaral, Azal Tinto, Caino Tinto(Indigenous) AKA=Borracal, Espadeiro, Pedral(Indigenous), Padeiro de Basto AKA=Tinto Cao, Rabo-de-Anho, Vinhao(Indigenous)

GEOGRAPHY– Portugal(North-West), REGION-Minho IG.,  LATITUDE: 42° ‘N‘

  • BORDERS-Spain(North)/ Minho River, Beira Atlantico IG.(South), Terras do Dao IG.(South-East), Transmontano IG.(East)
  • Sub-Zones- Amarante, Ave, Baiao, Basto, Cavado, Lima, Moncao, Paiva, Sousa

TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly/ Valley(Minho)”, On~Coast/ Atlantic~Ocean~

  • Mountains– Alvao/ Cabreira/ Geres/ Março/ Montemuro/ Peneda Mountains All to the East of Minho Forms a Amphitheater For Topography and Micro Climates.
  • Rivers- On~Cavado/ Douro/ Lima/ Minho/ Tamega~

SOILS– “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Granite, Veins of Schist

CLIMATE– “Maritime”, With “Mediterranean” Influences

  • *Summers– Warm   |   *Winters– Cold/ Wet

VITICULTURE– Labeled–  “MINHO” Wine Produced Non-Conforming to an DOC.

VINICULTURE– Branco,  Rosado,  Tinto,  Espumante

CULTURE–

  • BOTTLE SHAPES~ ~Galician Flute~  Green, Slightly Fuller In Shoulders Than Rhine Flute.
  • GASTRONOMY… Octopus, Squid, Mussels, Tuna, Caldo Verde, Broa de Milho, Lampreia, Cabrito
    • CHEESE…
  • Minho is Known to Have a “Sister/ Brother” Relationship With Galicia, Spain.

**Refer to “PORTUGAL/ Home” For Detailed Information On Portugal as a Country.

**Minho Map Images Courtesy of Delong Maps, Purchase Wine Maps at Delongwine.com

VINHO VERDE DOC.      @Braga

  • BRANCO= Alvarinho(Indigenous), Arinto, Avesso, Azal Branco, Batoca, Loureiro(Indigenous), Rabo de Ovelha, Trajaduro(Indigenous)
  • TINTO= Alvarelhao, Amaral, Azal Tinto, Caino Tinto(Indigenous) AKA=Borracal, Espadeiro, Pedral(Indigenous), Padeiro de Basto AKA=Tinto Cao, Rabo-de-Anho, Vinhao(Indigenous)
  • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(North), “Multi-Appellation”
    • Sub-Zones- Amarente, Ave, Baiao, Basto, Cavado, Lima, Moncao & Melgaco, Paiva, Sousa
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly/ Valley”
    • On~Minho/ Lima/ Cavado~Rivers~Tributary~Douro~River~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, Granite, Sand, Shist
  • CLIMATE- “Maritime”, With “Mediterranean” Influences
    • *Summers– Warm   |   *Winters– Cold/ West
    • CHALLANGE– Cool, Wet Weather Makes Ripening Difficult
  • VITICULTURE- Vine Training– Pergolas
    • Estates/ Producers-(Not Found In Demarcated Sub-Zone)– Aveleda, Anselmo Mendes, Aphros, Atlantico, Aveleda, Casa de Mouraz, Casa da Sentra, Casa de Vila Verde, Casel Garcia, Encostas do Lima, Faisao, Girofle, Joao Cabral Almeida, Jose Maria Fonseca, Lima & Smith, Linhares, Da Lixa, Luis Seabra, Do Monte, Orlana, Da Reza, Soalheiro, Vercoope
  • VINICULTURE- Wine From Vinho Verde Are Said to Possess Noticeable Salinity.
    • Sparkling(Espumante de Vinho Verde), Reserva(+AGED/12mo.- 24mo.)
      • Super-Reserva(+AGED/ 24mo.- 36mo.),  Grande Reserva(+AGED/ +36mo.)
    • VINHO VERDE– +AGED/ Drink Young
      • BRANCO= Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Loueiro, Trajaduro
    • VINHO VERDE TINTO–
      • TINTO= Alvarelhao, Amaral, Azal Tinto, Borracal, Espadeiro, Padeiro, Rabo-de-Anho, Touriga Nacional, Vinhao
  • HISTORY- The “Sparkling” Originated From Malolactic Conversion Taking Place In the Bottle.
    • Modern Versions Are Produced by Completing Malolactic Conversion Prior to Bottling and Adding Co2(Sparging) to Create “Sparking”.
  • GOING THERE-
    • WINNER “Worlds Best”~ “Vinho Verde”
      • DtheV.com Awards- “Top Iberian Peninsula Wine Region” (3rd. Place)
      • **Refer to “WINE CULTURE/ Derek’s Top 6 List” For Detailed Information.
  • MONCAO & MELGACO DOC.     @Moncoa & Melgaco
    • BRANCO= Alvarinho, Loureiro
    • TINTO= Alvarelhao, Espadeiro, Padeiro, Vinhao
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(North-East), BORDERS-Spain(North)
      • VILLAGES-Melgaco, Moncao
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ Geres Mountains, +Alt. +300mt.
      • On~Minho~River~(South)
    • VITICULTURE- 1,540 ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers- Adega de Moncao, Anselmo Mendes, Conclave, Joao Portugal Ramos, Louridal, Lua Cheia, Luis Seabra, Marcio Lopes, Muralhao de Monicao, Reguengo de Melgaco, Santiago, Santos da Casa, Soalheiro, Quintas de Melgaco, Valadas de Melgaco
  • LIMA DOC.     @Viana do Castelo
    • BRANCO= Arinto, Alvarinho, Loureiro(Indigenous)
    • TINTO= Borracal, Espadeiro, Vinhoa
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(North)
      • VILLAGES-Arcos de Valdevez, Ponte da Barca, Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly Valley(Lima)”, SLOPES/ Serra da Peneda
      • On~Vel~Tributary~Lima~River~
    • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers- Quinta do Ameal(12ha.), Aphros Wine
  • CAVADO DOC.     @Cavado/ Braga
    • BRANCO= Alvarinho, Loureiro
    • TINTO= Amaral, Borracal, Espadeiro
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(Central)
      • VILLAGES-Amares, Barcelos, Braga, Esposenda, Vila Verde, Terras de Bouro
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On~Homen~River~Tributary~Cavado~River~
    • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers-
  • AVE DOC.     @Ave
    • BRANCO= Alvarinho, Loureiro
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(Central), BORDERS-Porto-City(South-West)
      • VILLAGES-Safe, Guimaraces, Santo Tirso, Trofa, Vila Nova de Famalicao, Vieira do Minho, Vila do Conde,
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Ave~Riverr~
    • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers-
  • BASTO DOC.     @Basto
    • BRANCO= Alvarinho
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(East-Central)
      • VILLAGES-Cabeceira, Celorico, Mondim, Ribeira de Pena
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, SLOPES/ Serra do Cabriera, On~Tamega~River~
    • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers-
  • SOUSA DOC.     @Sousa
    • BRANCO= Alvarinho
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(South), BORDERS-Porto-City(South-West)
      • VILLAGES-Felgueiras, Lousada, Paredes, Passas de Ferreira, Penafiel
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On~Sousa~River~Tributary~Duoro~River~
    • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers-
  • AMARANTE DOC.     @Amarante
    • BRANCO= Alvarinho, Loureiro, Trajadura
    • TINTO= Borracal, Espadeiro, Vinhoa
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(South)
      • VILLAGES-Amarante, Marco de Canavezes
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, SLOPES/ Serra do Marao, +Alt. ?
      • On~Tamoega~River~Tributary~Duoro~River~
    • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers- Aveleda, Quinta da Lixa
  • BAIAO DOC.     @Baiao
    • BRANCO= Alvarinho
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(South-East)
      • VILLAGES-Baiao, Cinfaes, Resende
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, SLOPES/ Serra de Montemuro, +Alt.?, On~Duoro~River~
    • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers-
  • PAIVA DOC.     @Castelo de Paiva
    • BRANCO= Alvarinho
    • GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(South)
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ ?, +Alt. ?
      • On~Paiva~River~Tributary~Duoro~River~
    • VITICULTURE-  ? ha. Planted
    • VINICULTURE- Vinho Verde(Tinto)
      • Estates/ Producers-

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.