MINHO Wine - Demystifying "The Vine"

🇵🇹PORTUGAL–Minho

MINHO IG. DOP.- 1 @Braga

BRANCO= Alvarinho(Indigenous), Arinto, Avesso, Azal Branco, Batoca, Lamerio, Loureiro(Indigenous), Rabo de Ovelha, Trajaduro(Indigenous), Valveirinha, Vital
- –International– Sauvignon Blanc
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 DOP. @Braga

BRANCO= Alvarinho(Indigenous), Arinto, Avesso, Azal Branco, Batoca, Lameiro, 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-(9)– Amarente, Ave, Baiao, Basto, Cavado, Lima, Moncao & Melgaco, Paiva, Sousa
TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly/ Valley”
- SLOPES/ Arada, Freita, Montemuro Mountains, +Altitude(150mt. to 365 mt.)
- 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, Bojo do Luar, 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- 1908- DO. Officially Established
- 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 DOP. @Moncoa & Melgaco
- BRANCO= Alvarinho, Loureiro, Trajadura
- TINTO= Alvarelhao, Borracal, Espadeiro, Pedral, Vinhao
- GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(North-East), BORDERS-Spain(North)
  - VILLAGES-Melgaco, Moncao
- TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ Geres Mountains, +Altitude(150mt. to 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(5ha.), Muralhao de Monicao, Reguengo de Melgaco, Santiago, Santos da Casa, Soalheiro, Quintas de Melgaco, Valadas de Melgaco
LIMA DOP. @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, +Altitude( ? mt.)
  - On~Vel~Tributary~Lima~River~
- VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
  - Estates/ Producers- Quinta do Ameal(*1710/12ha.), Aphros Wine
CAVADO DOP. @Cavado/ Braga
- BRANCO= Alvarinho, Arinto, Loureiro
- TINTO= Amaral, Borracal, Espadeiro
- GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(Central)
  - VILLAGES-Amares, Barcelos, Braga, Esposenda, Vila Verde, Terras de Bouro
- TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, +Altitude( ? mt.), On~Homen~River~Tributary~Cavado~River~
- VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
  - Estates/ Producers- Casa Lata, De Pacos, Solar das Boucas
AVE DOP. @Ave
- BRANCO= Alvarinho, Arinto, Loureiro, Trajadura
- TINTO= Borracal, Espadeiro, Vinhao
- 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”, +Altitude( ? mt.), On~Ave~Riverr~
- VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
  - Estates/ Producers-
BASTO DOP. @Basto
- BRANCO= Alvarinho, Arinto, Azal, Batoca, Trajadura
- TINTO= Amaral, Borracal, Espadeiro, Padeiro, Rabo de Anho, Vinhao
- GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(East-Central)
  - VILLAGES-Cabeceira, Celorico, Mondim, Ribeira de Pena
- TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, SLOPES/ Serra do Cabriera, +Altitude( ? mt.), On~Tamega~River~
- VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
  - Estates/ Producers- Da Raza, De Santa Cristina, Turra
SOUSA DOP. @Sousa
- BRANCO= Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Azal, Loureiro, Trajadura
- TINTO= Amaral, Borracal, Espadeiro, Vinhao
- GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(South), BORDERS-Porto-City(South-West)
  - VILLAGES-Felgueiras, Lousada, Paredes, Passas de Ferreira, Penafiel
- TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, +Altitude( ? mt.), On~Sousa~River~Tributary~Duoro~River~
- VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
  - Estates/ Producers-
AMARANTE DOP. @Amarante
- BRANCO= Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Azal, Loureiro, Trajadura
- TINTO= Amaral, Borracal, Espadeiro, Vinhoa
- GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(South)
  - VILLAGES-Amarante, Marco de Canavezes
- TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, SLOPES/ Serra do Marao, +Altitude( ? mt.)
  - On~Tamoega~River~Tributary~Duoro~River~
- VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
  - Estates/ Producers- Aveleda, Quinta da Lixa
BAIAO DOP. @Baiao
- BRANCO= Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Azal
- TINTO= Alvarelhao, Amaral, Borracal, Vinhao
- GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(South-East)
  - VILLAGES-Baiao, Cinfaes, Resende
- TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, SLOPES/ Serra de Montemuro, +Altitude( ? mt.), On~Duoro~River~
- VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
  - Estates/ Producers-
PAIVA DOP. @Castelo de Paiva
- BRANCO= Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Loureiro
- TINTO= Amaral, Borracal, Vinhao
- GEOGRAPHY- Portugal, REGION-Minho IG.(South)
- TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ ?, +Altitude( ? mt.)
  - 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.