🇵🇹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), Paderiro 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/ West

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), Paderiro 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, 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- 1,340 ha. Planted
      • Estates/ Producers- Adega de Moncao, Anselmo Mendes, Conclave, Joao Portugal Ramos, Louridal, Lua Cheia, Luis Seabra, Muralhao de Monicao, Reguengo de Melgaco, 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.