GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (GI) TAGS OF PORTUGAL

Portugal, officially known as “The Portuguese Republic”, is a country situated on the Iberian Peninsula, in south-western Europe, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and south and by Spain in the north and east. It is not only the westernmost sovereign state in mainland Europe but also its location on the Atlantic Ocean has influenced many aspects of its culture. Portugal is famous for its national dishes (namely salt cod and grilled sardines) and the Algarve’s beaches. Portugal has been prized with two Geographical Indication (GI) Tags namely Porto and Douro which are manufactured products.

Porto is a manufactured product, whose application for GI Tag was filed by INSTITUTO DOS VINHOS DO DOURO E DO PORTO on 9^th December, 2010 and the product was certified on 6^th January, 2012. The Application Details of ‘Porto’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

‘Port’ or ‘Porto’ is a product originating from Portugal, as defined under European Union Protected Designation of Origin guidelines. It comes under the category of Alcoholic beverages (except beer) Port wine is a fortified Portuguese wine and is produced in the Demarcated Region of the Douro Valley  in the northern provinces of Portugal under very specific conditions resulting from natural and human factors. Port wine stands out from ordinary wines due to its unique characteristics, which are-

• An enormous variety that surprises with the wealth and intensity of their incomparable aromas;
• A highly persistent aroma and flavor;
•  A high alcohol content (usually between  19 and 22% vol.); and
• A vast range of degrees of sweetness and an assortment of colours.

There is a set of categories that identify the different types of Port wine. The different types of Red Port vary in colour from deep purple to light gold, with a range of intermediary hues (tawny, golden tawny, golden and light gold). White Port comes in various shades (pale yellow, straw and golden white), all intimately related to the winemaking technique used. When aged in cask for many years, white wines acquire, through a natural oxidation, a golden hue that is very similar to that of a very old tawny wine.

The uniqueness in the Porto wine is bestowed to the climate and soil of the region. In terms of sweetness, Port can be very sweet, sweet, semi-dry or extra dry. The choice of sweetness of wine is made during production; and it depends on when the brandy is added to stop the fermentation of the wine.

Douro is also a manufactured product, whose application for GI Tag was filed by INSTITUTO DOS VINHOS DO DOURO E DO PORTO on 9^th December, 2010 and the product was certified on 6^th January, 2012. The Application Details of ‘Douro’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Douro is a Portuguese wine region centered on the Douro River in the Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. It is sometimes referred to as the Alto Douro (upper Douro), as it is located some distance upstream from Porto, sheltered by mountain ranges from coastal influence. The region has Portugal’s highest wine classification as a Denominacao de Origem Controlada (DOC). While the region is associated primarily with Port wine production, the Douro produces just as much table wine (non-fortified wines) as it does fortified wine. The non-fortified wines are typically referred to as “Douro wines”.  The style of wines produced in the Douro range from light Bordeaux style claret to rich Burgundian style wines aged in new oak. The principal grape varieties of the Douro region include the black grapes Bastardo, Mourisco Tinto, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cao, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesa, and Touriga Nacional, and the white grapes Donzelinho Branco, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, and Viosinho.

There are two distinctly different ways of making a Douro wine namely the Traditional method and Modern method. In traditional method, the grapes are trod in a larger, a wide and shallow granite tank, which produces wines with more color and tannins which improves their potential for ageing. On the other hand, in modern method, the wines are made in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures. The latter wines are more elegant and the aromas of the wine are better preserved. Some winemakers use both winemaking techniques in order to obtain more complex wines.

A large number of grape varieties are grown in the Douro region where most of them are local Portuguese grapes. A pioneering effort was made in the 1970s which identified Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cao and Tinta Barroca as the prime dark-skinned grape varieties. Tinta Amarela and the teinturier Sousao has later come to be included among the varieties that attract the most interest. This work was important for creating the new wave of top Douro wines. Most top quintas now replant with single-variety vineyards and focus on a limited number of varieties, but older mixed vineyards will remain in production for many decades to come.

GI Tags of Portugal are-

Manufactured Products:

1. Porto [here]
2. Douro [here]