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Most Portuguese wines reach a good average
standard but they are seldom comparable with the fine wines of either
France or Germany. However, in stating this there are a select few private
estates that produce quite fine wine reserved for private consumption that
never reaches the general public. The Portuguese production of over 10.000.
000 hectolitres places it as the seventh greatest producer of wine in the
world.
History
It is impossible to say from what period Portuguese grapes were turned into
wine. The probability of in excess of 5.000 BC. is a safe assumption. Even
during the Moorish occupation with the ban demanded by the Koran, it is
recorded that wine was being made at a Monastery at Lourvão. More
modern records show that wine was being exported to England in the early
twelfth century. In 1353 Portugal and England signed a treaty allowing
Portuguese fishermen to fish off the English coast and thus encouraging
Portuguese trade. A later record shows that in 1365 the Mayor of Dartmouth
found himself in trouble for seizing a shipment of sweet wine named
"Osey and Algarve". The trade in wine became so intense that a
British vice-consul was appointed to the town of Viana do Castelo
to represent British interests. In 1703 this trade increased even further
due to the Treaty of Methuen granting Portuguese wines preference over
French for importation into England. Throughout the ages Portuguese exported
wine have been referred to using names such as "Bastardo",
Charneco" and "Riptage". The names refer back to the region
within Portugal of their origin.
After the adhesion of Portugal to the EU, the following designations were
applied to wine in order to control the "Appellation".
EU - Regulations
CVR - Regional Wines – Wines that are not DOC or IPR and are
produced in a specific region from at least 85% of locally grown grapes
DOC - Controlled Appellation Wines produced in a Geographical
Limited Region
IPR - Regulated Origin of Wines with specific characteristics
during a minimum of five years
VEQPRD - Sparkling Wine produced in a Denominated Region
VQPRD - Liquor Wine produced in a Denominated Region
Table Wines - All wines that do not qualify under the above
classifications
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