Quality Sparkling Wine – Classic Method
The wine that gave rise to this sparkling wine is the result of careful selection of existing varieties in the vineyard dominated Maria Gomes and Bical grapes.
For this sparkling wine were basic, very careful viticulture throughout the year particularly in relation to phytosanitary treatments, maturation control and the cutting of the grapes at the optimum time for the preparation of the base wine.
The cellaring after “Champenoise” for an appropriately created the conditions necessary for proper harmony of this natural brut sparkling wine, it is therefore not necessary to resort to the addition of sugar (the law allows 15 grams per liter). It is therefore considered natural brut.
Grapes:
Maria Gomes or Fernão Pires
Fernão Pires or Maria Gomes is one of the most planted white grape varieties in Portugal. It is grown in the centre and south areas, especially in Bairrada (where it is known as Maria Gomes), Estremadura, Ribatejo and Setúbal.
Fernão Pires or Maria Gomes is very early-ripening, which makes it one of the first Portuguese grape varieties to be harvested. Besides, as it is very sensitive to frost, it develops better in fertile soils of temperate or hot climate.
This grape variety has good alcohol content and low or medium acidity, which makes the wines produced from or blended with Fernão Pires have intense floral aromas.
Bical
This grape variety is typical of the Beiras region, namely Bairrada and Dão, where it is known as “Borrado das Moscas”. In the nineteen eighties, a technological revolution took place in Bairrada, bringing up all the qualities of Bical and making it one of the most important grape varieties in the region, side by side with Maria Gomes.
Bical is early-ripening, which makes its berries keep a high acidity. It is very resistant to rottenness but particularly sensitive to powdery mildew.
Wines produced with this grape variety are very aromatic, fresh and well-structured. In Bairrada, Bical is much used in the production of sparkling wine.
Natural Sparkling Wine Brut
Winemaker: Rui Moura Alves
Harvest year: 2013
Region: Bairrada
Bottle Capacity: 750ml
Ingredients added: sulfites
Manufacturing process: classical method
Type: natural brut
Grapes: Maria Gomes and Bical
Alcohol: 12.7% Vol
Total acidity: 7.00
Fixed acidity: 6.60
Total SO2: 108
Sugars: Without any added sugar in the “degorgement”.
Pressure (bar): 5.9
Color: Citrine
Appearance: clear
General appreciation: fine bubble, persistent and soft.
Temperature to serve: 5/6º
Conservation: bottle lying down
Time limit for consumption: no set date, about 5 years.
The Region of Bairrada – Portugal
The region is located in Beira Litoral, between Águeda and Coimbra. It is very close to the sea, which is why its climate is typically Atlantic: mild and rainy winters, and summers softened by the effects of the Atlantic winds.
Most wine farms are small sized. The area occupied by vines (mainly in limestone-clay or sandy soils) does not go beyond 10000 hectares.
Although wine production existed since the 10th Century, it was only in the 19th Century that Bairrada became a quality wine producing region. The scientist António Augusto de Aguiar studied the wine production systems and, in 1867, defined the region’s borders. Twenty years later, in 1887, the Escola Prática de Viticultura da Bairrada (free translation: Wine School of Bairrada) was founded with the purpose of promoting the region’s wines and improve the wine growing and production techniques. The school’s first practical achievement was the creation of sparkling wine, in 1890.
Baga is the main red grape variety of the region and is usually planted in clayey soils. Wines made from this grape variety are full of colour and very acidic, but also well balanced and of great longevity. Recently, it has been permitted to plant international grape varieties in the DOC region of Bairrada. Some of these are the Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir, which are grown together with national grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional or Tinta Roriz.
White grape varieties are planted in the region’s sandy soils. The most planted grape variety is Fernão Pires (known in Bairrada as Maria Gomes). The Arinto, Rabo de Ovelha, Cercial and Chardonnay grapes are also planted, though in lesser quantities. These wines are delicate and aromatic. The region’s sparkling wines are often used to accompany local food or as appetisers.
This typical sparkling wine of the bairrada region in Portugal, is a wine consumed at the dinner table with the typical piglet “Leitão à Bairrada”. It is also a great sparkling wine to celebrate a birthday, a promotion, etc. Whenever it is necessary to celebrate this wine must always be present.
Food matches:
- Leitão à Bairrada (typical Portuguese piglet).
- Steamed mussels.
- Grilled white fish with risotto.
- Apricot chicken.
- Pork stew with rosemary and lemon
- Barbecued chicken with lemon and pepper
- Caramelized onion and feta tart
Enjoy.