Factors determining wine cultivation
Portugal accounts for being one of the world’s foremost wine producers and it is interesting to note here that two of its wine producing regions have been recognized as world heritage sites by the UNESCO. These two regions include the Pico Island wine region and the Douro Valley wine region. One of the most significant factors determining supreme quality wine production is the type of grapes and the kind of soil and climate that they thrive in. The distinct flavor of the Portuguese wines is provided by the grape variety known as ‘casta’ and all the regions specialized in wine production are constituted by various varieties of casta. These include the regions of Porto, Douro, Dao, Vinhos Verdes, Colares, Bairrada and Alentejo which are constituted by the red and white castas. Algarve is comprised of white, red and Liqueurous castas while Bucelas is comprised of only white castas. Generous castas are prevalent in the regions of Madeira, Setubal and Carcavelos. Every region has a supervising authority called the Comissao Vitivinicola, which is responsible for looking after the efficiency and quality of cultivation as well as ensuring their flavor is of supreme category.
It is significant to mention here that Portugal has the oldest appellation system in the world in the Douro Valley and it is known that this appellation system was created in this country about two hundred years prior to France to prevent the mixing of superior and inferior quality wines. Apart from the castas, there are also certain other factors which are responsible for the production of excellent quality wine. These include natural and geographical factors like the nature of the soil, climatic conditions like hot or cold temperature, rainfall and moisture. There are also certain mechanical factors involved like the implementation of proper technological tools which also ensure good quality wine production.
