Setúbal DOC
[sih-TOO-bawl]
This area, located south of Lisbon on the Setúbal peninsula, has had RD (now called DOC) status since 1907. It is the most important DOC in the larger VINHO REGIONAL of TERRAS DO SADO. Moscatel (MUSCAT) grapes (with ARINTO sometimes added for ACIDITY) are used for the area’s strong FORTIFIED WINES, which are produced by halting FERMENTATION partway through the process by adding grape alcohol. The fortified wine then goes through a period of MACERATION where it’s left in contact with the skins for 5 or 6 months. The wines are then AGED for 5 years or more in large vats and small barrels. The wines are categorized by the amount of time spent in oak—5 years, 20 years, 25 years, and 50 years (this last one is usually labeled “Setúbal Apoteca”). Younger wines are deep golden colored, grapey-flavored, high-ALCOHOL, and capable of aging for many years. The older wines become much darker and take on nutty, molasses characteristics. If the wines contain 85 percent Moscatel, they may be labeled “Moscatel de Setúbal.” Otherwise, they must contain 70 percent Moscatel to be called simply “Setúbal.”
Related Links:
vinho regional (VR), Terras do Sado, Muscat
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
1995 based on THE WINE LOVER'S COMPANION,
by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.
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