406 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 July, 1916. 



Gyrao (1822) r;coinmeucls blending Alvarelhao with otlier sorts, and 

 in not too considerable a proportion, siiice its wine is of poor colour. 

 He nevertheless states that " it yields a wine of the most graceful 

 piquancy (do niais engrat^.ado pica) that one could have." He further 

 states that this vine " and also Donzelmho de Castello are of such 

 good quality that even laterals and suckers bear grapes, thus forming 

 an exception to the rule." From this it would seem that even in case 

 of damage by frost this variety would still yield some fruit. 



Figueridj (1875) describes Alvarelhao as a grape-producing wine of quality 

 (Tinho fino) , of light colour, fairly astringent if made with thorough feitoria 

 (trampling), which, with age, acquires precious qualities, developing into a 

 most generous wine. From this grape, without addition of alcohol, and with 

 little trampling, can be made a delicious light table wine (Vinlio de I'fisto) — 



tlie best that we know Its yield cannot be depended upon with as 



much certainty as that of Touriga; it gives a wine more open (lighter) in colour, 

 very aromatic, and fairly alcoholic. 



The description of Alvarelhiao in Anipelographie is contributed by 

 Sr. Duarte de Oliveira. He quotes from several of the authors whose 

 works we have made extracts from, and gives some further information 

 concerning this variety, from which the following is abridged: — 



Alvarelhao is one of the oldest varieties in the regions of Douro 

 and Tras os Montes, where it was formerly preferred in large vineyards 

 on account of its always giving a very special character to the wine 

 into the composition of which it entered. It certainly plays the prin- 

 cipal part in the wines which have made the world-wide reputation of 

 Port.' 



In Douro and Tras os Montes Alvarelha > is usually pnined long. 

 In these regions it is a very good bearer, but in Minho it produces 

 little unless pruned very long. Being very subject to coulure (faulty 

 setting), its bunch contains many small seedless berries {millerande) 

 if blossoming occurs in damp foggy weather. Even if the fruit appears 

 to set satisfactorily, the berries are liable to drop off afterwards (in tbis 

 respect it seems to resemble Malbeck). 



It is very liable to oidium, requiring much sulphuring; it is mucli 

 less S3nsitive to downy mildew. In view of the exquisite delicacy of 

 flavour it communicates, the wine-taster can immediately recognise it, 



even if present in small proportions, in a wine It causes 



Port wine to age, since it favours oxidization; thus, a wine containing 

 vsome Alvarelhao in its composition might, at eight years old, be easily 

 mistaken, as regards colout, for a wine of ten or twelve years. 



The following ampelographical description is given: — 

 " Yine. — Vigorous, spreading grower; bark dark brown, with readily detach- 

 able grey strips; buds large, white, and downy; young growth whitish, with 

 carmine edges. 



''Canes of medium thickness, very long; wood hard and brittle; internodes 

 fairly lono' (10-14 cm. = 4 to 5i inches); striations well marked; of vinous red 

 colour; buds medium; tendrils numerous and strong. 



" Leaves. — Five-lobed, large, as broad as long, thick, hard to the touch, 

 crisp, fleshy, bulged (between the veins) ; upper surface dark green, with traces 

 of tine tomentum, resembling cobweb; under surface downy and of yellowish 

 green; lateral lower sinus deeper than the upper; petiolar sinus deep, forming 

 an elongated eliptical opening — main veins strongly marked and secondary veins 

 prominent. Teeth almost equal, medium, slightly mucronate; terminal teeth 

 large and of irregular form. Leaf stalk short, compressed for one-half of its 

 length, and downy. 



"Fruit. — Bunch fairly large, irregularly conical, usually loose, sometimes 

 with one or two short wings; stalk long, wine coloured, somewhat herbaceous; 



