11 Dec, 1916.] I'ortiiyiiest Wine Varieties. 735 



at the base. The petiolar sinus is cut out in the shape of an inverted IT; upper 

 surface yellowish-green, glabrous; veins of a paler yellow and not prominent; 

 lower surface yellowish and cottony ; veins paler and stronger ; teeth small, in 

 two series, those terminating the lobes are large and prominent; all more or 

 less mucronate. Petiole cylindrical, strong, long, slightly downy, tinted red. 



Fruit. — Bunches medium size, loose, conical, usually the stalk divides at its 

 first joint, bearing two bunches of almost the same shape; when the bunch is 

 single it is tighter, and boars shoulders on long stalks; stalk striated, very long, 

 the iipper part cylindrical and woody, and tlio lower part herbaceous, flattened 

 or fasciated; pedicells short, slender; swelling large, with a few scattered brown 

 warts; core large and vinous colour, not easily detached — berries small, almost 

 spherical, black with bluish reflections; flesh not very juicy, soft, with a single 

 flavour, and sometimes slightly acid before complete maturity; skin thin and 

 soft; style point not very visible. Pips per 100 berries— 2 with one. 40 with 

 two, 45 with three, and 13 with four. 



As will be seen from the plioto, the leaves of Tinto Cao are strikingly 

 different from those of most other vines, reminding one almost of those 

 of an Oriental plane, thus rendering this vine very easy of identification. 



Tinta Francisca. 



Synonyms: Tixta Franceza, Tinta de Fkan^ca. 



Tinta Francisca is another of the choice port wine sorts; most of the 

 leading authorities speaking very highly of it. It is a vine well suited 

 for tlie driest and hottest Douro hillsides, since it does not .suffer from 

 sunburn. In moister situations and on richer soil it does not thrive; 

 it comes into leaf very late, and often .sets its fruit badly. On the 

 Douro it is considered a good bearer. 



Much confusion has arisen, in Portugal, in connexion with this 

 variety, and its two synonyms given above, several distinct vines being 

 sometimes cultivated under one or other of these names in different 

 districts. Amongst others, the French Teinturier, the red-juicod grape 

 we call Tinto, in Victoria, is sometimes known as Tinta Francisca. 

 Xevertheless, the true vine of this name is a well-defined sort, and one 

 of the principal ones in Douro and Traz os Montes, the port wane 

 region. 



The wine yielded by it is of excellent quality, possessing much bouquet 

 and good body; it has also a. good deal of colour, though this is rather 

 unstable. Its wdne is in fact rather soft, and ages very rapidly; this 

 app(;ars to be its main defect. It is, in i^hort, a wine liable to oxidation, 

 which becomes tawmy or onion-peel colour at two or three years old. 



Tinta Car\alha. 



Two distinct vines are known under this name in Portugal; one of 

 wliich is grown on the Douro, and the otli<>r in the Traz os ^fontes 

 district; the former is the most important, and tlie only one deserving 

 attention here. 



('arvalha means oak, but this tree has no connexion with the name 

 of the vine. Several Portuguese vineyards are called Quinta das 

 Carvalhas (The Oaks Vineyard), and a vine, especially if a new intro- 

 duction, is often called after the vineyard from which it was obtained. 



Tinta f'arvalha is a quantity rather than a (pialitv variety. It 

 belongs to the group known in Portugal as Tintas (Jros-^as.* Xeverthe- 

 less, tlif wine made fi-nm it is of delicate flavour, thongli lacking in body 



• I.ltiTiilly, liliick trrniv'^ "'t''^ InrRC IhttIcs. 



