Sezão (Spanish: Sousón), formerly known as Souzão, is a
Portuguese wine
Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
grape
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters.
The cultivation of grapes began perhaps 8,000 years ago, ...
that is used in the production of
port wine and table wines.
Genetic distinction between Souzão and Vinhão
The names Souzão and Vinhão were once used as synonyms for the same variety, but recent research has shown that while they are genetically close, they are two distinct varieties. For this reason, the name has been changed to Sezão and formally registered this way in Portugal's ''Coleção Ampelográfica Nacional'' (National Ampelographic Collection).
Usage in wine
While originating in the
Minho region, it is used primarily in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
and
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. Sezão is also an authorized grape in the Monterrei DO in Galicia. In Portugal, it is also an authorized planting in the
Douro, and
Dão-Lafões area (
Vinho do Dão). It shows up as a key player in Quinto do Noval's Nacional. The grape is known for the deep color it produces in a wine as well as its rustic and raisiny taste.
[J. Robinson ''Vines, Grapes & Wines'' p. 217 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ]
In Australia, Sezão is used to make port-style wines and also
table wines
Table wine (rarely abbreviated TW) is a wine term with two different meanings: a style of wine and a quality level within wine classification.
In the United States, the term primarily designates a wine style: an ordinary wine which is not fortif ...
, often blended with other Portuguese grape varieties.
In South Africa, it is regarded as one of the better fortified-wine varieties for its high sugar levels and deep color.
Synonyms
Sousão, Sousão de Comer, Sousão Forte, Sousão Vermelho and Souzão
See also
*
List of Port wine grapes
*
List of Portuguese wine grape varieties
References
Red wine grape varieties
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