History of Portuguese wine country unfavorable for viticulture, making the country a ready market for imported wines; its proximity to France, made French wines a natural source. At times the supply was threatened by political and military conflicts between the English and French crowns. New sources had to be found such as the wines of Portugal. Documents exist detailing Portuguese wine shipments from the Minho region to England occurring as early as the 12th century. These wines, including those from the wet northern region of modern-day Vinho Verde, were often light and astringent with noticeable acidity. Despite the new source, the variety of French
Wine humour Wine humour Wine humour is humour associated with wine. As well as ordinary anecdotes, cartoons and jokes, the whimsical labels and names given to wine are a particular source of amusement. Humour is usually rare in the world of wine, and wine jokes may only be amusing to wine obsessives. Numerous wines have been given names which are deliberately amusing. These form categories: The South African "Goats do Roam Wine Company", owned by Charles Back, produces labels with names such as "Goats do Roam", "Bored Doe" and "Goat-Roti". The Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO) has protested at the similarity