With port, you’re likely familiar with the Douro region. As the world’s first demarcated wine region and home to port, it might seem like a no-brainer that it is one of Portugal’s most famous wine regions. However, there are many more wines produced in the region than just port.
The Douro DOC is located in north-central Portugal along the Douro River and its tributaries. The area has five subregions: Baixo Corgo on the lower reaches of the river, Cima Corgo in the middle reaches of the river, Douro Superior at its headwaters, Terras do Infante in eastern Trás-os-Montes and Baixo Mondego near Coimbra. While some areas boast table wines from indigenous grape varieties such as Tinto Cão and Bastardo, much of the Douro DOC is focused on Port production. Some of these grapes are also found in dry red blends from this region but most dry reds are made with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga Nacional.
History
You’ll learn a lot about the history of wine in the Douro Valley if you pay attention while driving through. The region’s rich grape-growing traditions date back to Roman times, when amphorae were loaded with the local produce and sent downriver to be sold. In 1756, the Douro was designated Portugal’s first demarcated wine region—the first of its kind in the world.
In 1703, England and Portugal signed a treaty that allowed for duty-free trade between their respective colonies. When British merchants began importing many barrels of “vinho do largo” (literally translated as “wine from upriver”), they soon discovered that by fortifying it with brandy, they could stabilize it so that it would survive long voyages at sea. The drink became known as Port wine after Oporto, the nearby port city where much of early commerce took place.
Thus began a centuries-long love affair between Port and Britain (we still consume about 75% of all produced), which has earned Douro wines worldwide fame and notoriety among oenophiles ever since.
Climate and geography
The Douro is famous for its hot, dry climate, which is one of the hottest in Europe. The area is also noted for its high diurnal temperature variation, with many days seeing daytime highs above 35°C and nighttime lows below 10°C. This variation increases even more at higher altitudes (100 – 600m), where temperatures can be compared to deserts like California’s Inland Empire or Spain’s Ribera del Duero.
Another unique aspect of the region are the steep hillsides (often terraced) and large granite boulders which characterize the landscape. These hillsides are often covered in schist—a metamorphic rock composed of mica and quartz—and granitic bedrock, giving rise to soils that are a mix of granitic sand and clay-limestone. In addition to these soils, some vineyards can also have red clay or brown earth soils.
Wine styles
The Douro is best known for its dessert wines, but don’t discount it as a producer of only sweet wines. The region also produces dry red wines and white table wine, which are significantly less well-known. In addition to its fortified wines, the Douro is known for producing fruity, fresh white wines as well. The Douro was the first region in Portugal to be demarcated (in 1756). Wines from this region tend to be very earthy and rustic with olive nuances yet retain some fruitiness and acidity.
Wine regions
The Douro region is situated in northern Portugal, on the western bank of the Duoro River. The Duoro Valley is the most famous wine region in Portugal. Historically, it was the first wine region to be demarcated, back in 1756 by the Marquis of Pombal, Prime Minister of king D. Jose I.
The Douro’s climate is more continental than oceanic and this has a direct impact on its wines which are more powerful and “rustic” than those from other regions.
The Douro winemaking area is located between Spain (Galicia) to the north and Ribatejo to the south; and between Trás-os-Montes to the east and Beiras to the west.
Appellations: Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, Douro Superior (Upper Douro).
Grapes and wine production
The majority of the grapes grown in the Douro region are red grapes or white grapes that are used to make red wines. However, white wines (and some rose) are produced in each of the regions sub-regions. The major grape varieties include Tinta Roriz (also known as Aragonez), Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão.
Modern Portuguese wine law dictates that a minimum of 10% of any Douro wine must be aged for two years before release. A second classification is vinhos do porto or Port; these wines must be aged for a minimum of seven years after harvest and have an alcohol content above 20%.
A rustic region of steep, terraced hillsides
The Douro is a rustic region of steep, terraced hillsides where fortitude and ingenuity have created some of Portugal’s best wines. The quality revolution that began in the late 1990s and early 2000s has been remarkable. The Douro’s ancient terraced vineyards and long history as a wine-producing region make it one of the world’s most unique winegrowing locales.
The first recorded grape growing in the Douro was by the ancient Greeks, who planted vines on land granted to them by King Bracara Augusta, present day Braga. The Romans arrived 800 years later and further developed viticulture along the banks of the Douro River (in Latin Duorum), which they named after its waterfalls (duo rios) or twin rivers.
Today, most visitors to the Douro are drawn to a specific subregion that encompasses both sides of river between Pinhão and Foz Coa: Port wine country.