Nowhere else in Portugal is the human impact on the landscape as prominent as in the Douro region, where thousands of terraces are scattered throughout the area, defying the steep slopes where vineyards are planted. This unique beauty and monumental achievement has earned the region UNESCO recognition as a "World Heritage Site".

Stretching from the Spanish border to approximately ninety kilometers from Porto, the Douro region follows the River Douro's axis. The region is highly mountainous and protected from the Atlantic's influence by the Serra do Marão mountain range. The climate is typically dry, with cold winters and hot summers, and rainfall varies from moderate in the west to almost desert-like near the border.

The Douro region is the birthplace of Port wine, the main representative of Portuguese wines. In the past two decades, the region's still wines have gained significant recognition and independence, establishing themselves as a source of increased notoriety for the region.

The Douro region is divided into three sub-regions: Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, and Douro Superior. Baixo Corgo, which is under the direct influence of Serra do Marão, is the coolest and rainiest sub-region. It is also the most fertile and has the highest vine density.

Cima Corgo, known as the heart of Douro, is the birthplace of many high-end Port wines. The largest sub-region, Douro Superior, is the hottest, driest, and most extreme. However, it is also the least rugged and marked by dryness and scorching summers.

The Douro region boasts a wealth of indigenous grape varieties, with hundreds of unique varieties and an extensive area of old vines that are sometimes planted with dozens of varieties mixed together. Five red varieties, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional, are particularly noteworthy for their excellence in producing Port Wine. Additionally, the white varieties Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Moscatel, Rabigato, and Viosinho, as well as the red varieties Sousão and Tinta Amarela (Trincadeira), stand out among the hundreds of varieties.

Images and descriptions courtesy of Wines of Portugal

Offerings from Douro DOC