Douro

Douro

Already in 1756 the then Prime Minister Marques de Pombal (1699-1782) to protect the authenticity of the Port the same river named after the Portuguese Douro region defined by its borders and later classified as a DOC area. Over two centuries, this applied only to the port. Not until 1979 was on this table wines (in the sense of opposite port wines ungespriteten) extended. Certainly have contributed significantly to the success mainly created in the 1950s, the famous red wine "Barca Velha" of the estate Ferreira But later the "Redomo" of Niepoort and the "Grande Escolha" Quinta do Cotto.

Like all Waters carries the flow from a positive effect on the wine and creates the conditions for the formation of valley slopes. It is actually a double appeal, which means "Douro wine = normal" and "Porto e Douro = port". Of the total area of ​​40,000 hectares 33,000 hectares for port wine (slate) and 7,000 hectares for the average wine (granite soils) are classified. About half will be processed according to the quality of the vintage but also from the port areas than regular wines. The grape varieties are practically the same as for the port (see above). The recommended must represent at least 60% of the assemblage. Wines of unapproved varieties are as a country wines (Vinho Regional) under the name Duriense markets. Many wineries produce both port wine and normal wine. See well-known producers in Port .