The Douro Valley
This is a region of outstanding beauty and a UNESCO World heritage site. Many of the carefully planted vineyards have hand-built stone walls to prevent the vines from sliding down the steep slopes. The Douro river cuts through the valley and shapes the entire regions.
Where is the Douro Valley?
The Douro Valley is located in northern Portugal. The Douro river runs from the Atlantic Ocean into Porto and then through the Douro Valley into Spain. Pinhão is the central town of the Douro Valley and a great place to explore the vineyards from. Porto is another great entry point. Porto and the neighbouring city of Vila Nova de Gaia have an incredibly important connection to the Douro Valley and the production of Port. Barrels of Port were transported along the Douro River until Vila Nova de Gaia where they were kept in cellars to age. The cooler coastal breezes there helped control the ageing process. This is allowed the finished wine to be shipped outside of Portugal to countries such as the UK.
The Sections of the Douro Valley.
The Douro Valley can be broken into three subsections. These are (from west to east) Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and the Douro Superior. Pinhão is located in Cima Corgo and this middle section is regarded as the most premium area to grow vines. It is where many of the top houses, including Symington's Dow, are located.
The Climate.
Like the sub-regions of the Douro Valley, the climate can be divided into the same three areas. The Baixo Corgo is the coolest and has the highest amount of rainfall. The central Cima Corgo is considered to have the best climate and produces the highest quality, most age-worthy wines. The Douro Superior is the most inland and the warmest. Temperatures regularly exceed 40°C. In the hottest Summer months’ midday temperatures can be over a scorching 45°C.
The Grape Varieties.
Portugal is known for producing wine from many indigenous grape varieties. In Port production, there are six main varieties. These are Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cao, Trincadeira and Tinta Barroca. However, over 80 varieties are permitted in this region and around 30 are specifically recommended. White port is produced from a larger number of varieties with the most popular three being Síria, Malvasia Fina and Rabigato.
To find out more information about each variety click on the links below:
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Franca
Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
Tinta Cao
Trincadeira
Tinta Barroca
Síria
Malvasia Fina
Rabigato.
The wines.
The Douro Valley is best known for the production of Port, which you can read about here. Recently many producers have started to focus on still red wine production. These are some of the most concentrated and complex wines in Portugal and can be excellent value for money. Generally, they exhibit bold fruit flavours with toasted oak and vanilla notes however each producer will have a unique approach.
