The Douro River is nestled between steep mountainsides and is the second largest river in Portugal. If you are looking for a unique trip that combines beautiful scenery, plenty to do, and wine tasting, then maybe a visit to the Douro River Valley is right for you.
Well known for Port wines, Douro is made up of three sub-regions.
1. Douro Superior which takes up about 20% of vineyard land available in Douro.
2. Cima Corgo is where the majority of high-end vintage port originates. It is the largest of the sub-regions, and it produces half of the areas total wine output.
3. Baixo Corgo is the most westerly of the three and is suited for table wine production.
There are over 80 grape varieties that can be used to make Port wine, and usually more than twenty are grown at a single vineyard. The top five are:
- Touriga Nacional - This is the most widely planted grape that many believe produces Portugal’s finest red wine, and it is also found in Porto’s fortified wines.
- Touriga Franca - Used by winemakers to produce the region’s Port and dry red wines.
- Tinta Barroca - The third most extensively planted variety in the Douro region that produces a wine which is fragrant with a fruity taste.
- Tinto Cao - This grape, when grown at high elevations, can have a floral yet spicy aroma.
- Tinta Roriz - An early variety grape which is used to make red wines that have a berry fruit and spicy flavor. It is commonly blended with Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca for dry red wines, and in several port house recipes. This grape is called Aragones in other regions of Portugal.
If you would like to pick grapes with the locals or take part in foot treading (where you stomp around in basins to crush and press the grapes), the best time to visit the Douro River Valley is in early to mid September.
