Douro – UNESCO World Heritage Site – Cot of unique wines…

Douro – UNESCO World Heritage Site – Cot of unique wines…

Today we start a cycle dedicated to the different wine regions in Portugal. We only want to give to all wine lovers around the world, a better knowledge of our wine regions, where are produced so many unique and fantastic wines.

We choose to start with Douro. I admit that we start with this region, because it is my favourite one. As a northern man that I am, with roots on this region, it seems to me that I was only doing some justice to the region that I consider as one of the most beautiful in the world.

Since always, it was an inspiration for poets, such as the renown Miguel Torga who wrote: “To be in this arid and hostile ground a new creator of life, to give there a quotidian answer to death, and transform each ravine into a parapet of hope, and each sweat drop into a drop of sweetness – here´s what the Titan taught to men, and what Zeus did not forgive him. That´s why his rebel profile it’s the own profile of the mountains.” In “Portugal (Um Reino Maravilhoso - Trás-os-Montes)”.
Even without being a poet, the sensation that I have every time I visit this paradise, is one of a overwhelming smallness. Looking at all the vineyards spread through the slopes of mountains, in terraces conquered to the granite and schist, we can understand the determination and courage of who lives for the wine. Wine made with passion, synonymous of the own blood that runs in their veins… Well, but lats talk now about the wines made in this region, all with a pronounced character and unique in all world.

In this region, wine was already being made during the roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. For many years, since their constitution as Demarcated Wine Region, by the Royal Charter of the founding of the “Companhia Gerald a AGricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro”, of 10th September 1756, this region has dedicated his efforts to produce fortified wines under the designation of “Port”. The pipes with this magnificent nectar where transported downstream Douro River by Rabelo boats, From Régua to Oporto city, were they grow old in the magnificent cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia.

From middle 1950´s, the region began to make also some great DOC Douro wines, taking advantage of the magnificent organoleptic characteristics of the native grapes. It born at this time the one wine that it still is a Ex-Libris and maybe the more know Portuguese wine at the present time, the “Barca Velha” of the Casa Ferreirinha. The evolution process is being made since then, and at the present the production of Port and still wines have almost the same percentage. It means that the producers finally discovered that Douro also produces excellent unfortified wines, that at each moment are wining international contests around the world. The Red´s are rich in colour and flavour, very smooth and pleasant to the palate, and with a noble aging. The Whites are thin, light, fresh, pleasantly acid e very aromatic.

Regarding Port Wine, an Ex-Libris of our Country and Douro region particulary, shamely its a very bad known drink in its own country. Mainly a very complex wine, with a very important sweetness, in fact the Ruby or Tawny versions are consumed by Portuguese people. But for those who really knows Port wine, they understand how fantastic can be a 10 years old Tawny pairing for example with a nice chocolate dessert… not to mention the fantastic Colheitas, real pearls hidden on Gaia cellars, or a precious Vintage, maximum exponent of a unique quality year, by its exceptional production…
I urge everyone to go further on its knowledge about this magnificent nectar.
I am still learning, and the more I know, more I get convinced of the geniality and unique quality of this world expression wine!
There is so much to tell, believe me, but if you want to know more, please don´t hesitate to contact us for more detailed information’s, including everything about our partners producers in this region.

Until soon with another region…