There are few wine regions in the world as instantly recognisable as Portugal's Douro Valley. Its vineyards rise in striking symmetry from the banks of the Rio Douro, which charts a 557-mile-long course across northern Portugal before spilling out into the Atlantic at Porto. The Alto (Upper) Douro lies at the sweet spot where the Marão and Montemuro mountains meet, shielding the land from unforgiving westerly winds. In doing so, they create ideal microclimates for the area's 250,000-odd hectares of vertiginous vineyards, yielding super-concentrated, deeply flavoured grapes.
Historically, the area has been heavily focused on the production of port, an industry that dates back to the 1386 Treaty of Windsor, which allowed Portuguese merchants in the Douro to begin freely shipping barrels of wine downriver and across the ocean to England. However, over the centuries, local winemakers have developed their vineyards to adapt to the area's natural conditions — from steep slopes to limited water resources — and their collective creativity has seen production flourish beyond just fortified wines. It's this expanding offering that's led the region to be named European Wine City for 2023, and there's never been a better time to explore the Douro's ever-developing viticulture. Here are five of the best ways to do it.
More than 80 varieties of grape grow in the Douro, with the lion's share of the harvest set aside for the ruby, tawny, white and rosé port wines that have made northern Portugal famous. However, winemakers in the region have been increasingly branching out beyond fortified wines, using red grapes historically bound for Port-making for dark and moody table wines instead. Ambers and whites — citrusy Arinto, perfumed Malvasia Fina, sparkling Espumante — also feature on an ever-evolving wine card.
There are more than 200 historic quintas (wine estates) in the Douro, the majority of which offer tastings and tours for visitors to learn more about the area's unique winemaking heritage. Visit and you'll find yourself enjoying vibrant oak-aged reds, elegant rosés made from Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz grapes and even freshly brewed craft beers, often accompanied by spectacular river views.
Miles of gentle and graded trails wind through the Douro's signature tiered terraces and centenary olive groves before heading up into the hills and cork forests beyond. Trace old train tracks, detour to famous miradouro viewpoints — such as São Leonardo de Galafura in Peso da Régua and Ujo in Alijó — and stop at a quinta or two to sample the speciality of the house.
As you amble, keep your eyes peeled for some of the surviving marcos pombalinos, a series of 335 granite pillars erected in 1756 by the Marquis of
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