Portugal's rich history is closely intertwined with its wines, particularly its most famous wine, Port. From the ancient cities of Lisbon and Oporto to medieval small towns and Roman ruins, the past is very much alive today in modern Portugal. A wonderful holiday in the heart of this country, where Port wines were born, is a unique way to experience Old World culture, climate, beautiful countryside, and of course, delicious wines.
Although the history of wine in Portugal dates back to the Romans, it wasn't until the early 19th century that the wine we know today as Port came into existence. Table wine from Portugal had already been in high demand since the mid-17th century, predominantly by the British. To make the rustic Portuguese wines more stable and palatable, small quantities of brandy were added to casks of wine before shipment. Eventually, British companies started to invest in the region and perfected the process of adding brandy during fermentation, rather than after, which preserved the distinctive red-wine fruit flavours that were unique to Portugal's Douro Valley region.
In recent years a small revolution has occurred in the Douro region in terms of developing modern style dry red and white wines, alongside the very traditional production of Port wines. Table wines also continue to play an important role. Increasing investment, improved viticultural techniques and a modernizing industry are yielding some interesting results.
Unique to Portugal is the very high number (over 500) of indigenous (though sometimes unpronounceable) grape varieties. Even most wine experts are unfamiliar with the grapes that make Port, Madeira, or any other Portuguese wine. Like its neighbour Spain, Portugal has been undergoing a quiet revolution for the last twenty years or so. A reluctance to follow trends and plant international varieties is now bearing fruit and the new breed of wines full of 'terroir effect' and fruit is more than capable of competing on the world stage. The unique flavours that characterize Portugal’s indigenous grape varieties have become its asset. Good news for those looking for a change from the ubiquitous international grape variety wines.
The terroir is so diverse. From north to south, east to west, from mountain to maritime vineyards, hot and dry or cool and green. In all styles, from vinho verde to Port, from crisp dry whites to elegant reds, in so many different ways, Portuguese wines are unique.
The Main Region: The Douro
The Douro region, in northern Portugal, is the birthplace of Port wine. It takes its name from the Douro River, which flows from east to west from the Spanish border to Porto, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Although the Douro is best known for its Ports, the region also has a growing reputation for the excellence of its red and white wines. The wines of the Douro Valley are among the best wines in the world, but they are not very well known. Not only does the Douro Valley produce some of the best Portuguese wines, which are affordable and underrated, but it also offers a magnificent and magical landscape. The wine-growing area covers the steep slopes of the banks of the lower course of the river, which is one of the longest in the Iberian Peninsula. From its source in northern Spain, where it is known as the Duero, it flows through the famous vineyards of Ribera del Duero before finding the Portuguese border and becoming the Douro. From there, it crosses the landscape, creating a unique and historic wine region before joining the ocean in Porto. The most unifying feature of the Douro is its mountainous relief, although the region covers a wide range of terroirs with different aspects, altitudes, and soil types. However, the vineyards generally extend over the steep, dry slopes on each side of the river and its countless tributaries, on narrow rocky terraces – a sight that has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site (an honor for the region).