PORTUGAL AND SPAIN’S DOURO RIVER

The World’s Oldest Wine Region

PORTO, PORTUGAL, GATEWAY TO THE DOURO RIVER VALLEY

THE DOURO RIVER

Land near a river, naturally protected by mountain ranges, inspired winemakers to plant vineyards along the Douro River, but wild landscapes and nutrient-poor soil made this an extremely difficult task. The birthplace of Port wine would simply not exist today if not for the centuries of determined winegrowers who laboriously carved rows of vines into the steep, dramatic terrain. Angled, rocky terrain just so happens to be ideal for the growth of grapes. Over the years, the magnitude of Portugal’s Douro Valley wine region has grown remarkably, and it is now divided into three parts. Our Enticing Douro and Flavors of Portugal & Spain itineraries cruise through all three sub-regions.

tasting notes

BAIXO CORGO Baixo Corgo lies closest to the Atlantic and has more than 33,000 acres of vineyards, yielding the largest cultivation of grape vines. The vineyards threaded through these extreme slopes give life to rich, tawny Ports, red and white table wines and sparkling Vinho Verde, which translates to “young wine.”

CIMA CORGO Cima Corgo is home to a drier climate and proves to be the most fruitful region. The 50,000 acres of vineyards that cling to the Douro’s heartland produce remarkable, long-lasting table wines and Ports like those of the vintage variety in Pinhâo.

DOURO SUPERIOR Douro Superior is the easternmost sub-region and has the driest conditions, slate-like soil and continental climate that gives life to some of the finest, most impressive vintage Ports in all of Portugal.

The Douro Valley’s intense, vineyard-covered landscapes give life to the one and only Port wine.