Douro Valley, Portugal

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The oldest demarcated wine region of the world? D O U R O Valley. Expect high quality-controlled wines here and expect to be WOW-ed by the beauty of this place. Douro Valley is truly a natural wonder! A leisurely boat cruise along the Douro River (557 miles) unveils breathtaking vistas of terraced vineyards against a backdrop of rugged mountains. These surrounding mountain ranges influence the climate of the Douro Valley protecting the region from the humid wines blowing off the Atlantic Ocean. A local told me: “this region has 9 months of winter and 3 months of hell.” Why? Because in the summer, temperatures can hit +115 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly warmer than Porto.

We were lucky the weather was nice and crisp! However, the best time to visit is in September for harvest and see the foliage colors in the vineyards. There are three wine growing sub-regions in Douro Valley: 

1. The Baixo Corgo (Lower Corgo) is the furthest west. It’s the smallest of the three, but has the greatest concentration of vineyards (+14,000 hectares).
2. The Cima Corgo (Upper Corgo) is the home of Port production and many of the best-known Port brands. 
3. The Douro Superior (Upper Douro) is the largest area but grows the fewest grapes (+10,000 hectares). The total region covers 250,000+ hectares, but only 15% is planted with vines. With stone-walled terraces baked by hours of sunshine, this toughens the skins of the grapes boosting their sugar levels to full ripeness.

These grapes are transformed to relatively high alcohol (+20%) fortified sweet red wine with excellent aging ability. 

Did you know “stressed” spelled backwards is D-E-S-S-E-R-T-S? For me, when deciding what wine to pair with my dessert, I don’t like to stressed over it so my go-to is Port wine! #portwinelovers #dourovalley If you’re not familiar with Port wine, here are key facts:

•  Port was originally fortified to prevent spoilage during transit on the Douro River. 
•  Port can be made in red, white and rosé styles. 
•  Not only is Douro Valley the oldest demarcated wine region, but it’s also the only place in the world that makes Port. 

After a scenic drive and boat cruise along the Douro River, we stopped at our first winery, Vieira de Sousa. Visiting here, you can appreciate just how much hard work goes into producing traditional Port wine. To this day, the production of Port remains a labor of love. Grapes are hand-harvested and then placed in large stone troughs called “lagares” and manually crushed by human feet (yes, you read that right!). This is the traditional method called foot treading still used by some of the high-quality Port producers. It helps bring color out of the skins without extracting unwanted flavors. Our host assured us that they keep spirits up with music, dancing, and plenty of glasses of Port! 

We tasted four Ports:

1.  Ruby: vibrant and fruity to be enjoyed young. 
2.  Tawny: mellow and nutty with complex flavors.
3.  White: fresh and versatile ranging from dry to sweet with flavors of honey, apricot and caramel. 
4.  Vintage: bold and robust considered the best. 

 Fun fact: Did you know the conflicts between England and France sparked the rise of Port wine? Due to the conflict, England faced a shortage of wine imports from France, prompting them to seek alternatives. This led them to the wines of the Douro region. In a bold experiment, the English merchants began blending the robust red wine with spirits. This process halted the fermentation and allowed for better preservation during the voyage back to England. 

“But I don’t like Port!” The Douro Valley is the birthplace of Port, but that’s not the only wine you’ll find here. The same red grapes that go into Port are also made into table wines: 

1. Touriga Nacional 
2. Tinta Roriz 
3. Touriga Franca 

The term “table wines” might conjure a few responses: 

•  It tends to be lower in alcohol than other wines (less than 14% ABV). 
•  Young wines that haven’t aged much. 
•  Reasonably priced (less than $20). For me, it means an approachable wine to enjoy at casual gatherings that will satisfy newbies and oenophiles. Though table wines may carry less prestige than appellation-designated wines in Europe, there are plenty of delicious and distinctive table wines from Portugal. Because of the lesser popularity of Portuguese wines, these bottles offer a huge value. It can still taste stunning but won’t break the bank. 

 After our Port tasting, we drove passed another bridge to get to Quinta do Cume located up in the hill on the Douro River’s right bank. I was lucky to get a quick video of the vineyards before the downpour (the rain and wine). What a memorable experience to sip delicious wine with the backdrop of rain outside! Quinta do Cume is a small producer of organic wines and well-regarded by critics. We enjoyed a tasting of four wines all under $30 per bottle: 

1.  2018 Red Blend Reserva 
2.  2019 Red Blend 
3.  2021 White Blend, Reserva 
4.  2022 White Blend 

Many Douro wines showcase fine tannins that are ideal for giving structure and body to the wine without being too drying. Here are other quintas “wine estates” you should put on your list next time you’re visiting the Douro Valley: 

• Quinta do Vallado: One of the oldest estates in the Douro region combining traditional and winemaking technique
• Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo: This estate offers a blend of history, scenic beauty with its own chapel! @ quinta_nova
• Quinta do Crasto: Renowned for its spectacular views over the Douro River and exceptional range of wines.