ENRU

    Arrows to move, Enter to open

    Douro

    Portugal

    Schist mountains cut into terraces above a river, and the home of Port.

    30–50° N30–50° SequatorDouro
    Country
    Portugal
    Rocks in the profile
    topsoil, slate

    Schist and terraces

    The Douro Demarcated Region covers about 250,000 hectares and is divided into three sub-regions: Lower Corgo, Upper Corgo and Upper Douro.1 Its mountains are schist of Cambrian and Precambrian age.2 The soil is schistose, with some granite around the edges of the region.1

    Vines grow on stony soil that cannot be put to any other use, and on the steep slopes the land must first be shaped into terraces.3 Vines are also planted in vertical rows up the hillsides, the so-called vinhas ao alto.3 UNESCO describes narrow, irregular terraces buttressed by walls of schistous stone, while the long, regular terraces date from the end of the 19th century.4

    topsoilslate
    Schematic profile based on the sources, not to scale.

    Climate

    The Marão and Montemuro mountains shelter the valley from Atlantic winds.2 Winters are very cold and summers hot and dry, and annual rainfall drops from about 1,200 mm at Fontes to 380 mm at Barca d'Alva.1 Vines cover about 18% of the region's land.1

    Grapes and Port

    IVDP names Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Amarela and Tinto Cão among the most noteworthy red varieties, and Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Donzelinho and Gouveio among the whites.3 VIVC lists Tinta Roriz as a Portuguese synonym of Tempranillo.5 Wine has been made in the Alto Douro for some 2,000 years, and Port has been world famous since the 18th century.4

    Timeline

    1. 1756

      A royal decree of the Marquis of Pombal creates the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro.2

    2. 2001

      UNESCO inscribes the Alto Douro Wine Region on the World Heritage List.4

    Grapes

    Soils

    Sources

    1. Characteristics of the region. Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP). level 4 · checked 2026-10-13
    2. O Douro (folheto). Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP). level 4 · checked 2026-10-13
    3. Vine culture. Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP). level 4 · checked 2026-10-13
    4. Alto Douro Wine Region (World Heritage List, ref. 1046). UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 2001. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    5. Passport: TEMPRANILLO TINTO (VIVC 12350). Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC), JKI. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13