ABOUT PORTO & DOURO

Located in the North Zone of the country, the two regions have in common the river that gives them their name.

The Douro Litoral and Alto-Douro are characterized by their landscape, cultural and heritage diversity recognized by UNESCO, as a World Heritage Site: the city of Porto (1996), the Douro Valley (1998)  and the Foz Côa Prehistoric Rock Art (1998).

Its geographical diversity, its Mediterranean climate, the Douro River and its tributaries and relief with plateaus and mountains, result in favourable conditions for planting various crops, such as an olive, an almond tree and, most famously, a vineyard with the ex-libris: Port Wine and, more recently, Douro regular wines.

Porto - recognized in 1996 as a World Heritage Site, is the city that gave Portugal its name (Portus Cale). Its history is marked by the river, wine, architecture, countless episodes of defense of its interests, how often dramatic and the pioneering spirit and sense of independence that have always characterized its people and their representatives.

Douro Valley - is in your essence, the Demarcated Douro Region, the first Demarcated Wine Region in the World created in 1756, by the (iron) hand of the Marquis of Pombal and King D. José.

The geological diversity, the uniqueness of the landscape transformed by the hand of man and the unique characteristics of the wine produced, are the distinguishing characteristics of its identity.

Foz Côa Prehistoric Rock Art - is one of the most significant rock art sites in the world and the most important open-air Paleolithic rock art along the last 17 kilometres of the Côa river course, at it flows into the river Douro.