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Portugal port wine9/21/2023 It is said that a miracle of agricultural engineering has been necessary to succeed in creating vineyards here in the steep slopes of the Douro Valley. The Douro Superior is the hottest and driest region of the three. For example, the Baixo zone is closest to the Atlantic hence receiving the most rainfall, making it a fertile and bearing land. Small scale variations in the temperature or rainfall can make or break a harvest. Each zone has its own remarkable climatic conditions that vary throughout the year, determining the quality of the grapes. The port wine region is divided into three zones: the Baixo Corgo, the Cima Corgo, and the Douro Superior. Some are grown as far up as 1,800 meters, but experience tells us that lower elevations are best, where it is said the grapes can feel the river flowing. In this demarcated region with different altitudes and microclimates, the 30 different varieties of grapes for port are grown and seldom found elsewhere. The Douro Valley is nothing short of an earthly paradise, stretching 100 km’s from Porto in the form of terraced vineyards cascading down into the river and undulating along the mountainous terrain. People from all over Europe congregate here, at the birthplace of port wine, for a taste of this seductive yet noble drink. But it’s the port wine cellars and lodges that Porto is most famous for. A big change from the traditional seafood eateries on the other side, Gaia offers trendy experiences in the hip restaurants and riverside café’s. The streets dip and rise creating spectacular visuals of a town that seems to have halted in time.Ī scenic walk across the River Douro on the Don Luis I bridge will take you to the town of Vila Nova da Gaia, whose riverfront is a tourist hot spot. People peer out from their windows or balconies, garlanded by the day’s washing swaying in unison. Its baroque, gothic and renaissance facades decorated with stunning blue and white ceramic tile work, or azulejos dominate the historic center of the city. As it coils and turns out towards the ocean crossed by 6 immense bridges, pinnacles of 19th and 20th century engineering, it’s no wonder the Porto has earned the title "city of bridges."īut Porto, in northern Portugal, seems to have many names and titles, particularly since UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. A myriad of ochre and brick colored houses sprout from the deep gorge leading down to the River Douro. Walking out from a dark, silent alley onto Porto’s bustling seafood-scented ribeira, one immediately understands why this city is a hidden gem of the Iberian Peninsula. Port Wines of the Douro Valley in Portugal
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