The Douro region is located in the northeast of Portugal, in the Douro river basin, surrounded by mountains that give it particular characteristics.

In ancient times, it was only in the Upper Douro that the culture of the vineyard was expressed.

With the administrative reform of 1936, the Alto Douro region itself was renamed Baixo Corgo and Alto Corgo, this subdivision also serving to differentiate wines produced in one or another sub-region. Today the Douro is divided into 3 sub-regions: Baixo Corgo to the west, Cima Corgo in the center and Upper Douro to the east.

It is one of the oldest demarcated regions in the history of wine, counting already more than 250 years. In 1756 was born the demarcated region of the Douro, one of the first in the world. This demarcated region was administered by the General Company of Agriculture of the Vineyards of Alto Douro. This body was responsible for limiting the region and registration of vineyards, classifying wines according to their quality and establishing certain wine-making practices in the region.

Port wine is the best known of this region. This originates from poor lands and steep slopes bathed by the river Douro. In addition to Porto, its red and white wines are also of high quality.

The soils are essentially composed of graceláquico shale although, in some zones, granitic soils exist.

These soils are not easy to grow either because of their slope or due to their composition, however, they are beneficial to the longevity of the vines and allow for more concentrated sugar and color musts.

The vineyards are made from the top of the deep valleys to the river bank and create a magnificent landscape recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2001.

In the Douro we have three distinct forms of planting: in terraces, on landings and on high. Terraces are frequent in areas whose slope is high and resemble balconies separated by walls of gravel-shale. The terraces are made up of mechanically constructed terraces without support walls, while the plantation to the top takes into account the drainage of the land and the space required for mechanization and movement of the machines in the vineyard.

Generally speaking, the climate is quite dry and mountainous areas offer the vineyards protection against the wind. In Lower Corgo the air is more humid and fresh, as it still receives some Atlantic influence. In addition, rainfall is higher, helping to fertilize the soils and increase production. In Cima Corgo, the climate is Mediterranean and in the Upper Douro it is even desert (temperatures reach 50ºC in summer).

The Baixo Corgo region, once considered the best region for the production of Port wine, reveals better conditions for the production of table wine. In the Pinhão area (Cima Corgo) the grape berries reach a higher concentration of sugar, being an area considered perfect for the production of vintages. The white, sparkling wines and the generous Moscatel come from the highest regions of Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. The best port wine is made on the more arid slopes and near the river, while table wines are produced on the freshest slopes.

The cultivated varieties in the region are of low production, however they have a secular history, since some castes come from the time of the Order of Cister (Average Age). The best grape varieties for wine production in the Douro and Porto are: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Aragonez (in the region called Tinta Roriz) and Tinto Cão. The new farms in the region mainly cultivate these varieties, very important and with great expression in the region, such as the Trincadeira and Souzão grape varieties. The production of white wines is essentially sustained by the plantation of grape varieties such as Malvasia Fina, Gouveio, Rabigato and Viosinho. For the production of Moscatel, the Moscatel Galego variety is planted.