Do you know that…
The Douro demarcated wine region was created by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Prime Minister of the king D. José I, and future Marquês de Pombal, by law of 1756.
This beautiful region, also known as “Wine Country”, extends along the valley of the Douro River and its numerous tributaries, from Barqueiros (Mesão Frio) to Barca d’Alva, in an approximate area of 250,000 ha, encompassing municipalities of the districts of Vila Real, Viseu, Bragança and Guarda.
The Douro Demarcated Region is divided into 3 “areas”:
• Baixo-Corgo – with approximately 51% of the area occupied by vineyards, is the entire right bank of the Douro River, from Barqueiros to Rio Corgo (Régua). On the left bank, from Barrô to the river Temi-Lobos, near the village of Armamar;
• Cima-Corgo – with approximately 36%, relies on the previous one and goes to the meridian that passes in Cachão da Valeira;
• O Douro Superior – with approximately 13%, relies on the former and goes to the Spanish border.
