In 1756 Douro was named a geographically defined growing region. The first red wines were simple and of poor quality. Portwine was made by adding alcohol to let the liquid survive its trip to England. "regular" wines are made next to portwines.
The climate in the region north of the Douro River is hot during the summer and with lots of rain in the winter. But some of the humidity is held off by the Sierra-do-Marao mountains. Slate soils are the most common, but granite also exists.
Douro is certainly most known for its portwine, but Portugal's best red wine, the Barca Velha, is made here as well. The wines from the north of this region are similar to Vinho-Verde wines. The vines grown in this DOC are Bastardo, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Carvalha, Moreto, Tourgio, and Alvarelhao (red) as well as Boal, Códega, Gourveio, and Tarrantez (white).
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