The vineyards of the Douro Valey form one of the most dramatic and spectacular man made landscapes.
About 28,000 hectares of vineyard, or roughly two thirds of the region's planted area, are located on rocky hillsides with a gradient of over 30%. One of the main challenges is therefore to create a stable, flat surface on which to plant the vine.
Until the early years of the 20th century, this was done by constructing dry stone walls and then back filling them with soil to create stable terraces. The soil, consisting of a mixture of fine soil and fragments of schistose rock, was excavated from the hillsides or brought up from the banks of the river. These beautiful walled terraces, rising in tiers up the steep slopes of the valley, are now classified by UNESCO as world heritage.
Today the cost of building these magnificent handmade structures would be prohibitive. On steeper slopes they have been replaced by 'patamares', terraces carved out of the hillsides using earth moving equipment and separated by tall earth banks. On gradients of up to around 30%, an increasing number of vineyards have been converted to 'vinha ao alto', a planting system in which the vines are laid out in perpendicular rows running vertically up the slopes.
Today the cost of building these magnificent handmade structures would be prohibitive. On steeper slopes they have been replaced by 'patamares', terraces carved out of the hillsides using earth moving equipment and separated by tall earth banks. On gradients of up to around 30%, an increasing number of vineyards have been converted to 'vinha ao alto', a planting system in which the vines are laid out in perpendicular rows running vertically up the slopes.
The most recent development in vineyard landscaping is the Sustainable Vineyard Model developed by Fonseca's winemaker David Guimaraens and head of viticulture António Magalhães. This integrated vineyard management system is based on the construction of very precisely engineered terraces, the use of natural weed control techniques and the accurate matching of vine variety to vineyard location. Although intended to promote sustainable rather than organic viticulture, it can be converted to fully certified organic production as has occurred at Fonseca's Quinta de Santo António.
The Douro valley boasts a wealth of different grape varieties. This not only contributes to the aromatic complexity of Port but also allows the vineyard to be closely adapted to the diverse conditions of the Douro Valley, with its variations in altitude, exposure to sun and wind, soil fertility and access to water. In recent vineyards, particularly those belonging to the Port houses, plantings are generally limited to a handful of proven grape varieties chosen for their reliability and their aromatic contribution. These normally include the Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barroca. Old vineyards, however, often contain many less widely planted vine varieties, making their wines less predictable but allowing them to reveal unexpected nuances and dimensions.
Most of the Douro grape varieties have tight bunches and small dark berries producing dense and deeply coloured juice. The dry conditions and rocky schistose soil, which absorbs and retains heat, contribute to the intensity of the wines.
The further upstream, the lower the rainfall and the deeper and more concentrated the wines. The vineyard area is divided into three sub-regions, each with its distinct climate. At the western end is the Baixo Corgo, meaning 'below the Corgo'. The Corgo is a tributary which flows southwards into the River Douro just upstream from the town of Régua. The Baixo Corgo has the most rainfall and its vineyards the highest yields, producing relatively light and early-maturing wines.
Most of the Douro grape varieties have tight bunches and small dark berries producing dense and deeply coloured juice. The dry conditions and rocky schistose soil, which absorbs and retains heat, contribute to the intensity of the wines.
The further upstream, the lower the rainfall and the deeper and more concentrated the wines. The vineyard area is divided into three sub-regions, each with its distinct climate. At the western end is the Baixo Corgo, meaning 'below the Corgo'. The Corgo is a tributary which flows southwards into the River Douro just upstream from the town of Régua. The Baixo Corgo has the most rainfall and its vineyards the highest yields, producing relatively light and early-maturing wines.
Upstream to the east is the central area known as the Cima Corgo, or 'above the Corgo', where the climate is drier and yields lower. The Cima Corgo contains the largest concentration of top quality historic vineyards. These are located along the steep banks of the Douro itself and also in the valleys of its tributaries such as the Távora, Rio Torto and Pinhão. Fonseca's three estates, Cruzeiro, Santo António and Panascal, are all situated in the Cima Corgo.
Finally, to the east and running right up to the border with Spain, is the Douro Superior. This was formerly known as the 'New Douro' as viticulture only developed there on large scale after 1791 when the outcrops of rock obstructing the Valeira Gorge were finally removed and the eastern stretches of the Douro were opened to navigation. The Douro Superior is the driest and hottest of the three sub-regions, producing dense and powerful wines.
As with in the great classic wine regions of the world, the terroir of the Douro represents a unique mix of soil, topography, climate and grape variety which cannot be exactly reproduced elsewhere.
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