Indulge in the Vineyard Landscapes

The Douro is an intrinsically on region to the production of its wines. As such, the landscape meets sculptured in favor of the wine, as well as habits of the region is molded according to its production.

In the Alto Douro Vinhateiro the landscape is marked by the terraces, which mold a face of the hills, stopping on the crystal river. The waters reflect the immense vineyards, changing color each season. Its shades range from green to golden brown, to orange and red tones. Among the leaves the white or red grapes are more or less darkened, depending on the variety. The well-filled and colored bunches are worthy of any table, although most of them are intended for the production of wines.

In the month of September the slopes of the Douro fill with people who go there to harvest the hills, in order to obtain from the magical fruit Port wine and table wine.

The unique landscape of the Douro wine region was one of the reasons for the award of the title of World Heritage in 2001. One of the criteria on which UNESCO based itself demonstrates the importance of the molding of the landscape by the human hand, taking advantage of a land Geographically sterile, using traditional methods. "To constitute an exceptional example of a habitat or traditional human settlement or land use that is representative of a crop or crop, especially those that have become vulnerable through irreversible changes" (UNESCO, Heritage Conservation Criterion V) .

The other two criteria also end up being related to the viticultural activity of the region. Criterion III outlines the testimonies of ancient civilizations, some of which were wine producers, such as the Romans, who left traces like stone mills (criterion IV, exceptional example of an architectural ensemble). There is, therefore, evidence of the existence and cultivation of vines in the region for at least two thousand years.

The landscape of the Douro demonstrates its deep and ancient connection to the wine culture, providing a framework where Man and Nature work side by side in search of a perfect drink.