Things about the Douro that nobody tells you

When you visit the Douro region, there are several things about the Douro that nobody tells you.

They are ancient “secrets” of the region that are part of its history and that are often not talked about.

We tell you some things about the Douro that go through curiosities and historical facts that you may not know yet.

 

VERY HOT IN SUMMER, VERY COLD IN WINTER

The Douro is an extremely hot region in the summer, reaching 40ºC when heat waves arise. These temperatures turn out to be beneficial for the vineyards, as the heat helps to increase the quality of the grapes, with the desirable characteristics for making Port wines. In winter it becomes extremely cold, reaching -5ºC, with the formation of ice and snow in the higher regions.

 

PORT WINE IS NOT MADE IN THE CITY OF PORTO

The well-known and emblematic nectar is produced in several places in the Douro, essentially in the heart of the Douro Wine Region. The grapes are harvested from the vineyards, and then different combinations are made that give rise to the profiles of Port wines. The grapes are crushed and brandy is added during the fermentation process. The nectar is placed in wooden barrels where they are left to age. These barrels are later transported to the cellars in the city of Porto.

 

A RABELO BOAT CARRIED UP TO 100 BARRELS OF WINE

They may look like small and fragile boats, but the truth is that the Rabelo boats could withstand storms, a raging river and 100 barrels of wine full of delicious nectars. Currently they are used for tourism, where it is possible to take boat trips in these historic vessels; but in the old days these were real working machines. In addition to the wine, there were 12 men on the boat who controlled the vessel and took it to a safe port.

 

THE DOURO SOIL IS NOT REAL SOIL

We see several rows of vines growing along the Douro, however the soil of these vines is not fertile soil. It is called “anthroposoil”, and results from the ruptures between the rocks. These rocks were manually separated by winegrowers, and planted over the years with the help of the earth. There has always been a great deal of human intervention, which has led to a marked change in the profile of the Douro soil. Techniques were also being changed and improved over the years to facilitate the work of winemakers.

 

So we leave you some things about the Douro that are not told when visiting the Douro. In addition to these curiosities, there are certainly many others to discover in the region.

We recommend that you make your visit to the Douro and that you talk to the locals. They certainly have many stories to tell.