DOURO VALLEY: Wine Styles, Grapes Varieties and Tradition

Discover the Wines of the Douro: Port, Moscatel and DOC Douro, Grapes Varieties and Styles

The Douro Demarcated Region, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, is famous for its impressive landscape and the excellent wines produced on its slopes. In addition to the iconic Port, the Douro offers a variety of DOC wines, including full-bodied reds, fresh whites and the acclaimed Moscatel do Douro. Each of these wines reflects the region's unique terroir and the savoir-faire of the local producers, making the Douro an unmissable destination for wine lovers.

Port Wine: The Treasure of the Douro Region

Port is the Douro's most famous ambassador. Produced exclusively in this region, this fortified wine stands out for its variety of styles and the complexity of its flavours. The secret lies in the fermentation process, interrupted by the addition of grape spirit, which results in a sweet and alcoholic wine (19%-22%), perfect for ageing.

Port styles: 

Ruby: Ruby Port is known for its vivid colour and red fruit aromas, such as cherry and blackberry. It includes categories such as Ruby, Ruby Reserva, Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) and Vintage. Vintage stands out for being the only Port that ages in the bottle, developing complexity and elegance over the years, making it ideal for long-term storage.

Tawny: This style is aged in wooden barrels, developing a golden colour and aromas of dried fruit, caramel and spices. The categories include Tawny Reserve, Tawny with Indication of Age (10, 20, 30 and 40 years), which reflects an average ageing process, and Colheita, produced from a single year, which stands out for its uniqueness.

White Port: Made from white grape varieties such as Viosinho and Gouveio, White Port ranges from dry to sweet and is popular in cocktails such as ‘Porto Tónico’. Aged wines acquire flavours of dried fruit and honey.

Rosé Port: This innovative style offers a light and refreshing experience, with notes of strawberry and raspberry, perfect for summer days.

Moscatel do Douro: 

Sweet and aromatic, Moscatel do Douro is a fortified wine produced from the Moscatel Galego Branco grape variety. This sweet wine stands out for its intense aromas of orange blossom, honey and sultanas. It can be consumed young, revealing freshness and floral notes, or aged, gaining complexity and dried fruit flavours. Moscatel is perfect as a dessert wine, accompanying traditional cheeses and sweets.

DOC Douro Wines: Far beyond Port Wine

The acronym DOC stands for “Denominação de Origem Controlada” (Denomination of Controlled Origin), and refers to wines that are produced and regulated within a specific geographical area, following strict rules of quality and production methods. In the case of the Douro, DOC Douro covers red, white and rosé wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the region's terroir.

DOC Douro still wines have conquered the world with their quality and diversity. Regulated by the DOC Douro since 1982, these wines include:

DOC Douro reds: The reds range from young, fruity wines to full-bodied, barrel-aged wines with notes of black fruit and violets. They have excellent ageing potential, acquiring complexity over time. Within the category of red wines, there are the titles Reserva, which are high quality wines aged for at least 12 months, and Grande Reserva, exceptional wines aged for more than 30 months.

DOC Douro whites: White wines are fresh and aromatic, with high acidity and hints of tropical fruit. Some whites are aged in oak, gaining structure and complexity. They can also be classified as Reserva or Grande Reserva, depending on the ageing time and quality.

DOC Douro Rosés: Fresh and vibrant, Douro rosés are produced to capture the fruity essence of the grapes and are ideal for drinking on hot days.

The Grape Varieties of the Douro: The Secret Behind the Wines

The Douro grape varieties play a fundamental role in the creation of the iconic Ports and DOC Douro wines. Red grape varieties include Touriga Nacional, with its structure and complexity, Touriga Franca, responsible for its floral and fruity aromas, and Tinta Roriz (Aragonez or Tempranillo), which gives the wines body and tannins. Tinta Barroca is also an important grape variety, providing notes of ripe fruit and softness. For white wines, Viosinho, Gouveio and Rabigato are the main grape varieties, offering freshness, minerality and acidity, essential for dry white wines and white Ports. These indigenous Douro grape varieties are the basis for high quality wines with unique characteristics that reflect the region's terroir and winemaking tradition, both in Port and DOC Douro wines.

The Douro is one of the wine regions in the world with the greatest diversity of authorised grape varieties, with more than 60 red grape varieties and 40 white grape varieties recognised and permitted for the production of DOC wines. And as well as the best-known grape varieties, the Douro is also famous for its old vines, which include a mixture of various grape varieties and are over 40 years old. These vines, which are found in various Quintas in the region, produce wines of enormous complexity and depth, resulting from the unique interaction between the various grape varieties and the climatic conditions of each plot. 

Finally, wine production in the Douro region balances innovation and tradition. Local winemakers use modern practices to create diverse wines while respecting the legacy of past generations. Whether it's the robust Port, the elegant DOC Douro, or the aromatic Moscatel, all Douro wines offer a unique experience, reflecting the authenticity and character of the region.

Travel to the Douro Valley with Cooltour Oporto

The diversity of Douro wines is a sensory journey through the heart of the oldest wine region in the world. From complex, aged Ports to fresh whites and rosés, and the acclaimed Moscatel, each bottle is a testament to the rich heritage and innovation of the Douro's producers. Explore this region with Cooltour Oporto and discover why Douro wines are appreciated all over the world. Book now!