Port wine is produced in the Douro valley near the coast, in the north west of Portugal dating back to the thirteenth century. In the seventeen hundreds it was the first wine region to try to control quality giving rise to "appelation".

The "Revolta dos Borrachos" was led by the small winegrowers who was disenchanted by the Portuguese government 's first try to control the Port market that was then dominated by English trading companies who first asked about the measures and to this day Port still a popular drink in Great Britain. Today production is completely controlled and can only be produced as such.

Port was named after the coastal city from where it was delivered after traveling down the river Douro on a flat boat called Barcos Rabelos. The wine itself is produced from grapes grown in the Douro region. It includes Brandy, which stops the fermentation. It is stored for years in barrels or bottled in accordance with type and comes to its full maturity over time.

In order to qualify as a vintage port wine must be of a special quality that can only be produced with certain optimal conditions, therefore vintage port is not produced every year. All vintage wine must be passed by the IVDP for approval.

Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal and is located at the end of the river Douro. It is an important historical center, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. Porto has established itself as an important center and is the economic and cultural centre of the whole region of Norte.

The Coste Verde region is delightful and you can visit beautiful towns and villages as well as the wine producing areas. Porto airport has increased the regions popularity with visitors as it is now much more accessible. You can now easily spend a week or two enjoying the regions many sights.

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