10 Reasons To Visit Douro

You probably already drank at least a little sip of Port Wine at any point in your life. But, do you know where it *really* comes from?

1. It's the oldest wine region in the world

Frans / Via Flickr: frans16611

In 1756, the Portuguese prime-minister, the infamous Marquês de Pombal, declared the Douro a formal wine region.

It covers 250,000 hectares, of which 48,000 are occupied by vineyards.

It incorporates 22 different counties. 24 000 hectares of the total area have been classified by UNESCO as World Heritage. However, the classified area is representative of the Douro diversity.

2. The wines are very good

Via Flickr: farehamwine

Showered every year with prizes and honors, always great to taste and worthy of foreign investment. The oldest producers are English families, settled in the region and in the city of Porto for more than a century.

You have the famous Port Wine, served after meals, for dessert or at night (or basically at any time of day you want), and classic reds, whites and rosés to drink with meats and fishes respectively. Variety is a plus.

More info here.

3. The Douro River

Lars Larsson / Via Flickr: niceandgood

The Douro river is the third longest river in the Iberian Peninsula. It starts in Spain, crossing the autonomous community of Castille and Léon and Salamanca. In Spanish it is called Duero, in Portuguese - Douro (literally meaning, in both languages, "of gold"). It comes from the latin Durius. It completely crosses the north of Portugal and meets the sea at Porto. Its name has to do with the way the sun reflects on its waters.

Alongside the winegrowing region, it is also considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The river was traditionally used to transport the wine in boats called rabelos, from the vineyards to Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia to be stored in barrels. In the 50s and 60s, the construction of dams terminated this way of transportation. Now Port wine is transported in tanker trucks.

These reaches of the Douro develop a microclimate allowing for cultivation of olives, almonds, and especially grapes. The region around Pinhão and São João da Pesqueira is considered to be the centre of Port wine production, although several types of Douro wines are produced along the river.

4. You can be part of the "vindimas"

Nuno Castro / Via Flickr: nfcastro

Starting in the end of the summer and ending in the end of october, the "vindimas" are a unique event, consisting of grape harvesting and transportation. Men and women gather to harvest that year's production, that then is stored in cellars. Then, even though the process is much more mechanized nowadays, there is still some good old fashioned feet stomping of the grapes.

You can participate and be an enotourist.

5. It is a dream for photography lovers

Nuno Morão / Via Flickr: nmorao

I mean... Do you need words for this?

6. FOOD

Jessica Spengler / Via Flickr: wordridden

Y'all, Portuguese food is one of the richest, most delicious cuisines in the world. From tender meats in the countryside, with roasted potatoes, to rich beautiful soups and mouth watering bread, to a huge variety of fishes and seafood by the shore cities.

Go to the traditional places and enjoy! Since we are in Douro, why not try a gorgeous francesinha in Porto, some great fish in Matosinhos and a roasted lamb in Lamego?

7. Boats and Trains

Feliciano Guimarães / Via Flickr: jsome1

You can travel by car along the narrow and beautiful roads, but you can also use the train (inexpensive and public) and the several types of river cruises available.

Why not start in Porto and catch the train all the way up to the Spanish boarder? You can also travel the other way around, or stop in one of the towns like Régua or Pinhão. You can also do it one way by train and the way back by boat! Lots of possibilities and itineraries. The beauty remains!

At Porto and Gaia, enjoying the final stretch of the river you can also do the Six Bridges cruise, that is complemented with some wine tastings.

8. You'll find great people

Gary Labrijn / Via Flickr: 10164913@N02

It's a known fact that the Portuguese are one of the most welcoming people in the world. And that is no exception when we talk about the hard working folks in the north, bravely keeping their legacy alive.

9. Porto (or Oporto if you prefer)

Pepe Martin / Via Flickr: pepemartin

The second biggest city in Portugal is the capital of the region of Douro. A beautiful ancient city with that cosmopolitan European flow mixed with the small town feeling. You have a lot to visit from museums to libraries and churches, to Serralves and a book store called Lello e Irmão (if you walk inside you'll see why it was an inspiration for JK Rowling - who lived in Porto btw). Plus beaches!

Porto was voted Best European Destination 2014 by European Consumers Choice.

10. Awesome smaller towns

Gerry Labrijn / Via Flickr: 10164913@N02

You have the big city but you also can visit the picturesque smaller towns along the river and up in the mountains. From Pinhão to Régua, to Lamego or São João da Pesqueira among many others. Old places full of history, great for some peace and quiet.