This Summer I had the pleasure of joining the Douro Boys, a group of like minded quality Port and still wine producers on a trip through the Douro Valley of Portugal. This is a region of epic beauty and rugged steep hills, think Mosel Valley but really really dry! It is breathtaking how man has shaped such a demanding place, the river and the banks. The river was widened and made calm and free of rapids by the port shippers and grape growers.

Quinta do Crasto overlooking the Douro River

They need to ship the barrels of wine to the port of Oporto and the wild river took many lives and a lot of wine in theold days. Over hundreds of yearsthey have removed rocks and set up dams. They also carved steep terraces into the banks above the river for grape growing, arid and hot these hill are homes to 60+ native grape varieties and many international grapes. This it the land of field blends, vineyards are plated with so many grapes that no one know exactly what was planted. So wineries so extensive genetic  analysis to be able to replant when needed with the same varieties.

NIEPOORT Winery

On this trip I tasted may single varietal wines next to the classic blends of the region. As it is the trend to name the grape on the label I understand why such interest has arisen. Being a region that has such unique native grapes like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cao wanting to tell that to the consumer is understandable. I however preferred the blends. I always found the balance better, each grape filling in where the other left off, good team work! It has only been in the last decade or two that people are really going back to making still wine alongside the Port wines.

People like Dirk van der Niepoort who tasted a still wine form the 1950’s, made by his family for the vineyards works to drink during harvest for Port. Many decades later it was still fresh and had stood the test of time, he decided to explore further the possibilities of still wine in the Douro.

The Douro is similar in climate to Southern Spain, hot, dry and very sunny and with the Douro River reflecting the sun back on to the vineyards. Most of the classic grapes of the area for Port production are red, however the are also making very fresh acid driven white wines with salty hints and great aging potential. On the last day of tasting we tasted a great line up of Ports. Offering many styles from all of the five of the wineries. From this tasting I learned a great deal about the difference between the “english houses/shippers” and small grower producers. I now also have a greater appreciation for young ports as well, the 2015 vintage form all of the wineries opened my eyes to think of fresher younger styles and to reevaluate the ruby category. This classic region is looking to the past and the present to produce great wines of all styles. Rarely do you get such tradition and innovation for the same location. I strongly recommend a trip to the Douro Valley if you ever find yourself in Porto, it is a short drive or a train ride away.

The Douro Boys http://www.douroboys.com/