FROM THE VINEYARD TO THE GLASS: PORT WINE'S FASCINATING HISTORY

FROM THE VINEYARD TO THE GLASS: PORT WINE'S FASCINATING HISTORY

Over almost two millennia, a unique wine-growing landscape and an exceptional wine have been created on the Douro slopes. More than a natural gift, Port Wine represents a cultural heritage of labour, art, and knowledge built up over generations. It was and still is an essential economic product and a symbol representing Portugal worldwide.

The first vineyards in the Douro Valley

Grapes have been grown in Portugal since ancient times. The Greek geographer Strabo reported that the inhabitants of the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula had been drinking wine for two thousand years. Viticulture was encouraged by the Romans, who arrived in Portugal in the 2nd century BC, cultivating vineyards and producing wine on the banks of the Douro river, where Port wine is produced nowadays.

The evolution and development of Port Wine

Although viticulture in the Douro region is ancient, it was only in the 17th century that Port wine, as we know it today, began to take shape. With the growing rivalries among the maritime empires of the North, the demand for wines from the Iberian Peninsula, especially from the Flemish and English, increased at the expense of wines from Bordeaux and other French regions.

England began importing increasingly larger quantities of Port wine. In 1703, the Methuen Treaty formalized this commercial dynamic on a diplomatic level, securing benefits for Portuguese wine in the British market and, in return, granting privileges to English textiles in the Portuguese market.

Douro region demarcation and new threats

To preserve the quality and authenticity of Port wine, the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro was established in 1756. The Douro region demarcation served to protect not only the product but also the prestige of Port wine in the international market, ensuring strict control over its quality and origin.

In the second half of the 19th century, several factors led to a profound transformation in Douro viticulture. After the damage caused by powdery mildew and phylloxera - two plagues that affected the vineyards in 1850 and 1860, respectively - new cultivation and planting practices were introduced, including the selection of regional grape varieties for grafting, the use of fertilizers, and improvements in winemaking. Additionally, new threats emerged: a commercial crisis and fraud, with imitations such as "French Ports," "Hamburg Ports," and "Tarragona Ports" being sold at lower prices than authentic Port wines.

From the early 20th century to the 1970s

In 1907, João Franco, who took office at the invitation of King Carlos I, regulated the production and export of Port wine, reviving the Marquês de Pombal policies from 150 years earlier. The production region was once again demarcated, now including the Douro Superior, and Port wine was exclusively exported through the Douro and Leixões ports. Exports grew at an incredible rate, reaching over one hundred thousand barrels in 1925, a record only surpassed at the end of the 1970s.

After the 1926 coup, the new regime implemented significant changes, strengthening state intervention. The Entreposto in Vila Nova de Gaia was created, and wine trade was centralized, mandating that all sector companies establish their aging warehouses there. This effectively ended direct sales from the Douro region.

During World War II, Port wine exports declined, weakening many small businesses in the sector. In the following years, many of these were acquired by larger companies. Consumption slowly recovered in the 1950s, but rising purchasing power led to growth in the 1960s and 1970s, a period of major changes in the Port wine market.

Port wine: ongoing expansion

In the last decades of the 20th century, demand for quality Port wine grew, both in Europe and beyond, a trend that continued into the new millennium. Although Britain remained the largest consumer, the focus shifted to North America, with the United States and Canada becoming key markets. Today, emerging markets in Asia and Latin America are beginning to discover Port wine, with significant growth potential.

The complete experience at Vila Foz Hotel & Spa

For a true immersion in the world of Port wine, there is no better place to stay than Vila Foz Hotel & Spa. Located in Foz do Douro, the hotel serves as the perfect starting point for exploring the iconic cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, where the wine gains depth and history. Additionally, at Vila Foz, you can take part in an exclusive guided Port wine tasting, where you'll have the chance to experience different types of this iconic wine and learn to recognize their unique characteristics. The peaceful atmosphere and Atlantic views complete the experience, making the stay truly unforgettable.

Source:

https://www.ivdp.pt/pt/vinhos/vinhos-do-porto/historia/

https://www.taylor.pt/pt/o-que-e-o-vinho-do-porto/historia-do-vinho-do-porto

https://www.taylor.pt/pt/o-que-e-o-vinho-do-porto/historia-do-vinho-do-porto/a-era-da-inovacao

https://www.taylor.pt/pt/o-que-e-o-vinho-do-porto/historia-do-vinho-do-porto/olhando-para-o-futuro