The Alto Douro Wine Region is a particularly representative area of the landscape that characterizes the vast Douro Demarcated Region, the oldest regulated wine-growing region in the world. The cultural landscape of the Alto Douro combines the monumental nature of the valley of the Douro River, made of steep slopes and poor and rugged soils, with the ancestral and continuous action of Man, adapting the space to the agricultural needs of the Mediterranean type that the region supports. This close relationship between human activity and nature has allowed the creation of an ecosystem of unique value, where the characteristics of the land are used in an exemplary way, with the modeling of the terraced landscape, preserving it from erosion and allowing the cultivation of the vineyard. The region produces the famous Port wine, representing the main driving force behind the technology, culture, traditions and local economy. - Source: http://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/

Wine has been produced by traditional landholders in the Alto Douro region for some 2'000 years. Since the 18th century, its main product, port wine, has been world famous for its quality.