wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.


You can also use our powerful search function with many flexible filters, such as:

Log in Become a Member

The area named after the river with around 20,000 hectares of vineyards was classified as a DOC in 1990 and is located in the centre of the Beiras region in the north of Portugal. Viticulture dates back to ancient Greece. There are numerous hollows and depressions in the rocks in the form of stone basins (lagaretas), particularly in vineyards that have existed for centuries. Grapes were probably pressed in these facilities. This typical Portuguese method of crushing the grapes in the lagares (stone troughs) is still practised today.

Vineyards

The area is framed on three sides by granite mountains and thus protected from the Atlantic Ocean. Around 80% of the land area consists of forests, only 5% is used for viticulture. Most of the vineyards are located on granite soils in the valleys of the three rivers Alva, Mondego and Dão. There are around 100,000 winegrowers, who often cultivate very small plots of less than half a hectare and supply their grapes to production companies. The vineyards are therefore very fragmented and are often widely scattered in dense eucalyptus and pine forests.

Voices of our members

Egon Mark

For me, Lexicon from wein.plus is the most comprehensive and best source of information about wine currently available.

Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

0 Keywords · 0 Synonyms · 0 Cross-references
made with by our author Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer. About the Lexicon

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS

wein.plus

Your approval is required –
if you are not a Premium Member

Read with advertising

... or become a Premium Member

Enjoy wein.plus without advertising and tracking by third parties!

Already wein.plus–Premium Member?