The scenic Douro Valley, which runs from the Atlantic coast at Porto all the way into Central Spain, was the first designated wine region in the world
The scenic Douro Valley, which runs from the Atlantic coast at Porto all the way into Central Spain, was the first designated wine region in the world. Its vinhateiro (winegrowing) area, devoted to vineyards from Roman times, has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The pretty rolling hills by the Douro river are covered by terraced vineyards in whitewashed quintas (wine estates); the wine, Muscatel, Port and Madeira they produce was traditionally shipped down the river to Porto - and the world beyond - by traditional flat-bottomed rabelo boats. During the 1950s and 60s, however, a series of locks and dams was constructed on the river to improve navigability. Paradoxically, this stopped the traditional transport of wine down the river by these old boats. This is now done, rather less glamorously, by tankers. Oh dear.
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Photo credit: © Jon Bower / Alamy / Afripics
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