Porto wine
Wine cultivation in Portugal has become a part of the social and cultural lives of the people and the refined quality of Portuguese wine has found innumerable takers in the world market. This is evident in the growing prosperity of the Portuguese economy as wine exports constitute a major stake in the market. The Port wine which a sweet flavored wine owes the origin of its name to the years of the seventeenth century. It is often referred to as dessert wine.
This wine is also known by various names like Vinho do Porto, Porto and Oporto. From the very name it is evident that the Porto wine or Port wine is cultivated in the Douro region of Porto in Portugal and is the most refined wine produced in the country in terms of quality. The wine is so named as it is exported from the city of Porto. It requires specific geographical conditions for its growth. The vines of the Port wines are grown on soils rich in schist and are harvested under specific climatic conditions. The vinification method used to produce the Porto wine is very distinct and this is why it is famous all over the world for its individuality and awesome flavor. This variety of wine is produced in the Douro valley region in the Alto Douro and it is necessary toe remind here that it is the same Douro Valley which contains the oldest appellation system of the world. The Douro Valley region has also been designated as a world heritage site by the UNESCO. The most common varieties of Porto wine are the red ones. The Porto wine can be subdivided into various kinds, namely, tawny, white, ruby, Late Bottled Vintage, garrafeira etc. Till date Porto wine or Port wine continues to be the superior most among the wine qualities produced by Portugal along with the Douro wine, also produced in the adjoining regions.
