The beauty of the Douro winegrowing region can be found in the exuberance of its slopes, valleys, rivers and streams. Its typical terraces are a testimony to the tenacity of those who have grown vines here since time immemorial. If it was the River Douro that shaped the landscape, then it was Man’s responsibility to work the steep, schist slopes of its banks. Archaeological discoveries and documentary evidence tell us that viticulture was practised in the region in pre-history and particularly during the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, from the 3rd century B.C. onwards. However, it was only considerably later, in the 18th century, that winegrowing in the Douro began a phase of expansion, leading to the rapid growth of the wine trade, which was especially geared towards the external market. It was within this socio-economic context that port was created, a product much appreciated by the English at the time. This demand from the English market led to the chaotic growth of vineyards and even the adulteration of the port produced, through the addition of sugar. Because of this situation, and due to a fall in exports that was partially the result of poor harvests, the Portuguese state decided to intervene with a set of measures introduced by the minister Marquês de Pombal that included defining the Douro as the first demarcated region in the world, setting its boundaries in 1756. With its unique taste, port is the result of the unlikely combination of stony soils, a severe climate and rare grape varieties. Perhaps for these reasons, different ports boast such a variation of aroma, taste and colour, producing a gamut of sensations in a fine wine that can be served on all occasions and with alongside almost any dish. Having conquered the world with the quality of its port, the Douro slowly began to explore other aspects of its enormous winegrowing potential. The region’s first table wines eventually appeared, some of which are still important icons of the Portuguese wine scene. However, it was only in the early ‘90s that a new generation of producers focused on making top-quality table wines, using the same vineyards that produce the grapes for port. Varieties like Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Touriga Franca became the basis for wines founded in the region’s traditions and the peculiar agro-climatic conditions of its terroir.