Autumn in the Douro I

The vineyards today are made up of between five or six grape varieties, selected according to the intended product. Among the white varieties, apart from the well-known Arinto and Donzelinho Branco, particularly noteworthy are the Gouveio, whose wines are noted for their high alcohol content and intense aromas, the Malvasia Fina, intolerant to high temperatures, produces wines of complex aroma and delicate flavour, the Rabigato, whose wines are fresh and of penetrating acidity, and the Viosinho, only grown in the regions of Trás-os-Montes and Douro. Although not the most popular variety, the latter, grown on damp soil, has been used in Port since the 19th century (TAYLOR, 2013; INFOVINI, 2016).