Autumn in the Douro II

In 1756, due to excess production and immediate commercial crisis, the Marquis of Pombal founded the General Company of Alto Douro Viticulture to control wine trade and ensure the quality of wine and the balance between its production and trade. Boundaries were imposed on vine areas through Pombaline stone pillars or posts (“feitoria”), distinguishing them. From here on “feitoria” wines or fine wines appeared and because they were cultivated in the areas limited by the milestones, they were exported at higher prices. The remaining wines, called “vinhos de ramo”, were sold in the domestic market. These measures show that Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo was the visionary of the current Controlled Designation of Origin and the creator of the first registered wine region in the world (VELOSO, 2013: 19-20; PEREIRA, 2010: 10-17).