Portuguese Douro Adjacent Country (1848) by Joseph James ForresterMuseu do Douro
The exhibition provides an interpretation and overview of the Douro Demarcated Region, the oldest one in the world. You will discover the region's defining features, which will reveal aspects of its history and knowledge that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Douro: Man and Place
The Douro Valley has an unique geomorphology whose rock formations date back millions of years. Soils rich in schist are, in fact, better suited for wine production, with the higher the gravel content, the better the conditions for growing vines
Douro and the Mediterranean: other cultures
The mountain surrounding the Region create a Mediterranean-like climate. These conditions are reflected in the local flora and fauna and in a landscape dominated by vineyards interspersed with olive and almond trees, a legacy of the Roman Empire.
Roman remains from the Fonte do Milho archaeological site
Olive oil
Among the cultures that mark the Douro landscape it’s worth noting the olive tree, whose oil is increasingly becoming a defining feature of the region.
Olive oil transportation can (1850/1950) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Olive oil vessel (1900/1950) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Traditional handcrafted containers for storage and use of olive oil
Specialisation of the region
During the middle Ages, land was restructured to facilitate farming. Cistercian monasteries played a prominent role, establishing important wine estates (quintas) in the region's best areas. To some extent, the history of these estates is the history of Douro.
Fragments of a pitcher from the excavations at the Monastery of S. João de Tarouca, reconstituted in the conservation and restoration laboratory of the Museu do Douro. This kind of faience was intended for export, being found only in social contexts of the high nobility and clergy, as is the case of this Monastery.
Demarcation of Douro
On 10th September 1756, a royal charter was issued, establishing the Douro Wine Company and giving it powers to control the production, transport and sale of Port wine. In so doing, it created the world's first demarcated and regulated wine region!
Mapa das terra vizinhas ao rio Douro (2013) by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of PombalMuseu do Douro
Alto Douro Wine District map (1843/1843) by Joseph James ForresterMuseu do Douro
This is the first landmark placed on the south bank of the Douro by the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro when setting the boundaries for the region producing the so-called shipping wines. It was placed in Penajóia at Quinta da Ribeira de Fornos. In 1758, the region's spatial boundaries were established by placing 201 granite landmarks. In 1761, Marquis of Pombal ordered the placing of additional 134 landmarks, thus making a total of 335.
A plate used at Oporto taverns, where the Royal Company had the exclusivity of the wine sales. This plate represented the wine's authorization and quality certificate.
Regulatory Institutions
In the 20th century, the Region was heavily regulated by the State, which established a model of regulation. Under this model, which remained until 1974, regulation was administered by three bodies: Casa do Douro, the Port Wine Exporters Guild and the Port Wine Institute.
Instruments used by the Brigades in charge of creating the vineyard register. This is a detailed inventory of all vineyard plots suitable for producing Port wine.
Technology and landscape
Since the late 18 century, the need to ship products to Porto has led to the development of infraestructural projects. The levelling out of the riverbed, the construction of roads, bridges and a railway opened up the region to the world, transforming the River and its landscape.
Wood barge (1940/1970) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Bakers barge (1940/1970) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Crampons or rail spikes (1900/1970) by UnknwonMuseu do Douro
Map of the Douro Demarcated Region where the topography, main wine estates and wharves of the Douro River are pointed out. This map, which traces the course of the river from the Spanish border to the Oporto's mouth was one of the first cartography surveys of the Douro River, where it is possible to observe the wine estates, warehouses, different kinds of crops, planting areas, bridges, crossing points, roads and paths located by the river.
Winescape
To sustain agricultural activity in such a steep and rocky region, farmers built terraces with stone walls. This method evolved and has created a rich and diverse landscape, of remarkable beauty, that has earned the Douro Valley the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Alto Douro Vinhateiro was listed in the category of evolutionary and living cultural landscape.
Plagues and Diseases
The vineyards are living organisms that emerge, develop and die. As such, they require a special protection along the year. Various plagues and diseases have emerged since the 2nd half of the 19th century, introducing new agricultural practices based on scientific research.
A Philloxera: pulgão da vinha (1873) by André Meireles de Távora do Canto e Castro and Eduard Loarer (engravings)Museu do Douro
Coming from the USA, phylloxera was detected in the Douro around 1863, in Gouvinhas. The first form of combat was the injection of carbon sulfide into the soil.
Vine varieties
In the Douro there are more than 100 vine varieties. This diversity occurs within the plots themselves, with grapes being traditionally mixed. Such combination was due to the adaptation of varieties to different areas and the need to balance out wines and improve quality.
The days and labour
In the Douro, life unfolds along the agricultural year. In each season there are different activities that demand the producer's attention, such as pruning, cleaning the soil, phytosanitary treatments, culminating in the harvest, when the grapes are cut and and the wine is made.
Tradicional tools to mobilize the soil.
Sulphurator with bellows (1860/1970) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Hand Sulphurator (1850/1970) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Sulphurator (1860/1970) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Apparatus used in phytosanitary treatments
Vintage basket (1950/1970) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Pruning knife (1850/1940) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Harvest scissors (1850/1930) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Traditional basket used for transporting the grapes on the back of the pickers. These baskets could hold 80 kg each.
Diversity of wines
If the wines are the result of good natural conditions, they are above all the product of human activity. The people of Douro have perfected the art of winemaking by fine-tuning their techniques and know-how along the centuries. From that, a rich selection of wines has emerged.
Wine cellar plate (1861/1871) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Wine cellar plate (1815/1871) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Certification of wine
The 18th century demarcation gave rise to the regulation of Douro wines. This early quality control, namely of the quantities produced, stored and shipped, coupled with the valorisation of wines based on areas demarcated for wine production, ensured the stability of the trade.
Rigorous and scientific quality control was implemented after the creation of the Port Wine Institute in 1933. Supported by well-equipped laboratories, precise models for determining the composition of wines are applied in order to define the region's categories of wine. In addition to the analysis, a sensorial analysis is conducted by a Tasting Panel, leading to final certification and the issuing of a seal of guarantee.
From Douro to the world
For centuries, Douro's fortified wines have been highly sought after by foreign markets. This international recognition continues to grow today, with Douro's wines winning numerous awards and critical praise and earning world renown for their quality.
Transportation
The shipment of wine, initially in casks and later in bottles, meant that containers and wooden boxes had to be marked using heated irons or a pyrography machine.
Bottle protector (1940/1950) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Transport and consumption
Different types of bottles and corkscrew
Port wine bottle (1750/1850) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Port wine bottle (1800/1900) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Decanter (1940/1960) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Decanter (1940/1960) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Decanter (1940/1960) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Corkscrew (1850/1950) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Corkscrew (1850/1950) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Corkscrew (1850/1950) by UnknownMuseu do Douro
Photos: Egídio Santos; José Pessoa; Marco Aurélio Peixoto (Col. Museu do Douro)
Texts: Natália Fauvrelle (Museu do Douro/CITCEM)
Image Treatment: Natália Fauvrelle; Susana Marques (Museu do Douro)
