6 Interesting Facts About the Douro Region

The Douro is a favorite for river cruisers – for obvious reasons. For one, it makes for enjoyable Jewish trips. Here are five things you probably didn't know about Portugal's famous wine region.

Kosher River Cruise - Duoro Cruise

1. It’s Older Than the Bordeaux Wine Regions
   
   Though the Douro Valley and Bordeaux wine regions were both cultivated for grapes by the Romans in 1st century AD, it seems the Douro may be older! Carbonized grape pips discovered in the Douro Valley prove that is thousands of years older than that of Bordeaux- which means it out-pips the famous French region, suggesting that the prehistoric Portuguese had already perfected the wine-growing process.


2. The Douro Used to Be Dangerous
   
   This now calm and picturesque river used to be filled with dangerous rapids and rocky shallows that claimed the lives of many brave sailors. In the 1800s, British Baron Forrester made it his crusade to survey the river with the intent of improving navigation.
   
   His exhaustive map was formally recognized by the local authorities and prompted a geological survey. He met his end not long after the rapids sank his boat.


3. Port Wine Was Partly Invented by Chance
   
   When the British declared war on France in the 1600s, they recognized that their source of wine had dried up. So they looked to long-time allies, the Portuguese, to solve their wine miseries. To help save the wine during its journey to England, it was strengthened with brandy, and so port came into existence.
   
   Having hit the sweet wine success, the port industry bloomed and the British and Portuguese set about manufacturing port for commercial use. This is why you’ll see well-known British names like Cockburn on Oporto’s old port warehouses.


4. Chelsea Players Love Portuguese Wine
   
   A Douro Valley Quinta sent a sample of its wine to Chelsea FC manager José Mourinho, and the club instantly became one their best clients. Please note, being a football manager is not a requirement to enjoying Portuguese wine.


5. Grape-treaders Had It Rough
   
   In old wineries you may find strangely positioned holes in the walls where the vats are – there’s a good reason for this. Workers were often chartered to walk the grapes through the night, and they weren’t allowed to stop until morning – not even to answer the call of nature. So openings were made in the walls through which they could relieve themselves.


6. There Is Virtually No Real Soil in the Douro River Valley
   
   Where you see the rows of vineyards growing on is not in fertile soil. It’s actually ‘anthroposoil’ which is made by breaking up rocks. The rocks were broken up by hand and terraced and planted over centuries. Over time the methods and planting patterns improved with each generation advancing on the previous one.

Douro Valley

If you're a self-proclaimed wine connoisseur, then you'll love this package. Avail Kosher cruise packages and explore the scenic Douro region.