Carm Douro Wine Hamper - 6 Bottles

Portugal’ s Douro Valley is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. That means it’s not the earliest place wine grapes have been grown, but rather the earliest recognized and documented region to do so.

In terms of its table wines, the Douro is perhaps best known for its dry reds. These are commonly made from the grape variety Touriga Nacional, although many producers blend this grape with others. Including Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Touriga Franca and/or Tinta Barroca.

On the white wine front, the most prominent varieties typically include Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Viosinho, and Gouveio.

The soil composition of the Douro Valley also helps in the creation of exciting wines. It’s rocky, mostly comprised of schist.

This kind of terroir forces the vines to struggle through the rock for their nutrients. Compounding the demand on the vine, the dry climate and sunlight of the Douro during the growing season also heats up the schist, punishing the vine roots. While all of this may sound painful, these beat-up vines end up producing remarkably intense and complex wines.

Mature reds are lovely with certain types of Portuguese cheese, such as the locally produced goat cheese called Queijo de Cabra.

For the younger, fruitier Douro reds, enjoy them with the Northern dish cabrito assado ou grelhado (roasted or grilled kid goat). Veal chops and stewed rabbit- normally prepared with red wine are also common and a great pairing with young reds and even some types of salt cod dishes.

One of the lesser-known styles of wines of the region, Douro whites tend to be drier, smoother and richer than the coastal white wines of the south, trading light citrus notes for abundant floral and mineral ones.

Fuller-bodied age-worthy whites usually spend some time in oak, taking on a golden colour with rich tropical fruit flavours.

Young Douro whites are great with grilled fish dishes. Shellfish also pairs well, such as crab, mussels and clams. Mature Douro whites are nice with light bacalhau (salted cod) dishes, such boiled salted cod with chickpeas or roasted salted cod as well as chicken and rabbit dishes paired with white sauces.