The Douro is one of the most dramatic vineyard landscapes on earth: terraced schist cliffs plunging down to a river, baking under the Portuguese sun. It gave the world Port, and now it is quietly reinventing itself.

This is one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in existence, and for centuries it meant one thing. That is changing fast, and for the better.

Port's Ancestral Home

Port, the region's famous fortified wine, comes in many guises: fresh and fruity ruby, nutty and mellow tawny, and the crisp white version that makes a brilliant aperitif. Sweet, generous and built to last, it remains one of the great winter pleasures.

The Dry Red Revolution

The exciting new chapter is unfortified. The same native grapes that go into Port, led by Touriga Nacional, now make dark, structured, aromatic dry reds that can stand alongside the world's best. The Douro has learned to speak a second language, fluently.

How to Drink Port

Tawny loves nutty, hard cheeses and a fireside; ruby styles are happy with chocolate pudding. And do not overlook chilled white Port with a splash of tonic on a warm evening. The Douro rewards the curious at both ends of the sweetness scale.