250 Years of the DOURO Demarcated Wine Growing Region

Mario Ferreira · Post by **Mario Ferreira** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:46 pm

The Douro Wine Growing Region was first Demarcated in 1756.
This year, 2006, is its 250th Anniversary

It seems that a multitude of events are going to take place not only in the Douro Valley itself but also in other cities. Example: a Port Wine Auction to be held simultaneous in Oporto (Portugal) and New York (USA)

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I'm looking forward to learn more about what has being prepared and plan to post that Info on this Forum :)
/MF.

Im a Dad · Post by **Im a Dad** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:31 pm

Very interesting - would you have an Internet link for more information?

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:40 pm

I'd be interested to know more!! It may be worthy of a trip down there

Do you have yet any dates Mario?

Mike Kerr · Post by **Mike Kerr** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:16 pm

From the sounds of it they might be doing something in Montreal, Fred! Save your travel bucks for some more port.

I'd make a trip to New York for something like that I think. Would need more info, but have always wanted to visit NY...this could be as good an excuse as any.

Unfortunately it eats into golf season.

Mike.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:08 am

Demarcation Port region 250 years.
31/12/05. In 2006 the 250th anniversary of the demarcated Douro/Port region will be commemorated (see also our News item of 05/08/05). The complete programm will be determined in a meeting on January 21st.
The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP) will organize six conferences about viniculture, wine making, marketing, sale, wine tourisme and regional development from June 21st to 23rd. The IVDP will also organize visits and tastings for foreign journalists.
The climax of the commemoration has to take place on September 10th with a video conference which has to connect towns in the most (?) important Port markets, especially Madrid, Paris, London, New York, Montreal and Rio de Janeiro.
The IVDP will also publish a book with photographs of the famous granite mark stones which were used for the demarcation.
(Source: Comércio of 21/12/05.)

So, a lot will be published about the Port region this year. Very often the region will be mentioned as the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. This is however not correct. The authoritative Portuguese historian and director of the Museu do Douro Gaspar Martins Pereira says on page 47 of the IVDP book Port Wine of 2004 that two regions were earlier: Chianti in Tuscany in 1716 and Tokay in Hungary in 1737.

This must be astonishing for Portugal and many journalists around the world who have believed for decades that the Douro was the first. I wonder why it took so long to find out that this information was not correct before now?

Mario Ferreira · Post by **Mario Ferreira** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:36 pm

I've read on the News that the Celebrations' Program should be finalized soon and it would be officially presented by the end of February / early March.

I'm a Dad wrote:Very interesting - would you have an Internet link for more information?

So far I'm not aware of any Internet site available with specifics about this 250th Celebration.

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:14 pm

This must be astonishing for Portugal and many journalists around the world who have believed for decades that the Douro was the first. I wonder why it took so long to find out that this information was not correct before now?

This is not really new information - it is in several books on Port (and in others on the history of wine in general) from years back.
What makes the Douro stand out from the two previous demarcations, is that is was NOT just a boundery being set, but that with it came regulations of quality WITHIN the boundery of the Feitoria. The Douro is not the first demarked wine producing area, but IMO it IS the first AOC / DOC.