Experience Wine From UNESCO Site

In 2001, UNESCO classified Portugal’s Douro River Valley as a World Heritage Site for the beauty of its landscape and natural state. Known as the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, the Douro offers a true landscape masterpiece created by the many generations that have lived on this land and perfected and preserved its culture and traditions. Over the centuries, people have developed a process of adapting the knowledge and techniques of viticulture in the Douro River valley which is now considered to be one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world. Its unique and imposing beauty with vineyards planted on traditional terraces, supported by centuries old stone retaining walls called socalcos, have become the keepers of its history, architecture and landscape.

As the production of fortified Port wines has slowed down somewhat, Douro producers are in the fortunate position that the red grape varieties used for Port production are excellent for making full bodied dry red wines. The low yielding varietals of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cao give us wines that exhibit intense colour and flavours with good levels of tannin.  

Real Companhia Velha was founded on Sept. 10, 1756, by Royal decree and is Portugal’s oldest wine company. Its Evel Douro Red comes primarily from three of their best Quintas (vineyards) located around the town of Pinhao, considered to be the premium center of grape growing in the upper Douro region. Starting with a pronounced ruby red colour with violet tints, aromas of red berries, green tobacco, and vanilla from oak aging, lead to a medium body with soft tannins and a long finish. Pairing it with Churrasco, the Portugese term for grilled beef, would round out the total taste experience.

2018 Evel Douro Red LCBO #190694, $15.95