Dao

The Dão region is located in Central Portugal, south of the Douro area. It is one of the oldest wine regions in the country, producing some of the best red wines. Since 1990, the region has had the status of DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada). The Dao, together with the Vinho Verde and the DOC Douro, is one of the oldest appellations and has the oldest classified red wine. It was the second Portuguese wine region to be demarcated in 1908.

Vineyards Dão

The vineyards of the Dão are mainly planted on a rolling plateau, surrounded on 3 sides by mountains. The mountains block the influences of the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, the summers in the Dão are long and dry and there is a lot of rain in the winter. These conditions are ideal for the (predominantly blue) grape varieties grown in the region. Beautiful wines from Dão have been appearing regularly for years. They are often quite sturdy red wines that are favorably priced for their quality. The better wines from Dão can be stored for a remarkably long time, often decades. Compared to other regions, the most (relatively) most expensive wines often come from here, especially from a number of wineries such as Quinta da Falorca.

Wines Dão

The Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Jaen are some commonly used blue grapes. The robust red Dão wines must consist of at least 20% touriga nacional and contain at least 12.5% alcohol. Garrafeiras are wines that have matured in oak for at least 2 years and have an alcohol content of approximately 13%. The best white wines from the Dão are made from the encruzado grape. These wines are wonderfully fresh and aromatic.

According to some, a good Dao should have strong tannins and a robust character. Others say that a good Dao should, in addition to strength, also have the velvet of a Burgundy. It is a DOC with an important tradition and wines that have a very high storage potential.