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The history of Portuguese wine has been influenced by Portugal's relative isolationism in the world's wine market, with the one notable exception of its relationship with the British. [1] Wine has been made in Portugal since at least 2000 BC when the Tartessians planted vines in the Southern Sado and Tagus valleys.
Portuguese wine was mostly introduced by the Romans and other ancient Mediterranean peoples who traded with local coastal populations, mainly in the South. In pre-Roman Gallaecia-Lusitania times, the native peoples only drank beer and were unfamiliar with wine production. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire.
Port wine (Portuguese: vinho do Porto, Portuguese: [ˈviɲu ðu ˈpoɾtu]; lit. ' wine of Porto '), or simply port, is a Portuguese fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal. [1] It is typically a sweet red wine, often served with dessert, although it also comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties.
Douro DOC wine. Douro is a Portuguese wine region centered on the Douro River in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. It is sometimes referred to as the Alto Douro (upper Douro), as it is located some distance upstream from Porto, sheltered by mountain ranges from coastal influence.
Portugal's history of viticulture and vinification covers many centuries and has included the use of an extensive number native varieties. In addition, through experimentation and field trials a number of new varieties have emerged and are now playing key roles in producing the country's wide array of wines.
Fonseca's modern founder Manoel Pedro Guimaraens was a supporter of King Pedro IV's (pictured) liberal reforms, which led to his having to flee Portugal to England hidden away in an empty Port wine barrel. Fonseca Guimaraens, often simply called Fonseca, is one of the largest Port wine houses in Portugal. [1]
Sogrape, Portugal's largest winemaker and the brand's owner, has diversified as the Mateus brand lost favour with consumers.In the UK in 2002 the wine was re-packaged and relaunched to capitalise on 1970s nostalgia, with the wine being less sweet and more sparkling as drinkers preferred a drier wine.
Portugal, a country with one of the oldest wine traditions, developed the first wine appellation system in the world. A housewife of the merchant class or a servant in a noble household would have served wine at every meal, and had a selection of reds and whites alike.