Quinta do Vallado is one of the oldest and the most famous wineries in Douro Valley- Portugal. It first belonged to the renowned Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira and has remained to the Ferreira descendants. Quinta do Vallado is very famous for its production of good quality port wines and dry wines by mixing different grape varieties from the same plot. Today, they’ve got 10 hectares of old vineyards planted between the 1920s and 1950s while the other 55 were planted in the ‘90s.

Douro Wines

Douro wine region, is located in the northern part of Portugal and is home to the famous Port wine. In Douro wines are produced both as still and fortified. Douro blends are dominated by five key grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cao and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo). Though it might be quite obvious why, Touriga Nacional is the most appreciated, followed Touriga Franca the most planted. International grapes make great quality Douro wines as well so take a look.

Touriga Franca Wines

Touriga Franca is a dark-skinned red wine variety from Douro Portugal. It is considered to be an important ingredient in both Port wine and Portuguese dry red wine alongside Touriga Nacional. Although it is a very aromatic grape variety it is not concentrated enough to make a very good quality wine on its own. Therefore Touriga Franca will most commonly be found in red blends. Its origins are unclear but it is believed that Touriga Nacional could be its parent.