Winery Real Companhia Velha

Adress: Rua Azevedo Magalhães 314 4430-022 Vila Nova de Gaia
Country: Portugal
internet: http://www.realcompanhiavelha.pt
Wine district: Douro
wines

Grape growing in the Douro Region dates back to pre-historic times.
In Bronze Age burying-grounds, grape seeds and even carbonised vine-shoots have been found.
With the Roman occupation, grape-growing underwent a large scale expansion-excavations carried out on the left bank of the River Tua cleary confirm the development and prosperity that the vine brought to the Douro Region.

The first known written reference to the name "Port Wine" applied to the Douro wine exported from the Oporto customs house dates from the end of 1678. Between 1680 and 1715, the expansion and growth of exports was remarkable, having increased from 800 to 8.000 barrels and reaching the expressive figure of 19.000 barrels in 1749. A great contribution to this increase was made by the mercantile spirit revealed by English merchants of the period settled in the city of Oporto.

Besides the commercial expansion, the very discovery was the result of a series of experiences and happy circumstances, as they added brandy to Douro Wines with the objective of preserving them during the long Sea Journeys.

The merchants of the period were surprised to find out that when brandy was added, the common Douro Wine, which suffered from harshness and astringency, gained a smoother taste and their flavour was considerably enhanced. The Anglo- Portuguese Treaty of 1703 set preferential customs tariffs for Port Wine sold in England as a result of the trade embargo impose by that country on France.
British pride had been puffed up, and to drink Port Wine was- more than a pleasure or a luxury- a patriotic act. It is even said that before the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson sketched out his plan on top of a table with a finger he had dipped in a glass of Port.

Such sucess could not fail to produce greed, and the Douro was asked for more wine than the land could possible produce.
If the vine climbed up the slopes it also started to movedown into the dales, grapes were picked in the cool lowlands and the highlands.
Less scrupulous merchants bought wines from distant regions that were not proper for the purpose and blended them with those from the Douro Region, and the result wsa that Port Wine became discredited.
The activity stopped being lucrative and poverty gradually installed itself in the region.
The crisis could not continue - an overall intervention imposing rules and regulations was inevitable.