Dão

The Dão takes its name from the river that runs through it and lies on a high plateau in north-central Portugal, ringed by mountains: the Serra da Estrela to the east, the Caramulo and Buçaco ranges to the west and the Montemuro to the north. The ranges shelter the vineyards from Atlantic rain and from the heat of the interior, and vines grow among pine woods and granite outcrops, mostly at 400 to 500 metres.

The main red grapes are Touriga Nacional, thought to have originated here, along with Alfrocheiro, Jaen and Tinta Roriz, and the wines are typically finer, more perfumed and less heavy than those of the Douro. The signature white is Encruzado, which gives textured, mineral wines that age well. For much of the 20th century a state-backed cooperative system controlled the region's wine and held quality back; after Portugal joined the European Community in 1986 estates began to bottle their own wines, and the region's reputation has been rebuilt since.