Alto Douro wine region
The Alto Douro wine region is a particularly representative area of the landscape that characterizes the vast demarcated region of the Douro, which is the oldest designation of origin in the world. The cultural landscape of Alto Douro combines the monumental character of the river valley, formed by steep slopes and poor, rugged soils, with the ancestral and continuous action of man, adapting the space to the Mediterranean-type agricultural needs that are typical of the area. This close relationship between human activity and nature has allowed the creation of an ecosystem of unique value, where the characteristics of the terrain are used in an exemplary way, modeling the landscape in terraces, preserving it from erosion and allowing the cultivation of vineyards.