Trás-os-Montes DOC

DOC area in the north-east of Portugal on the border with Spain. The name Trás-os-Montes means "Behind the mountains", as it is enclosed by high mountains in the west, which separate it from the rest of Portugal. It is the result of a division of the former country wine area of the same name (Vinho Regional), by merging the three former IPR areas of Chaves (west), Planalto-Mirandês (east) and Valpaços (centre). The southern part was separated off, classified as the Duriense Country Wine Area and assigned to the Douro Port Wine Area. The wines in the area that do not meet the DOC regulations can be marketed as Vinho Regional Transmontano. Due to the extreme climatic conditions (very hot and dry) and the predominant shallow granite soils, viticulture is very difficult.

The huge area covers about 70,000 hectares and is by far the largest in Portugal. The main red wine varieties are Bastardo(Monvedro), Cornifesto, Malvarisco, Mourisco Tinto(Marufo), Tinta Amarela(Trincadeira Preta), Tinta Carvalha, Tinta Roriz(Tempranillo), Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional. The main white wine varieties are Assario Branco(Malvasia Fina), Dorinto, Fernão Pires, Gouveio(Godello), Rabo de Ovelha, Códega(Síria) and Viosinho. Rosé wines are important in terms of quantity, as they also provide the basis for mateus and similar products. A speciality of the Chaves sub-sector are the "Vinhos dos mortos" (wines of the dead) of Boticas. The name is derived from the traditional custom of burying the bottles in the ground for aging. The Valpaços subarea produces heavy red wines, rich in alcohol.