Trás-os-Montes (“behind the mountains”) located in the north east of Portugal, north of the Douro region, one finds the wine region of Trás-os-Montes, which is divided into four sub-regions: Chaves, Valpaços, Varosa and Planalto Mirandês. It is an area of mountains and granite soils. The climate is dry and very hot in summer, but temperatures go below 0ºC in winter. The region produces the whole range of wines from somewhat stringent and very alcoholic red to light sparkling or semi-sweet floral whites.
A large number of grape varieties are grown in the Trás-os-Montes region, most of them local Portuguese grapes. Vineyards of mixed plantation were the norm, and most of the time, the vineyard owners didn't know which grape varieties they were growing. A pioneering effort were made in the 1970s which identified Côdega do Larinho, Fernão Pires, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Síria e Viosinho, Bastardo, Marufo, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional e Trincadeira.
The economy of the wider Trás-os-Montes area has long been highly dependent on agriculture, in which viticulture has played a key role. As the population density is low, the space available for vineyard plantings is correspondingly high, making this Portugal's most densely planted wine region.
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