1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

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VINB-PBTTNIN& IN AN IJPPBB DOUEO VINEYABD.

VI.—The Vinetaeds and Vines of the Alto Doueo.

The Planting of an Upper Douro Vineyard—Its cost—The various Vineyard operations—All the harder work performed by Gallegos, the common Drudges throughout Portugal—Ravages of the Phylloxera in the Alto Douro—Remedies employed bythe moreintelligent proprietors—Varieties of Grapes that enter into the composition of Port Wine—Species of Vines producing the White Ports—The Malvasia or Malmsey and Moscatel varieties of Grapes—Area of the Douro Vineyai-ds—Their produce of fine and ordinary Wines—Prices of these Wines in loco—Course of the River Douro—Climate of the Wine region—The proper elevation of a Douro Quinta—Rarenessof Spring Frosts—Hail and Thunder storms in the Alto Douro—TheSoil ofthe Vineyards, together with Vines, Trees,and Rocks, swept away by Rushing Torrents. The planting of a vineyard in tlie Upper Douro is a costly proceeding, arising from tlie steepness and ruggedness of the slopes along which the vines have to be cultivated. This con formation of the ground obliges the wine-growers to adopt a