🥃 Aguardente de Vinho Douro

Aguardente de Vinho Douro is an EU-protected geographical name for a wine spirit from north-eastern Portugal. It is distilled only from wine from grapes of the Douro Demarcated Region, aged there for at least a year in an oak barrel (or half a year in barrels under 1 000 L) and bottled in the region at 37.5% ABV or more.

In Portugal the name has been protected by an order of 17 November 1982, in the EU since 1989; the register gives its protection date as 12 June 1989. The technical file was submitted by the Douro and Port Wine Institute (IVDP), which also inspects the producers. The region of 250 000 ha is divided into three subregions: Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior.

The wine for the spirit is made without sulphur dioxide and distilled no later than the end of March after the winemaking, continuously or in batches. The wine does not need DOP «Douro» certification; only the origin of the grapes matters. Flavouring the spirit is forbidden; the only permitted additions are prepared water to lower the strength and caramel up to 2% for colour.

The spirit contains no more than 200 g of methanol per hectolitre of pure alcohol and at least 125 g of volatile substances. Its colour ranges from colourless to topaz. A young spirit smells of fruit and flowers, an aged one of vanilla, dried fruit, spice and a hint of smoke. The technical file explains the character by the schist soils and by the Marão and Montemuro mountains, which hold back the damp western winds.

Why this matters to you. The name on the label guarantees that the wine, distillation, ageing and bottling all come from the Douro. The state puts the seal of origin only on bottles filled in the region and in the warehouse at Vila Nova de Gaia. WHO reminds: there is no safe dose of alcohol.