🍷 Methuen Treaty

The Methuen Treaty was a trade agreement between England and Portugal, concluded in 1703. It is named after the English diplomat Methuen, who took part in concluding it. The deal was simple. Portugal agreed to buy English woollen cloth. England, in turn, promised to lower duties on Portuguese wine compared with French wine. At that time England often fought France, and French wine was at a disadvantage. Portuguese wine became cheaper and began to arrive in England in large quantities. Port gained the most. It is made in the Douro valley, and shipments of wine from Porto to England grew sharply. To help it survive the voyage, spirit was increasingly added. This is how the strong, sweet style we know took shape. The treaty lasted a long time and is regarded as an early example of a trade deal that shaped taste. It remains an important event in the wine history of Portugal.