In 2001 the Douro region was recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

The Douro is one of the major rivers of Portugal and Spain, flowing from its source near Soria across central Spain and then on through Portugal to its outlet at Oporto. Once the Douro enters Portugal from Spain major population centers practically disappear. The Portuguese Douro is a region of narrow canyons, making it both a historical barrier for invaders and a linguistic dividing line; until recently, small villages along this reach of the Douro were relatively isolated from the rest of the country. Except for Oporto, at the mouth of the river at the Atlantic, the main population centres of any note are Pinhão and Peso da Régua. The Douro possesses a microclimate allowing for the cultivation of olives, almonds, and especially grapes - both for making the famous Port wine and, more recently, a growing market in table wine.

Some say the Douro is the oldest demarcated wine growing region in the World - there exists evidence of the Romans developing vine-growing in the Douro region in the 7th Century AD (indeed, vestiges of Vitis grape seeds dating back to the 10th Century BC have been found in archaeological sites).