Influence of the Characteristics of Weather of Douro Region on Port Wine Vintages Quality

摘要: Douro is a region situated around Douro river valley, in north interior of Portugal, where Port wine, a fortified wine only produced in this region, is made. The quality of Port wine vintages varies from year to year along with the characteristics of grape varieties used to produce it (Port is a blend of varieties of red grapes) which may be closer or further from ideal. The quality of vintages may be partly explained by grapes quality and partly explained by wine processing skillfulness. Grapes quality depends on yearly weather specificities and may also depend on other presently unknown factors.The quality of vintages may or may not be a direct translation of yearly quality of grapes in consequence of winemaker’s ability to mitigate some grapes defects. This work will inspect the relation between yearly weather characteristics and Port wine vintages quality to the extent where this relation may be explainable.