Dão Wine Route

Demarcated region of Dão was established in 1908, located in central Portugal, in the province of Beira Alta. It was the first demarcated region of non-liqueur wines of the country. The Dão region is known as the Portuguese Burgundy.

The Dão region has about 20,000 hectares of vineyard on approximately 376,000 hectares of land, extending through several districts such as Coimbra (Arganil, Oliveira do Hospital, Tábua), Guarda (Aguiar da Beira, Fornos de Algodres, Gouveia and Seia), Viseu (Carregal do Sal, Mangualde, Mortágua, Nelas, Penalva do Castelo, Santa Comba Dão, Sátão, Tondela and Viseu).

This region is characterized by a rugged relief. It has predominantly granite soil and favorable climate with wide thermal amplitude.

Of the main grape varieties of Dão wine are:
- Touriga Nacional: it is the noblest grape variety, it gives rise to wines with good alcoholic content, with intense, full-bodied aromas with noble tannins and susceptible to long aging.
- Encruzado: among the white varieties is the noblest. It has a good alcoholic content, with complex aromas, fresh and relatively dry.
- Alfrocheiro Black: gives fine wines aromas that gain complexity over the years.
- Jaen: has a regular alcohol content, with intense aromas of very ripe fruit. It has tannins of quality and great softness.
The wines of the Dão Demarcated Region are gastronomic wines with exceptional acidity and complex and delicate aromas. Its character, complexity, elegance, balance, maturity, potential for aging are the perfect combination with the local gastronomy.

Gastronomy
Rich and varied, the traditional gastronomy of this region is one of its main attractions.
The flavors of Beira Soup or the Caldo Verde, Migas of Lagareiro, the Carqueja Rice, Viseu's Ranch, the Lafões Roasted Veal, Grilled Cod or Octopuss (Lagareiro), Roasted Lamb, Lamprey Rice, Paiva Trout, Duck Rice, Ham, Sausages (black pudding, chorizo, farinheira) as well as other dishes make the delight of food lovers.
Also, varieties of bread (brown bread, rye, corn bread), accompany the meal or even the Queijo da Serra.
Based on old recipes, the dessert can be Milk-cream or Village-style Sweet Rice, Cottage Cheese or Bread Pudding, Corn Poppies, or a variety of traditional cakes and pastries "to die for": Cakes of Vouzela, Viriato, Chestnuts of Eggs of Viseu, Bean Pastéis of the Patronato of Mangualde, Kisses, Cavacas and others.

Regional Products
Working the land and using their products, the people of Beira have long learned to love and respect their gifts. The vineyard is cultivated for the famous wines of the Dão and Lafões. From the vegetable gardens and the cattle breeding they can obtain a variety of products that only the regional cuisine knows how to mix. Rye, wheat and corn make up various types of bread and orchards men gather delicious fruits, with a unique taste and outstanding quality:
Cabrito da Gralheira - Protected Geographical Indication
Beira Alta apple - Protected Geographical Indication
Apple Bravo de Esmolfe - Protected Denomination of Origin
Serra da Estrela cheese - Protected Designation of Origin
Lafões Calf - Protected Geographical Indication

Viseu
Viseu is a Portuguese city belonging to the Center region with about 69 713 inhabitants, being the second largest city in central Portugal, after Coimbra. It is also the capital of the district with the same name.
It is the seat of a municipality with 507.10 km ² of area and 99 274 inhabitants (2011), divided into 25 parishes. It is bordered on the north by the municipality of Castro Daire, on the northeast by Vila NDemarcated region of Dão was established in 1908, located in central Portugal, in the province of Beira Alta. It was the first demarcated region of non-liqueur wines of the country. The Dão region is known as the Portuguese Burgundy.

St. Matthew's Fair
The Fair was created by D. Sancho I in 1188 (not having this name initially). Having documentation from 1392, it goes later, in century XVI, to call itself Fair of S. Mateus. History says that the Fair Franca was a pledge of D. João I of Portugal, Master of Avis, because Viseu was the only Portuguese city to be at his side in the crisis of succession of 1383-1385. Its connection to Viseu does not end here, and its son D. Duarte was born here and his sons D. Henrique and D. Fernando were the first dukes of Viseu.
In an area of 18,000 m² there are hundreds of exhibitors and traders representing all sectors of activity.
After the 2016 edition surpassed one million visitors, in 2017 the Fair celebrates 625 years and intends to continue to affirm itself as the largest event in the region.

Serra da Estrela
Serra da Estrela is a mountainous range where the highest altitudes of Portugal are found, being the second highest mountain in Portugal. Serra da Estrela is a landscape area integrated in the Natural Park of Serra da Estrela that, after its constitution on July 16, 1976, was established as the largest protected area on Portuguese soil.
Besides the snow, extraordinary fauna and flora, the traveler is also attracted by the orography of colossal proportions, as well as the human, cultural, historical and gastronomic richness of the region.
The Serra is also rich from the hydrological point of view. From this massif flow numerous water lines that will benefit the three largest river basins in the country: Douro, Mondego and Tejo - without realizing it every day, the inhabitants of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra enjoy and depend on the water coming from Serra da Estrela.
In the highest areas of the Serra lies the Vodafone Ski Resort, the only ski resort in Portugal, down the slopes that belong to the parish of Loriga. The lowest temperatures in Portugal are usually recorded at the summit of Serra da Estrela, with minimum temperatures occasionally reaching below -20 ° C during the cold winter.

Smoked meats and Sausages
The smoked meats and sausages are a tradition in the Serra da Estrela region. It all started when people bought a pig for breeding. This served to kill and then to make the farinheiras, the black puddings, pork sausages and the chorizos of meat and hams. Pigs are usually killed in January or in times when there is no heat.
The Serra da Estrela cheese

The Serra da Estrela Cheese is a Portuguese cheese made from sheep's milk, with controlled denomination. The earliest mentions of this cheese go back to the twelfth century, making it the oldest of Portuguese cheeses. It is one of the most famous sheep cheeses in the world. It was always present at the royal tables and was even mentionned by Gil Vicente in the sixteenth century.
Serra da Estrela serves as pasture for the sheep of the "Serra da Estrela" or "Churra Mondegueira" breeds, which are considered to have the best milk qualities. In order for the cheese to reach the desired quality, it must always be made with the same milking. Nowadays, the manufacture of the cheese and its ritual are made in the traditional way, like hundreds of years ago.
The shepherds go out with the flock in the morning and return in the evening. Women and daughters make the cheese according to the techniques that their predecessors have given them. The shepherd must choose carefully the pasture of his sheep, because certain herbs give bad taste to the milk. Every day the shepherd milks the sheep at nightfall, after which his wife prepares the milk to make the cheese.
Commonly called “Queijo da Serra”, it is a cured cheese, with a semi-soft paste, buttery white or yellowish. It is made from sheep's milk, in the Serra da Estrela region. In 1996, the European Union granted it a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
Celorico da Beira, known as the "Cheese Capital of Serra da Estrela", is the visit card of the truest Serra da Estrela Cheese, thanks to the privileged natural conditions of the Mondego River.
The Serra da Estrela cheese was named one of the 7 Wonders of Gastronomy of Portugal in 2011.

The Serra da Estrela dog
Serra da Estrela dog is a breed of natural dogs from Portugal, from the mountainous region of the same name. He has all the qualifications required in this harsh region: he is intelligent, loyal and brave. It is estimated to be one of the oldest canine breeds in the Iberian Peninsula.

There are those who advocate a theory that large dogs were introduced by the Visigoths in parts of Europe, coming from Asia. The livestock protection dog was used primarily in mountainous areas and followed the shepherds and flocks in their annual migrations, to defend them from the wolves and robbers.
Serra da Estrela, due to its isolation and difficult access, has become the site of this canine breed. His rough hair helps him to survive the rigorous winter from the highest altitudes and once his strength allowed him to defend the herds of wolves.
Each race has its specific character developed throughout its existence. The shepherd dog always stayed with the sheep, while the shepherd moved away to go to the village. Thus the dog developed an independent character, making it an excellent guard dog.
The Serra da Estrela Dog can wait patiently, guarding the house and garden, until the owner returns home at the end of the day.
The beauty of this dog, his intelligence and robustness, are characteristics that allow him to be more than an excellent guard: he is also a good family dog and very tolerant with children.