Trás-os-Montes wine Trás-os-Montes wine Trás-os-Montes is a Portuguese wine region located in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. The entire wine region is entitled to use the "Vinho Regional" designation Transmontano VR, while some areas are also classified at the higher "Denominação de Origem Controlada" (DOC) level under the designation Trás-os-Montes DOC. VR is similar to the French "vin de pays" and DOC to the French AOC. Located in the northeastern corner of Portugal, the Trás-os-Montes region has vineyards across a wide range of altitudes that produces a vast spectrum of wine. The vineyards in the cooler high altitude produces wines that
Madeira wine up large (112 gal/423 l) casks of wine known as "pipes" for their voyages to India. The intense heat in the holds of the ships had a transforming effect on the wine, as discovered by Madeira producers when one shipment was returned to the island after a long trip. The customer was found to prefer the taste of this style of wine, and Madeira labeled as "vinho da roda" (wines that have made a round trip) became very popular. Madeira producers found that aging the wine on long sea voyages was very costly, so began to develop methods on the