History of Portuguese wine much to spread viticulture and winemaking further north. Portuguese wines were first shipped to England in the 12th century from the Entre Douro e Minho region (which today includes modern Portuguese wine regions such as the douro and vinho verde). In 1386, Portugal and England signed the Treaty of Windsor which fostered close diplomatic relations between the two countries and opened the door for extensive trade opportunities. The 1703 Methuen Treaty furthered advanced English economic interest in Portugal by reducing tariffs and giving Portuguese wines preferential treatment in the British wine market over French wines. Around this time, the fortified
Cova da Beira wine Beira. Cova da Beira produces a broad range of wines similar to those found through the Beiras wine region but is primarily known for its light bodied red wines. The principle grapes of the Cova da Beira region include Arinto, Assario Branco, Jaen, Marufo, Periquita, Perola, Rabo de Ovelha, Rufete and Tinta Amarela. Cova da Beira wine Cova da Beira is a Portuguese wine region centered on the Cova da Beira region between the Dão and Vinho Verde DOCs in the wider Beiras VR wine region. Cova da Beira was initially a separate "Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada" (IPR) region (and