The Douro Region is one of the most important and oldest demarcated regions in the world. Wine-growing in the Region has been practiced seen time immemorial and its increase during Roman occupation is well known. In the 12th century, with the independence of Portugal, the development of wine-growing got under way in the Douro Valley, and the first exports, to France, go back to the 13th century, expanding in the 14th century. Only in the 17th century is the first reference made to the denomination “Port Wine”, as applied to Douro wine. In 1660, political differences between France and England already prevailed. In this context, the French minister Colbert imposed high duties on the export of Bordeaux wines to England. In retaliation, the English king, Charles II, decided to boycott the import of Bordeaux wines. This episode would decisively mark the international vocation of Port Wine. It was indeed after this decision by Charles II that Plymouth, Bristol and London merchants discovered the virtues of Douro Valley wines, thanks to the reports reaching them from the flourishing English trading community in Oporto. In 1703 an Anglo-Portuguese agreement is signed. In 1756, setting-up the demarcation of the Douro region, King Joseph’s minister, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, later the Marquis of Pombal, created the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro (the General Company for Upper Douro Wine-Growing). In the Douro region, SOGRAPE is present in the best places for the production of high-quality ports, with estates in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior sub-regions. In Cima-Corgo it owns Quinta do Seixo, Quinta da Boavista, Quinta do Porto, Quinta do Caêdo and Quinta do Vau; in Douro Superior, Quinta da Leda. Quinta do Seixo Bought by Ferreira in 1979. Quinta da Boavista Acquired at the time of the purchase of Forrester by SOGRAPE, in 1996. Quinta do Porto This estate is intimately connected with Ferreira, having been bought in 1863 by Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira herself. Today it is an estate of reference for the SOGRAPE Group in the Douro, for its history, for the quality of the wines made from its vineyards, for its magnificent location and for a stylish house that is used for welcoming SOGRAPE’s friends, customers or guests to the region. Quinta do Caêdo Upstream of Pinhão, this estate was also bought by Ferreira, in 1990. It has vineyards on both banks of the Caêdo stream. Quinta do Vau With the purchase of Sandeman, SOGRAPE now owns Quinta do Vau, which lies precisely next to Quinta do Caêdo, towards the Douro, on the right bank of the Caêdo Stream. Quinta da Leda It was bought by A.A. Ferreira in 1978, the year when the planting of its oldest existing vineyard started. In 1987, the company and its estates were taken over by SOGRAPE, which took on the brief of continuing to make exceptional wines. Quinta da Leda is located in a remarkable area of great natural beauty – it has witnessed human dreams since time immemorial and its name could not be more appropriate – Leda is a place of “joy and divine partying”, where humans create wines fit for the gods, because only great passions give rise to great wines.