Rio Tua

[JacobH]

When doing some more work on the map of the Douro, I was struck by the lack of Quintas going up the Rio Tua. Looking back at Forrester’s map (excuse the misplacing of Quinta do Tua), this seems to have been the case for at least 150 years.

The reason I find this interesting is that most of the other tributaries of the Douro are the location of some of the best vineyards in the region, especially in the Cima Corgo. Indeed, it might not be pushing things too much to say that quality Port is as much the product of the Pinhão valley as it is the Douro and the Rio Torto is also the location for a number of major quintas. It therefore seems quite surprising that there isn’t anything well-known along the Rio Tua; doubly so since the mouth of it into the Douro is the location of two major Quintas: Tua and Malvedos.

Looking at the satellite photographs, I notice that apart from Malvedos and Tua only one small area around Tralhariz’s¹ station has been terraced into vineyards. The rest of the region seems to be forested. Has it always been protected for that reason? Or has the climate just not been suitable for growing vines?

Any thoughts or speculation welcome!

[¹ Not a village I had previously heard of, but home to the Casal de Tralhariz which is now clearly on my ‟to visit” list]

[DRT]

Jacob,

I was in the Douro last week and was able to look up the Tua valley from the mouth of the river to see where they are building the dam. I asked our host if there were any significant quintas up there and he confirmed your observation that there aren't any. One possible factor could be that the slopes on either side of the Tua valley are exceptionally steep so it might be that they are not capable of being terraced.

Derek

[Andy Velebil]

There are at least two, one being Brunheda. I've visited it and it will lose it's old train station and a little bit of vines to the river, ala the Douro, when the dam is built. The other was smaller and adjacent to Brunheda, iirc but I don't recall the name.

[JacobH]

hmm... I didn't think those who terraced the region had a concept of "too steep" but that gives me an excellent excuse to look at some topographic maps of the region!

I'd completely forgotten about the dam which they are building there; I suppose the damage will be much less than that caused by damming the Douro itself in the 70s, not that that would be much compensation for losing some of your property.

[Christopher]

Back in around 2003 I took the train line up the Tua valley to Mirandela. The train line is now shut - from what I remember there were some abandoned vines ( moratoria) but it was very desolute, there was the occasional village and I remember there were winches with cages for people to get across the river from the railway.It was in my view like a place that time forgot.
It really does seem like the middle of nowhere but was very beautiful.
Parts of the old train line including some of the tunnels will be lost when the dam is completed.
I would really like to walk the line if possible before it is gone forever.
Mirandela is an interesting town whose claim to fame is a wonderful bridge.
I made the rather long day trip as I wanted to visit on market day- of course I got the wrong day!