The Douro River Valley of Portugal has the distinction of being the world's first "denomination of controlled origin," famous for its wines since the age of the Roman Empire.  In more recent centuries, the valley has become best-known for Porto, the sweet, fortified wines that first made their claim inthe 18th century British marketplace.

Ramos-Pinto, a native Portuguese shipper respected the world over for its excellent port wines, recently decided to reclaim the Douro's older heritage and reintroduce still wine from this great wine-growing region. Duas Quintas is a blend of grapes from two very special Ramos-Pinto vineyards: Quinta da Ervamoira and Quinta dos Bons Ares.

Founded in 1880 by brothers Adriano and Antonio, Ramos Pinto is run today by the heirs of these two energetic vintners. The House was acquired by Champagne Louis Roederer in 1990 and Owner Jean Claude Rouzaud calls Ramos Pinto "the jewel of the Douro." A visitor sitting on the porch at Bom Retiro, sweeping his gaze up from the valley floor to the vine covered terraces stepping up steep slopes and culminating in blue sky above, can appreciate his sentiments.

Among Port producers, Ramos Pinto enjoys the distinction of holding the largest proportion of vineyards in relation to its production, giving it a high degree of control over viticultural methods and harvest time. The House tends 187 hectares (460 acres) of prime vineyards in the Alto Corgo and Douro Superior areas of the famed Douro region, the mountainous valley formed by the Douro River and its tributaries.