Buy Dão wine: elegant red and white from the 'Burgundy of Portugal'
Together with neighbouring Bairrada, the Dão vies for the title of 'Burgundy of Portugal'. Its best wines, white and red alike, show great finesse and complexity, and their ageing potential is remarkable.
Since 1999, The Portugal Collection has offered Dão wines from producers including Alvaro Castro (Quinta da Pellada and Quinta de Saes), António Madeira and Luis Seabra, imported directly from the estates and delivered throughout Belgium.
The Dão at a glance
| Location | North-central Portugal, completely surrounded by mountains |
|---|---|
| Appellation | DOC Dão, demarcated in 1908: one of the oldest recognised wine regions in Europe |
| Altitude | Most vineyards lie above 400 metres, rising to over 800 metres in the south-east |
| Soil | Granite |
| Red grapes | Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Jaen, Alfrocheiro Preto and Baga |
| White grapes | Encruzado, Malvasia, Cercial and Bical |
| Style | Elegant, complex and mineral, with great ageing potential |
| Area | 9,800 ha (2024), producing 214,000 hl a year |
A well-kept secret
The Região Demarcada do Dão celebrated its centenary in 2008, making it one of the oldest recognised wine regions in Europe. Yet the quality of its wines long remained a well-kept secret.
The Dão is a fairly small and fragmented region. In many places the rocky hills are too inaccessible for planting vines. Most plots are small, so many owners of high-quality vineyards prefer to sell their grapes to the co-operatives rather than make their own wine. That makes it hard for young, ambitious winemakers to find a good vineyard: owners are reluctant to sell or rent.
Even so, a handful of producers prove that the potential is enormous.
Climate and soil
The Dão lies in the northern part of Portugal and is completely surrounded by mountains. This natural amphitheatre protects it from extreme temperatures. On weather maps the Dão is easy to spot as the area with the lowest average temperatures in August and September, exactly the months that make the difference for the vines. For anyone wanting to make refined, complex wines, conditions here are the best in Portugal.
Most vineyards also lie above 400 metres, and above 800 metres towards the south-east. The grapes ripen very evenly and keep the acidity they need. The plateau is made of granite, which allows wines with a pronounced mineral character.
Grapes and style
White Dão is mainly made from the local varieties Encruzado, Malvasia, Cercial and Bical. For reds, growers choose Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Jaen, Alfrocheiro Preto and Baga.
The ageing potential is striking. Even simpler Dão wines easily withstand long bottle ageing, and the finest crus still gain enormously in quality after 15 years in bottle.
For comparison: the Dão has 9,800 ha producing 214,000 hl a year. Burgundy has 27,188 ha for 1,400,000 hl, Bordeaux 120,000 ha for 6,000,000 hl.
Our Dão producers
Alvaro Castro: Quinta da Pellada and Quinta de Saes
From the approachable Dão Alvaro Castro and Saes Colheita Exclusiva to Quinta da Pellada Primus, Alfrocheiro and Muleta.
About Alvaro Castro · Quinta de Saes · Quinta da Pellada
António Madeira
Vinhas Velhas in red and white, A Liberdade and the light Palhete Ainda.
All António Madeira wines
Luis Seabra
Mono A Dão Tinto and Granito Cru Dão.
All Luis Seabra wines
M.O.B.
M.O.B. Lote 3 and Senna, in red and white.
All M.O.B. wines
More Dão
Also A Descoberta, O Abanico, Beiorte, Porta dos Cavaleiros and the Nat' Cool series, including a Clarete in bag-in-box.
View Nat' Cool
Read more about Casa da Passarella, Beiorte, Caves São João and Niepoort.
View all Dão wines in the webshop
Delivery and collection
We deliver throughout Belgium. Shipping costs €15.73 (incl. VAT) and is free from €175. Prefer to collect? You can pick up your order at our shop in Roeselare, Kaaistraat 62A. More about delivery
Frequently asked questions about Dão wine
Where can you buy Dão wine in Belgium?
Since 1999, The Portugal Collection has specialised in Portuguese wine and imports Dão wines directly from producers such as Alvaro Castro, António Madeira and Luis Seabra. Order online with delivery throughout Belgium, or collect in Roeselare.
Why is the Dão called the Burgundy of Portugal?
Because the best Dão wines, like Burgundy, are about finesse, complexity and ageing potential rather than power. The cool climate between the mountains, the altitude and the granite soil produce fresh, mineral wines. Neighbouring Bairrada claims the same title, incidentally.
Which grapes are used for Dão wine?
For reds mainly Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Jaen, Alfrocheiro Preto and Baga. For whites Encruzado, Malvasia, Cercial and Bical.
How long can you keep Dão wine?
Even simpler Dão wines handle long bottle ageing well. The best crus still clearly improve after 15 years in bottle.
Discover our other Portuguese wine regions too: Douro, Bairrada, Vinho Verde, Alentejo, Lisboa and Porto.