Wine Tourism as a Tool for Sustainable Development of the Cultural Landscape—A Case Study of Douro Wine Region in Portugal

Abstract

Wine tourism plays an important role in the development of the local economy but also in the promotion of Portuguese wines in Europe and the world. Enotourism is also a tool to achieve sustainable development through the promotion of wine producers and the preservation of the cultural landscape. At the same time, it can increase the living standards of the population, generating jobs and additional income. The main objective of the study was to present the level of development of wine tourism and to identify the benefits associated with its development in accordance with the concept of sustainable development. The study used qualitative and quantitative research. A spatial analysis of the determinants of demographic development and wine production based on diagnostic indicators was carried out using the Charvat and Schneider indexes. A correlation relationship was identified between the following diagnostic characteristics: wine production and wine tourism development, on the one hand, and tourism development and demography. The study identified problem areas, e.g., demographic regression and economic progression (based on wine production), and identified the relationship between wine production and wine tourism development and demographic development. The study area was the traditional European wine region of Douro wine region in Portugal. The UNESCO cultural landscape has been shaped by human activities over the centuries. An original research procedure was developed to diagnose the state of the LAUs and determine the impact of wine tourism on their development. The results of the research indicate that wine tourism is an example of tourism on the UNESCO trail, where production and consumption take place for the benefit of both tourists and entrepreneurs. Enotourism is also seen as an important source of income and an enabler of socio-economic development.

1. Introduction

Wine tourism, also known as enotourism (from the Greek oinos—wine) has been an important and rapidly growing branch of world tourism since the beginning of the 21st century [1,2,3]. This is due to the possibility of combining natural elements [4,5] with tradition and folklore [6] and with the development of local entrepreneurship [7,8], resulting in sustainable land use and an increase in the income of the population in rural areas [9]. The economic importance of wine tourism stems from the need to employ more people in viticulture and wine production, as well as in the distribution and sale of wine [10,11]. Wine tourism is of particular importance in rural areas, marginally located in relation to large urban centres and characterised by low levels of socio-economic development [12]. Wine production, and related wine tourism, can contribute to the creation of new jobs, reduce the outflow of young people, and increase the income of the rural population [13].

According to the principles of Agenda 2030 (Agenda for Sustainable Development), wine production is becoming a key tool for sustainable development. Through the use of environmentally friendly production methods and the creation of local wine distribution networks (wine cellars, restaurants, vineyards), sustainable winemaking contributes to an increased awareness of the need to protect the natural environment, both among wine producers themselves, as well as distributors, consumers, and tourists [14,15].

In the world literature [16,17,18,19], a ‘winescape’ (wine region) is understood as a rural area with exceptional natural and cultural values where wine tourism is practised [20]. In its area, there are vineyards, activities related to viticulture (planting, harvesting, tending), wine production (grape processing), and marketing and sales. It should be noted that vineyards are one of the oldest elements of the cultural landscape: they have been present in rural spaces since the 6th millennium BC, initially in Europe (Ancient Greece, as well as in the Middle East, Mesopotamia, and the Caucasus [3]. Viticulture, the achievements of winemaking, perfected and disseminated over several centuries, including monasteries, contributed to the emergence of wine tourism. Viticulture’s dynamic development occurred at the beginning of the second half of the 19th century [2]. In addition, wine tourism, and above all, wine tasting and consumption, became a marker of modernity and a measure of living standards [20,21,22,23]. Along with its development, wine routes were created, such as the first wine route, ‘La route de grands cru,’ in France [24], or in 1935, the Deutsche Weinstraβe (German Wine Route) in Germany [25,26]. Studies [27,28,29] show that wine routes play a very important role in local and regional development due to the link between wine tourism and other areas of social, cultural, and economic life. The promotion of wine areas is particularly very important in rural areas that are experiencing socio-economic difficulties. The expansion of the wine trade and hotels fosters the development of markets and activates the rural population. The actions of local leaders through imitation can have a positive impact on the activation of local communities and even entire regions [30,31,32].

Wine tourism is of particular importance in the Douro Valley (Douro Demarcated Region, DDR), a wine region with a long-standing tradition of some 2000 years. The winegrowing area covers 44,000 hectares, representing 18% of the total area of the DDR and 10% of the area of all winegrowing in Portugal [33,34,35,36]. The Douro Valley landscape was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and is characterised by long and narrow terraces of vine cultivation along the steep banks of the river [37].

Given that the UNESCO Alto Douro cultural landscape is an example of a traditional European wine region, shaped by human activity over the centuries, the main objective of the study was to identify the benefits associated with the development of wine tourism against the demographic potential in line with the concept of sustainable development. An important element of the study was the identification of problem areas (demographic regression) and wealthy areas (economic progression) on the basis wine production [38,39].

The study posed the following research questions:

What is the level of demographic development? Is depopulation affecting all settlement units in the Alto Douro?

What is the level of development in wine production, and what is its impact on the development of wine tourism?

What is the level of tourism development, and what is the impact on demographic potential?

The spatial analysis covers very important issues related to sustainable development, i.e., maintaining demographic stability, economic sustainability and nurturing the cultural landscape. The resulting findings and recommendations can be used to inform regional policy and to help define development directions.

2. Theoretical Background

2.1. Principles of Sustainable Development

According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sustainable development is the use of water resources and terrestrial ecosystems to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services. On the other hand, it prevents social exclusion by redressing social inequalities through the enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services and through improving the quality of life of humans [40]. These objectives can be achieved through sustainable land planning, which covers all social and economic spheres. In sustainable land planning, a special role is played by the cultural landscape, which comprises natural, socio-economic, and cultural environmental components. Inherent in this concept is wine culture (viticulture), which includes many elements related to viticulture and local winemaking technology [41]. From the concept of terroir comes the idea of appellation control, which ensures that wine meets high quality requirements and that the geographical origin of the wine is identified. In this way, environmental elements are combined with the economic aspects of wine production and the development of wine tourism, as the reputation of wine from a particular region can be one of the main marketing tools [42,43,44].

2.2. The Function of Winemaking in the Cultural Landscape

Vineyards and winemaking are a typical part of the cultural landscape, and their utilitarian function is still the most important. They are also an important element of the cultural heritage of rural areas. In addition, they play an important role of a socio-cultural nature. Viticulture has many important functions in the cultural landscape. The most important of these is its ecological function due to the fact that it is an integrated part of the natural environment. Wine production has environmental, social, cultural, and economic functions [45]. The economic function assumes particular importance in rural areas with unfavourable development conditions, creating jobs for the local community and generating a stable income. The landscape function is another one of the functions fulfilled by urban vineyards and wineries. It is important because of the recreational nature of the vineyard landscape. The cultural function results from the fact that vineyards have a long-lasting economic importance related to the long-term cultivation process (planting of young vine bushes, cultivation, harvesting, tending) being passed on from generation to generation [2,3]. This fosters the deepening of local traditions and the emergence of a cult associated with the production and sale of wine. Over the years, vineyards and viticulture have made their mark in cultural heritage, in the form of tangible goods, farm buildings with distinctive local architecture, and as intangible elements: culinary art, spiritual culture, knowledge, tradition, practice, values [5,6]. An important element of the cultural heritage of rural areas is the landscape, so characteristic of the places where vines are grown. The social function fits in with contemporary consumption trends and is linked to the preservation of regional history and tradition. The activities of vineyards and wineries have a positive impact on the brand and image of towns, increasing the possibility of monetising tourism potential.

2.3. A Living Cultural Landscape

The cultural landscape and winemaking are closely linked, as they bring together the natural environment and human activity [2]. Vineyards are often protected as part of a living cultural landscape. Wine traditions are rich and varied, depending on region and country. Each wine region has its own unique methods of viticulture, wine production, and associated customs and festivals, and their natural beauty forms a harmonious whole [14,20,38].

The Alto Douro region has been producing wine for almost two thousand years. Its cultural landscape has been shaped by human activity. Terraces, vineyards—quintas (wine farms)—stone access roads, steps, and chapels are all part of the landscape [46]. The Alto Douro is an outstanding example of a traditional European wine region, reflecting the evolution of this human activity over time.

2.4. Wine Tourism as a Subject of Study in the Literature

Wine tourism, next to wine production, is considered [36] to be the most important endeavour that can activate both local government representatives to draw up appropriate and local society to undertake bottom-up activities. The development of wine tourism in the Douro river valley offers limited possibilities for socio-economic development due to the difficult natural conditions (mountainous areas made of slate and granite rocks, a high and steep river valley), infrastructural challenges (it is difficult to access in bad weather conditions), demographic characteristics (increasing depopulation processes), and scattered settlements (in terms of access to schools and health care). Thus, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources could bring positive benefits to local people and communities [37]. Wine tourism as a tool to achieve sustainable development aims to promote local wine producers and the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. At the same time, it increases the standard of living of the population, generating jobs and additional income for the local population, contributing to improving the living conditions of the local population [5,38].

A review of the literature in relation to wine tourism in Europe and the world has made it possible to separate studies by the nature of the research, the methodology used, and the area of research. In terms of the research methods used, a number of aspects related to wine tourism can be distinguished. The following are considered to be the most important: tourist behaviour, the attractions that the region offers to tourists, enotourist attractions, the way in which wine producers market themselves (

Table 1. Review of the literature on wine tourism.

Subject of Study	Source
Wine tourism behaviour	[9,11,14,17,27,30,35,37,47]
Wine market	[9,22,27,37,48,49]
Environmental concerns	[5,13,38]
Marketing wine	[22,27,37]
Critical success factors for wine tourism	[9,11,30]
Local development	[2,4,8,14,15,18,33,38,48,49]
Sustainable tourism	[7,15,16,18,33,40,48]

).

Wine tourism as a research subject first appeared in the literature of authors in North America (USA, Canada), Australia, and New Zealand. Similarly, the first scientific conference on wine tourism was held, not in Europe, with its centuries-old winegrowing traditions, but in Australia in 1998, where the concept of wine tourism was defined: ‘Wine tourism includes both the provision of services and the marketing of places’ [50]. The conference highlighted that tourists travel to explore wine regions and learn about wine production. The literature of European authors emphasises how, in tourist regions with a large supply of tourist attractions, such as the Mediterranean Basin, wine tourism is not one of the main motives for the arrival of tourists but is an additional leisure activity. This is due to the wealth of tourist attractions (Sun, See, Sand) and the rich cultural options of these areas. This is exemplified by research such as [51], which indicated that 80% of tourists to France cited centuries-old cultural heritage as the main motive for tourist travel. In the world’s most famous wine region, Bordeaux, cuisine and wine are mentioned only fourth in the order of motives for tourist arrivals [52]. Currently, interest in wine tourism can be found in numerous studies by authors in countries with a long-standing wine tradition, e.g., among European countries such as Italy [53], Greece [54], Spain [55], and Poland [2,3], as well as in other parts of the world, including Australia [56], Canada [57] and the USA [58]. Studies have looked at, among other things, the role of this service sector in the economic activation of wine regions and the growth in the standard of living of the local community.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Study Area

The study area is the Douro wine region (DWR) of the main Douro-Alto Douro section of the river, where the certified grapes that constitute Porto and Douro wine are grown and produced. The Rio Douro River, also known as the ‘River of Gold’, takes the form of a canyon or valley for most of its course, with varying degrees of slope to the riverbed. The total length of the entire stretch of the Douro River, from the Portuguese–Spanish border to the mouth, is approximately 200 km. The DWR area is defined by the Douro River and its main tributaries, the Varosa, Corgo, Távora, Torto, and Pinhão, forming a mountainous landscape dominated and transformed by steeply sloping terraced vineyards covering an area of approximately 24,600 ha. Three mountain ranges (Serra de Alvão, Marão, and Montemuro) form the natural boundary of the valley to the west, while to the east is the country’s geographical border with Spain. The development of the railway towards Spain in the late 19th century and the construction of hydroelectric dams and locks in the 1970s and 1980s transformed the Douro River into a series of navigable ribbon lakes. A long tradition of viticulture and wine production has created a cultural landscape reflecting its technological, social, and economic evolution (Figure 1).

Wine in the Alto Douro Region has been produced for around 2000 years. The Douro Valley is one of the oldest appellations to be established in the world. In 1756, the Douro Valley was the first officially defined and legally protected wine region in the world. To this day, the territory remains one of the most important wine regions in Europe. The cultural landscape of the Douro River, shaped by viticulture, was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage list in 2001 [20]. It is a living cultural landscape shaped by man. Thanks to the favourable natural conditions (hot summers, fertile lands), the Douro Valley produces the most outstanding wines in the world. The Douro wine region is divided into three distinctive territories, from west to east, which have different styles of wines and port wines (

Table 2. Determinants of tourism development in Douro wine region of the Douro.

Douro Wine Region	Tourist Attractions
Porto	- Porto—the most beautiful section of the river. - Amarante—located on a tributary of the Rio Tâmega, the most attractive town in the region. - Livração—railroad station, 60 km from Porto, Verde wine production.
Baixo Corgo (Lower Corgo)	- Peso da Régua—the capital of the Alto Douro province, a port wine-trading town (since the 18th century), the centre of cruises to Pinhão, and the starting station of the Corgo to Vila Real railroad in Trás-os-Montes. - Museu do Douro, housed in a converted warehouse on the river. The town is surrounded by terraced hills covered with vines. - Lamego—a pilgrimage town, Lamego Castle, and Lamego Cathedral. - Peso da Régua, São Leonardo in Galafura, and Santo António do Loureiro—the most beautiful viewpoints. - Wine production: Vinho white Porto, DOC Douro, Raposeira—a Portuguese wine resembling champagne.
Alto Corgo	- Pinhão—the Douro Valley’s most beautiful town, located 25 km upstream from Peso da Régua, surrounded by terraced vineyards, and with a historic train station decorated with traditional blue and white azulejo tiles depicting scenes from the region’s history and culture; Douro Valley Tourist Centre in Pinhão offers hiking, cycling, and canoeing. - The region’s cuisine—cozido, a hearty stew of meat and vegetables, and bacalhau, a dish of salted cod. - Tua—a charming village for hiking, with a scenic riverside path leading to Tua Dam.
Douro Superior	- Douro Superior—a mountainous landscape at the Valeira dam. The mountains block half of the rain coming in from the Atlantic, leaving the region much drier than other regions, which led to the name Terra Quente or hot lands. - Vila Nova de Foz Côa—Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa,—Paleolithic art, 30,000 years old. - Miranda do Douro—a fortified town located on the edge of the Río Douro canyon, known as a fortress in the ‘wild east’, with a town castle and 16th-century cathedral.

, Scheme 1).

The climate in the Douro Valley is favourable for the establishment of vineyards and wine production. The mountain ranges block strong masses of humid and cool air blowing in from the Atlantic. As a result, the climate in the valley is fairly dry, with a continental climate (hot summers, cold winters) in the central-eastern part, and less rainfall (up to a maximum of 400 mm of rainfall per year) in the eastern part. The geological conditions lead to difficulties in the cultivation of vines due to the presence of granite and slate subsoil. Slate is a rock poor in organic matter, but it absorbs heat from the sun’s rays during the day and returns it to the vine roots at night, thus ensuring a constant temperature for the vines [60].

3.2. Materials

The study used primary and secondary material. A field inventory of the Douro wine region conducted between 2023 and 2024 allowed us to collect photographic material and assess the level of development of the tourist infrastructure. The field research included study visits to vineyards and accommodation facilities. Statistical material was obtained from Statistics Portugal [61]. This study analysed Portugal counties (NUTS 1) that represent first-level Local Administrative Units (LAUs) and NUTS 2 (Region) in 2022.

3.3. Methods

The study used qualitative and quantitative research. The present study was conducted in three stages (Figure 2):

Stage 1. Identification of the social dimensions of sustainable development.

Aim: to identify problem areas (demographic depopulation).

Spatial analysis of the determinants of demographic development based on diagnostic indicators. The demographic potential was assessed using selected diagnostic indicators (

Table 3. Criteria for assessing demographic potential according to Agenda 2030 principles.

Diagnostic Indicators	Type
Population density	Stimulant
Natural increase per 1000 population	Stimulant
Population aging rate *	Destimulant
Feminization index	Stimulant

* The quotient of the number of people aged 65 and older to the number of people aged 0 to 14 (usually expressed as 100 people aged 0 to 14).

).

In order to separate the types of areas with different demographic potential in quantitative terms, the method of zero-based unitarization was used, where indicators acting as stimulants or destimulants are used. Normalization of indicators is carried out with the help of formulas:

-

For stimulants:

Ws = x1 − x min·x max. − x min

(1)

-

For destimulants:

d = x max. − x1x max. − x min

(2)

where:

• x1—unstandardised variable for stimulant and destimulant indicators for the i-th spatial unit;
• x max.—maximum value for a given indicator among all surveyed spatial units;
• x min.—minimum value for a given indicator among all surveyed spatial units.

The normalization carried out made it possible to present the above-mentioned indicators in the form of a single synthetic indicator representing a normalised average quantifying demographic potential using the following formula:

Pd = (xi1 + xi2 + xi3 +xi4) n

(3)

where:

• Pd—demographic potential;
• Xi (1, 2, 3, 4)—normalised value of diagnostic indicator (1, 2, 3, 4) in spatial unit i;
• n—the number of diagnostic indicators.

Thus, each unit was described by one value, which determined the demographic potential (

Table 4. Demographic potential classes.

Class	Separation Criterion	Level of Demographic Potential
I	${\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{d}}\ge {\overline{\mathrm{P}}}_{\mathrm{d}}+{\mathrm{S}}_{{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{d}}}$	High
II	${\overline{\mathrm{P}}}_{\mathrm{d}}\le {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{d}}<{\overline{\mathrm{P}}}_{\mathrm{d}}+{\mathrm{S}}_{{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{d}}}$	Medium-high
III	${\overline{\mathrm{P}}}_{\mathrm{d}}-{\mathrm{S}}_{{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{d}}}\le {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{d}}<{\overline{\mathrm{P}}}_{\mathrm{d}}$	Medium-low
IV	${\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{d}}<{\overline{\mathrm{P}}}_{\mathrm{d}}-{\mathrm{S}}_{{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{d}}}$	Low

Pd—synthetic indicator of demographic potential, ${\overline{\mathrm{P}}}_{\mathrm{d}}$—arithmetic mean of the indicator of demographic potential, ${\mathrm{S}}_{{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{d}}}$—standard deviation of the synthetic indicator of demographic potential.

). Subsequently, the linear ordering of the surveyed units made it possible to determine four classes using the arithmetic mean and standard deviation from the value of the synthetic indicator determining demographic potential [62].

Stage 2. Assessment of the level of wine production.

Aim: to identify areas of economic progress with a significant share of production.

Spatial analysis identified the areas with the highest wine production. To this end, the structure of wine production in the Douro Wine Region was presented in relation to Portugal (Portugal = 100%) and the structure of wine production by LAU in relation to the Douro Wine Region (Douro = 100%). In addition, the production of wine by quality in Portugal and the Douro in 2022 and the structure of wine production in the Douro Wine Region by LAU are presented.

Stage 3. Evaluation of the level of wine tourism.

Aim: to identify areas with significant potential for wine tourism development.

Spatial analysis made it possible to identify areas with the highest level of tourist development [63]. The study used following indicators:

Charvat index (tourist accommodation saturation index);

I_ch = number of nights spent/population × 100;

Schneider index (tourist intensity index);

I_sch = number of tourists using overnight accommodation/number of inhabitants × 100 (

Table 5. Degree of development of the tourism function—stimulant.

Class	Charvat Index	Schneider Index	Level of Development of the Tourism Function
I	>500	>300	High
II	351–500	300–200	Medium-high
III	201–350	200–100	Medium-low
IV	0–200	0–100	Low

).

Stage 4. Determination of the relationship via Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient between wine production and wine tourism development, on the one hand, and demographic development.

Aim: to identify the correlation relationship between the diagnostic features: wine production and wine tourism development, on the one hand, and tourism development and demography [64].

The paper adopts the following interpretation of the results (

Table 6. Pearson linear correlation coefficient.

Correlation Relationship	Interpretation
r ≥ 0.9	Very strong dependence
0.7–0.9	Moderate dependence
0.7–0.9	Fairly strong dependence
0.4–0.7	Moderate dependence
0.2–0.4	Weak relationship
r ≤ 0.2	No linear relationship

).

4. Results

4.1. Demographic Potential and Sustainable Development

The level of demographic development is very important in shaping the socio-economic policies of a region, i.e., the labour market, education, and health and social security policies [38]. Regions with high demographic potential are at the same time characterised by high levels of development, low levels of negative migration, and underdeveloped social infrastructure. Demographic potential is of particular importance in rural areas and small towns marginally located in relation to large urban agglomerations and significant industrial centres [5].

The analysed DWR area is a region with a very low population density (45 persons/km²) compared to Portugal (113 persons/km²). At the same time, it is characterised by a much lower live birth rate (5.8 to 8.0 No./1000 population) and a much higher death rate (14.8 to 11.9 No./1000 population). This situation may indicate a deepening process of depopulation, with a concomitant process of population ageing (the average age of a resident was 52 compared to 47 in Portugal). The age structure of the DWR population is very unfavourable. The economic dependency ratio is much higher than in Portugal, at 285 people compared to 185 people.

Spatial analysis of the DWR shows that the lowest population densities (13 to 16 persons/km²) in 2022 were in the municipalities furthest from the city of Porto: Freixo de Espada à Cinta and Torre de Moncorvo in the Douro Superior wine region, while the highest population densities (above the average value for Portugal) are found in regions characterised by municipalities with particular tourist values, including well-developed tourism: Peso da Régua (156), Lamego (146), Mesão Frio (132), and Vila Real (131) in the Baixo Corgo (Lower Corgo) wine region (

Table 7. Demographic indicators of Douro wine region by municipality in 2022. Source: own elaboration on the basis of [61].

Country/Region/Municipality	Population Density	Birth Rate	Deaths
	No./km2	No./1000 Population	No./1000 Population
Portugal	113	8	11.9
Douro	45	5.8	14.8
Alijó	35	5.4	17.2
Armamar	49	4.6	19.4
Carrazeda de Ansiães	19	4.6	17.6
Freixo de Espada à Cinta	13	6.3	28.5
Lamego	146	5.3	13.9
Mesão Frio	132	4.8	15.9
Moimenta da Beira	44	7.0	13.6
Murça	27	3.1	17.6
Penedono	21	5.4	18.6
Peso da Regua	152	5.9	12.9
Sabrosa	36	6.1	15.8
Santa Marta de Penaguião	86	4.2	16.0
São João da Pesqueira	25	6.0	14.6
Sernancelhe	25	4.2	14.9
Tabuaço	37	6.0	17.1
Tarouca	74	5.0	11.6
Torre de Moncorvo	13	5.5	21.2
Vila Nova de Foz Côa	16	5.1	20.3
Vila Real	131	7.1	11.6

).

A pattern is observed in the Douro wine region: the lowest birth rate and the highest mortality rate were recorded in municipalities that also have low population density. These data are indicative of an ageing population in these regions. Similarly, the ageing index (the number of people aged 65 and over per 100 people aged 0 to 14) for the Douro wine region (285) is much higher than for Portugal (185). The highest ageing index was recorded in the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo, located in the district of Bragança, in the north of the Douro sub-region (Figure 3).

The results obtained from the study allowed four levels of demographic development to emerge in DWR. The highest level of demographic development was reached by five municipalities (Tarouca, Vila Real, Lamego, Peso da Régua, São João da Pesqueira) and the lowest by three municipalities located in the district of Bragança (Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Freixo de Espada à Cinta). These are problem areas located on the border between Portugal and Spain. Studies have shown a consistent trend: the level of demographic development decreases upstream with increasing distance from the metropolis of Porto. The wine regions located in the middle Douro wine region are characterised by medium-high and medium-low levels of development (

Table 8. Diagnostic indicators of demographic potential by municipality, 2022. Source: own elaboration on the basis of [61].

Region/LAU	Population Indicators	Level of Development
Tarouca	0.485	I
Vila Real	0.477	I
Lamego	0.436	I
Peso da Régua	0.412	I
São João da Pesqueira	0.403	I
Mesão Frio	0.313	II
Moimenta da Beira	0.301	II
Santa Marta de Penaguião	0.249	II
Alijó	0.235	II
Sernancelhe	0.212	II
Sabrosa	0.189	III
Tabuaço	0.097	III
Carrazeda de Ansiães	0.081	III
Armamar	0.067	III
Murça	0.056	III
Penedono	0.041	III
Vila Nova de Foz Côa	0.007	IV
Freixo de Espada à Cinta	−0.066	IV
Torre de Moncorvo	−0.075	IV

).

A consequence of the low demographic potential is the shrinking of towns and villages. Declining villages can be found in areas that are marginally located in relation to larger urban agglomerations. Field research conducted in the DWR in 2023/2024 has identified villages particularly vulnerable to depopulation processes. As a result of migration, the houses and homesteads left behind are being degraded. This process also leads to a decline in attractiveness to tourists. An example is Pinhão in the Município Alijó located on the north bank of the Douro River, in the centre of the Porto wine region. The town of Pinhão receives around 400,000 tourists a year.

4.2. Wine Production

Portugal’s wine production in 2022 was 6,660,134 L. Portugal is one of the oldest wine producers in the world since ancient times. In Phoenician and Roman times, vineyards played an important role in the culture and economy of the region. During the Middle Ages, wine production was linked to the activities of Cistercian monasteries, which introduced new cultivation and vinification methods. Trade in wine, transported in barrels by river, sea, and land, developed during the era of the great geographical discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries. Porto wine, made from grapes harvested in the Douro Valley, in the Alto Douro region, became the most important export liquor [39]. The development of wine production took place in the 17th and 18th centuries, when wine became an important export of Portugal, primarily to the English market. Today, Portugal is known as a producer of high-quality wines, which has had a significant impact on its economy and international standing. The development of different styles of wine, from fresh white wines to intense reds, is promoted by the country’s great climatic and geographical diversity. The turn of the 20th and 21st century saw changes in wine production in line with sustainable development. According to [40], environmentally friendly practices have been implemented in both vineyard and wine tourism activities.

The area under study is 240,000 ha and is divided into three sub-regions: Baixo Corgo (Lower Corgo), Alto Corgo (Upper Corgo), and Douro Superior (Higher Douro), which differ in terms of landscape, as well as microclimate. The slate terraces (referred to as socalcos in Portuguese) found in the cultural landscape of the Douro Valley were built by hand by Galicians who came to the valley in search of employment. Nowadays, no new slate terraces are built but care is taken to preserve them historically. The most common practice is to grow vines on platforms (patamares in Portuguese) due to the fact that these provide good drainage (the angle of the platforms is 30 degrees, so water runs off freely), and to a lesser extent, vertical cultivation (vinha ao alto in Portuguese) is used.

Wine production in the Douro wine region is very diverse, with 100 Portuguese varieties, as reported in publications by the institute that has controlled the quality of wines produced in the Douro Valley since 1933 (Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto). Among the best varieties for Porto production are Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca (or Francesa), Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, or Tinto Cão. In 2022, the Douro wine region produced 1,291,521 L of wine, representing 20% of Portugal’s wine production (

Table 9. Wine production by quality in Portugal and Douro in 2022. Source: own elaboration on the basis of [61].

Area	Total	Liqueur Wine by Protected Designation of Origin	Wine by Protected Designation of Origin		Wine by Protected Geographical Indication		Wines Without Certification
			White	Red/Rose	White	Red/Rose	White	Red/Rose
Portugal [L]	6,660,134	717,278	1,376,668	1,650,907	639,329	1,722,561	149,934	403,460
Douro [L]	129,152	655,405	170,132	395,225	3434	3633	21,515	42,179
Douro Portugal = 100%	19.7	91.4	12.4	24.0	0.6	0.2	14.3	10.4
Douro [%]	100	50.7	13.2	30.6	0.3	0.3	1.6	3.3

, Scheme 2).

In the structure of wine production, it is noted that liqueur wine by protected designation of origin accounts for the largest share (91.4%). Internationally, the most famous wine is Porto, which is produced in the upper Douro Valley and its tributaries. A spatial analysis of wine production in 2022 showed that the largest number of grapes in terms of volume comes from Baixo Corgo. These are grapes used mostly for still wines (DOC Douro) or for white Porto. The grapes from this part of the valley are not as sweet as those from the eastern part of the region, as the weather conditions are quite mild. The Baixo Corgo wine region covers the largest area (51%) of the entire upper wine region. Its area stretches across the entire right bank of the Douro from Barqueiros to Rio Corgo (Régua) and across the left bank from Barrô to the Temi-Lobos River, near Armamar. The Cima Corgo region covers 36% of the area and stretches from the Baixo–Corgo border through Cachão da Valeira and the Douro Superior to the Spanish border (

Table 10. Structure of wine production in Douro wine region by LAU. Source: own elaboration on the basis of [61].

Region/LAU	Total	Liqueur	White Wine by Protected Designation of Origin	Red/Rose Wine
Douro	1,291,521	50	13	30
Vila Real	102,449	33	24	34
Vila Nova de Foz Côa	112,623	46	8	44
Torre de Moncorvo	14,873	64	7	28
Tarouca	9695	0	37	43
Tabuaço	53,473	59	10	30
Sernancelhe	380	0	13	28
São João da Pesqueira	162,476	55	8	31
Santa Marta de Penaguião	92,118	53	8	37
Sabrosa	89,733	46	14	35
Peso da Régua	77,985	37	17	42
Penedono	0	0	0	0
Murça	29,603	35	8	28
Moimenta da Beira	26,461	0	32	23
Mesão Frio	22,250	42	14	39
Lamego	217,980	63	9	22
Freixo de Espada à Cinta	18,984	50	14	26
Carrazeda de Ansiães	32,612	87	3	7
Armamar	20,485	14	24	28
Alijó	207,341	56	17	22

).

In the structure of production by municipality, it is noted that the largest share of liqueur wine by protected designation of origin is in the municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães (87%), followed by Torre de Moncorvo and Lamego (63%). The share of wine by protected designation of origin is important in overall wine production. Some 36.4% of the wine produced from the Douro wine region is covered by a protected designation of origin, including white wine (12.4%) and red wine (24.0%). This is very important for the economic development of the region and for the promotion of local settlements. Wine with a geographical name for the region can also contribute to the development of wine tourism. Among the municipalities analysed in terms of protected designation of origin, the municipality of Tarouca had the highest share (80%), followed by Vila Real, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Peso da Régua, Moimenta da Beira, Mesão Frio, and Armamar (50–60%). Wines protected by geographical indication are also important for local development. Their share of wine production in the Douro wine region is small, at 0.8%. Of greater importance are the municipalities of Moimenta da Beira (7%), Vila Real (2%), and Freixo de Espada à Cinta and Alijó (1.5% each) (Figure 4).

4.3. Wine Tourism as a Tool for Sustainable Development

Wine tourism in Portugal plays a very important role. The options for tourists spending leisure time in the vineyards are very rich and the activities undertaken by the vineyard owners can become a model for the development of this form of tourism in other countries [44]. In the Douro wine region, wine tourism has long benefited many wine growers. The wealth of attractions offered to tourists include the following: accommodation, wine sales, events, and wine and food festivals. Directly visiting the vineyards and purchasing wine deepens the relationship between winegrowers and consumers and helps to establish long-term friendships. At the same time, growers must adapt their production technology in line with sustainable development, taking care of the natural environment but also paying attention to appropriate working conditions. Taking pro-environmental measures can benefit vineyard owners (in terms of marketing, as well as profit). Wine tourism is of particular importance in the Douro wine region of the Douro Valley, with limited opportunities for socio-economic development due to difficult natural conditions (mountain areas made of slate and granite rocks, high and steep river valley), difficult infrastructural conditions (difficult to access in bad weather), demographic conditions (increasing depopulation processes), and scattered settlements (access to schools, health care).

Tourist facilities, as measured by the number of tourists registered in accommodation establishments, are shown in

Table 11. Tourists staying in accommodation facilities, nights provided, and revenue from accommodation in DWR in 2022. Source: own elaboration on the basis of [61].

Area	Total	Hotel Establishments	Local Accommodation	Tourism in Rural Areas and Lodging Tourism
Guests	353,985	181,450	37,176	135,359
[%]	100	51.3	10.5	38.2
Nights	589,456	300,729	66,202	222,525
[%]	100	51.0	11.2	37.8
Revenue from accommodation	47,925	28,001	3378	16,547
[%]	100	58.4	7.0	34.5

. In the structure of DWR accommodation facilities, it is noted that hotel establishments account for the largest proportion (51.3%), followed by local accommodation and tourism in rural areas and lodging tourism (48.7%). Similarly, this shows that there are many accommodations offered directly by vineyards.

Observing the details regarding income from accommodation facilities, it is notable that the share from hotels (58.4%) is slightly higher than that from local accommodation and tourism in rural areas and lodging tourism (41.6%), despite the fact that prices in hotels are much higher than in other accommodation facilities. This indicates that tourists are more likely to use accommodation in vineyards, agrotourism, and local accommodation.

A spatial analysis of accommodation facilities by municipality shows that the following municipalities have the highest share (above 90%): Sabrosa (94%) and Tarouca and Sernancelhe (90% each). The municipality of Armamar also has a relatively high share (70.0%). The largest number of accommodation facilities is located in the municipality of Lamego (32), which is at the beginning of the water tourist route. At the same time, Lamego offers a lot of architectural and natural attractions. Another municipality, Alijo (21), is a destination for river trips. Of particular importance is Pinhão, which is considered the geographical centre of the wine region and has a very wide range of accommodation. This village can be reached by cruise ship, as well as by train. The train station is famous for its azulejos tiles (Figure 5).

Spatial analysis of admitted guests in accommodation establishments shows that the highest number of visitors was recorded in the most attractive municipalities of DWR, i.e., Lamego, followed by Vila Real and Peso da Regua (Figure 6).

The assessment of the level of development of the tourist function in DWR on the basis of the calculated Charvat and Schneider index showed the following regular trends:

-

A high level of tourist development was recorded in municipalities with high demographic potential (Lamego, Mesão Frio).

-

A medium-high level of tourist development was recorded in municipalities with low and very low demographic potential (Sabrosa, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Tabuaço).

-

A similarly high Schneider Index was recorded in the municipalities of Lamego, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, and Tabuaço.

This is a positive development, as wine tourism could become a driving force for the region in the future (

Table 12. Level of wine tourism development vs. demographic potential. Source: own elaboration on the basis of [61].

Region/LAU	Level of Demographic Development	Level of Tourist Development (Charvat Index)	Intensity of Tourist Traffic (Schneider Index)
Tarouca	I	197	129
Vila Real	I	144	90
Lamego	I	665	385
Peso da Régua	I	473	288
São João da Pesqueira	I	257	143
Mesão Frio	II	805	485
Moimenta da Beira	II	51	33
Santa Marta de Penaguião	II	261	159
Alijó	II	439	271
Sernancelhe	II	213	126
Sabrosa	III	566	321
Tabuaço	III	562	360
Carrazeda de Ansiães	III	264	151
Armamar	III	507	285
Murça	III	66	14
Penedono	III	53	48
Vila Nova de Foz Côa	IV	191	118
Freixo de Espada à Cinta	IV	562	378
Torre de Moncorvo	IV	194	130

).

-

As a tool for sustainable development, wine tourism should have an impact on the income of local residents. The assessment of the impact of tourism income for municipalities and on a per capita basis showed the following patterns: the highest income from tourism was recorded in Lamego, with the highest level of tourism development. At the same time, Lamego has the highest income per capita. The average income was recorded in municipalities with low demographic potential (Alijo, Peso da Régua, Sabrosa, Vila Real). The average income per capita was also recorded in these municipalities.

The results indicate that wine tourism can contribute to increasing the income of the population (Figure 7).

Bearing in mind that wine tourism contributes to sustainable development, an assessment was made, using Person’s correlation, of the strength of the relationship between the number of visitors to tourist facilities and the number of nights spent, on the one hand, and the volume of wine production. In both cases, the correlation is moderate (+0.66) (Figure 8).

Similarly, the strength of the correlation between the number of residents and the number of guests in accommodation establishments was assessed. The correlation is moderate (+0.44) (Figure 9).

Outliers are noted in Figure 9, which may indicate specific cases. Certain municipalities in DWR attract an exceptionally high number of visitors compared to their population due to the occurrence of additional cultural events (e.g., wine festivals, conferences) and due to the numerous tourist attractions and tourist berths.

5. Discussion

The recommended wine tourism can become a tool to stop the processes of economic regression and ‘social exclusion’. Studies have shown that wine tourism on the UNESCO cultural route in the Douro wine region has the potential to become a tool for sustainable development. This is all the more so, as the cultural landscape has been shaped by viticulture. As evidenced by studies on the Loire Valley in France [65] or the Rhine Valley in Germany [66], wine tourism is closely linked to the cultural landscape. Similarly, in the Douro wine region, it promotes the local wine tradition and helps to pass on knowledge about the production of port wine and other wines. The production and distribution of wine contributes to the growth in tourists and thus influences local and regional development. It has been observed that winemakers in the Douro Valley often use sustainable agricultural practices, which contributes to the protection of local ecosystems and the cultural landscape. In addition, vineyards provide local jobs from wine production to tourism services. Wine tourism brings the history of the region closer to the people and teaches respect for culture and traditions, as well as respect for the customs associated with the cultivation, production, and tasting of wine. Thus, it plays an important educational role for young people. In addition, being in a specific cultural landscape (of winegrowing) has a beneficial effect on the health of tourists. The increase in tourist traffic in the Douro River region has been particularly influenced by the increase in transport accessibility due to the expansion of the railway network and the expansion of the cruise fleet on the Douro River. An example of this is the hard-to-reach town of Pinhao, which receives 400,000 tourists each year (mainly by cruise ships).

With these conclusions in mind, it is important to highlight the special nature of vineyards in the cultural landscape. Indeed, wine production was regulated for the first time in 1756, when the General Association of Winegrowers of Upper Porto was created. The purpose of the association was to classify vineyards and wines and keep records. This contributed to Douro becoming the world’s first wine region with defined boundaries and vineyard classification (in the literature). Current wine policy includes the protection of traditional winegrowing methods and the promotion of unique wines such as port. Similarly, in other regions of Europe, wine production is linked to the development of enotourism. In Italy, one of the largest wine exporters in the world (Tuscany, Piedmont, and Veneto regions), wine producers attract tourists from all over the world, offering wine tastings, vineyard tours, and festivals and celebrations. The wine policy supports the promotion of Italian wines on international markets, which contributes to their popularity and prestige. The future of winemaking in Portugal is seen in the application of sustainable winemaking practices that protect the environment and support local communities. The use of organic farming methods contributes not only to healthy wine consumption but also to the preservation of the cultural landscape. Wine production in the Douro wine region contributes to an increase in tourists. Through wine promotion and marketing efforts (wine festivals), producers promote sustainability not only socio-economically [12,13,14,15,16] but also on environmental issues [23,41,42,67]. Socio-economically, wine production contributes to improving living conditions through wine tourism. Studies have shown a moderate correlation between an increase in wine production and an increase in tourists.

At the same time, it is noted that despite the increase in tourists in the Douro Valley, there is a decline in population in rural areas and even depopulation of villages and devastation of settlements. The main reasons for this phenomenon are the poor road infrastructure, which restricts access during autumn and winter, and the lack of permanent jobs in the area. In addition, it has been observed that tourists visiting the Douro Valley from the position of a cruise ship do not always make use of local restaurants and services, which does not generate additional income for the local population.

Similarly, the results of studies carried out in other parts of Europe and the world, e.g., in Spain [68] or Moldova [69], show that incomplete infrastructure and low levels of human capital are barriers to the development of wine tourism. In Poland, on the other hand, there is a notable increase in the number of tourists using wine services (tasting, accommodation, festivals). The popularity of wine tourism is increasing as a result of marketing activities [2,3,4]. However, in Chile [70], a South American country that is the eighth-greatest wine producing country in the world and the first among the wine regions of the New World, the lack of synergies with other tourism sectors is considered the most important barrier to the development of enotourism.

6. Conclusions

The cultural landscape of the Alto Douro wine region exemplifies the unique relationship between man and the environment, influenced by the judicious management of limited land and water resources on the steep slopes. The traditional vineyard setting, located on old, narrow stone terraces, has undergone some changes over the centuries but has remained intact in the central part of the region and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study identified problem areas, i.e., demographic regression and economic progression (based on wine production), and identified the relationship between wine production and wine tourism development, on the one hand, and demographic development. The results of the study indicate that wine tourism is an example of tourism on the UNESCO itinerary, with production and consumption benefiting both tourists and entrepreneurs. Wine tourism is also seen as an important source of income and an enabler of socio-economic development. In addition to providing a boost to the local economy, wine tourism in the Douro Valley combines elements of tradition and local culture with economic aspects, i.e., viticulture and local winemaking technology. Thus, the development of wine tourism contributes to the preservation of the cultural heritage and landscape values of the Douro Valley.

Of particular importance, wine tourism in the Douro Valley area is subject to limited opportunities for socio-economic development due to the following:

-

Difficult natural conditions (mountainous areas made of slate and granite rocks, a high and steep river valley);

-

Difficult infrastructural conditions (difficult to access in bad weather);

-

Demographics (increasing depopulation processes);

-

Scattered settlements (with limited access to schools and health care).

The cultural landscape of the Alto Douro wine region is an example of human–environment synergy influenced by the judicious management of limited land and water resources on the steep slopes of the river. It has been noted that, in addition to the boost to the local economy, wine tourism in the Douro Valley combines elements of tradition and local culture with economic aspects, i.e., viticulture and local winemaking technology. Thus, the development of wine tourism contributes to the preservation of the cultural heritage and landscape values of the Douro Valley.

The paper makes the following recommendations:

-

Improving tourism infrastructure, including accommodation in areas with low demographic potential. At the same time, this will contribute to increasing the number of jobs available, and this will not only occur during the grape harvesting period.

-

Greater activity to promote wine tourism, not only in the most well-known regions of the Douro but also in municipalities marginal to Porto.

-

Education and promotion of sustainability among local people.

-

Combining wine tourism with other forms of tourism.

-

Deepening cooperation and developing synergies between tourists and winemakers.

Extension of the wine tourism season throughout the year. Integrating local biodiversity conservation efforts with wine tourism can create a symbiotic relationship between the vineyards and the surrounding ecosystems. Given the importance of preserving the cultural landscape in the Douro Valley and, at the same time, the development of wine tourism, it would be advisable to deepen research in the direction of education and promotion of the study area.