A DENOMINAÇÃO DE ORIGEM CONTROLADA DOC) area located in northern Portugal near the Atlantic coast, west of the DÃO DOC and south of Oporto. The region is known for its TANNIC, high-ACIDITY red wines made primarily from the BAGA grape along with PERIQUITA, Bastardo, and Tinta Pinheira. The best of these wines will, with AGING, become SOFTER and richer. Newer techniques have been introduced to remove grape stalks prior to FERMENTATION and to shorten the period that the skins are in contact. This method produces rich, colorful wines that are fragrant and fruity and much less tannic. About 90 percent of the wines produced are red. Small amounts of SPARKLING WINE and white STILL WINE are also produced. Grapes used for the white wines are mainly local varieties, primarily Maria Gomes (FERNÃO PIRES), but also BICAL and Rabo de Ovelha.