Douro Comboio do Vesuvio 2020, Quinta do Vesuvio

The 2020 Comboio do Vesuvio is Quinta do Vesuvio’s youthful, unoaked Douro red, made from 35 percent Touriga Franca, 35 percent Touriga Nacional, and 30 percent Tinta Roriz from the estate’s vineyards in the Douro Superior. The wine is deliberately raised without oak to keep the fruit out front and the profile energetic, which is a smart move here. Vesuvio is a serious estate, but this bottling is not trying to be the brooding philosopher in the corner. It is trying to be delicious.

In the glass, it comes across as bright, vivid, and immediately likable, with cherry, strawberry, and redcurrant leading the way, backed by floral notes, fresh herbs, and a little spice. The palate brings more red fruit and plum, with fine acidity and svelte, peppery tannins that give the wine shape without dragging it into heaviness. There is even a faint milk-chocolate note on the finish, which adds a little softness without blunting the wine’s freshness. This is the kind of red that works because it knows what it is: lively, balanced, and ready to drink.

It is an easy match for grilled sausages, roast chicken, burgers, weeknight steak, or a table full of things that did not require tweezers. Serve it with a slight chill if you want to lean into the freshness. That is not sacrilege; it is just good judgment.

About the Winery

Quinta do Vesuvio is one of the Douro’s iconic estates, located far upriver in the Douro Superior, about 120 kilometers from the Atlantic and close to the Spanish border. The property has a long recorded history dating to 1565, with major vineyard planting and construction of the estate winery in the 1820s. It was founded by Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, later acquired by the Symington family in 1989, and today spans 326 hectares, with about 133 hectares under vine and the rest preserved in a more natural state.

What makes Vesuvio compelling is not just prestige but the scale and complexity of the site. The vineyards range from roughly 130 meters at the river to more than 500 meters at the ridge, with varied aspects and a hot, dry inland climate that helps produce wines with both concentration and structure. The estate is also famous for preserving traditional foot-treading in granite lagares for its Vintage Ports, even as its premium Douro DOC wines are now made at the LEED Gold–certified Ataíde Winery, built to support quality alongside energy and water efficiency.

Comboio shows the more relaxed side of the estate. Named for the train line that has stopped at Vesuvio since 1887, it reflects a piece of the property’s daily life and history. More importantly, it gives you a way into Vesuvio that is less formal than the flagship wines but still clearly rooted in this remarkable place.