Dão is one of the oldest demarcated (DOC) wine regions in Portugal (1908). It is located between the Mondego and the Dão rivers in the Centre-North part of the country, a mountainous region with a temperate climate. The wine region is located primarily on a plateau that is sheltered on three sides by the granite mountain ranges of Serra da Estrela, Serra do Caramulo and Serra da Nave. The region experiences abundant rainfall in the winter months and long, warm dry summers leading up to harvest. The region's vineyards are planted on sandy well-drained soil on top of granite rock. It is home to several varieties of autochthonous grapes with the majority of wine production being made from the Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Jaen, Alfrocheiro (reds) and Encruzado, Bical, Cerceal and Malvasia Fina (whites) and others.