The granitic Dão wine region in central Portugal has been the favourite wine region for many Portuguese for a long time, it is seen as their equivalent to Burgundy. In the past some wines may not have been appealing to all, but these days this lovely region produces some fantastic wines which are universally acclaimed. The vines are grown at relatively high altitudes between 200 and 400 meters’, allowing for good acidity in the wines. There are also high mountains and forests, there is still a lot of photogenic wild nature here. Moreover, the landscape is dotted with medieval villages and historic palaces, often originally used as hunting lodges by the Portuguese nobility. There are beautiful historic cites too, like Viseu and Castelo Branco. The Dão wine region is certainly worth a detour: the wines have never been better, and there is a healthy reliance on indigenous grape varieties. A real good white wine from Dão made from the local Encruzado grape can rival a fine white from Burgundy in France. Then reds made with the Baga or Alfrocheiro varietal deliver serious, full-bodied reds of character, with good acidity. Combining the wines with local food, one can have great gastronomic experiences. Local specialities like roast suckling pig, Serra de Estrela cheeses and the local corn bread are delicious.