According to mythology, Lusus was the son or companion of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and revelry. The name given to the ancient Roman province within what is now Portugal was Lusitania, and according to the famous Portuguese poet  Luís Vaz de Camões (c. 1524 – June 10, 1580), Lusitania is said to have gained its name from Lusus:

“This you see is Lusus, from whose fame
Our kingdom Lusitania has the name”

Góis was at the heart of this region of Lusitania.

It is believed that the Tartessians (from the harbour town of Tartessus in modern-day Andalusia) were the first to cultivate vineyards in the valley of the Tejo around 2000 B.C.

But it was under the Romans, during their occupation of Portugal that wine production really started in earnest. Portuguese wines were apparently so popular in Rome that demand outstripped supply.

When later the Moors held sway in Portugal, vineyard cultivation was tolerated, although for reasons of religious faith wine production was not promoted. It was however revived again during the Reconquista of the 12th and 13th centuries as conquered territories were re-populated by practitioners of Christianity from the north. It was at this time that French varieties of grape were brought in from Burgundy.

It is believed that most Portuguese wine from the 12th century onwards was exported to England, and that in 1703 an agreement was made between the two countries to seal this arrangement.

In 1758 the Douro valley was the first region in the world to be made a demarcated wine-producing area (Região Demarcada do Douro) with the declared aim of producing the highest-quality wine.

It is recorded that in the 19th century an infestation of phylloxera devastated vineyards throughout the country.

It is extremely common in the Góis region to find vines and cultivation. Almost every house will have one vine or a collection of vines, providing shade or marking a boundary. There are many old vines in the region, and occasionally vines with a trunk that exceeds 150mm in diameter. There are many wild vines growing along the Ceira valley, and even in the mountains over the ruins of former houses, long-abandoned.

 Looking at old vines, there seem to be many distinct varieties: One particular property we were fortunate enough to walk around in late summer, had at least 6 distinct varieties growing around the garden, all of considerable age.
The wine made varies widely in taste and quality, with each village having its own customs and practices as well as individual variations within the village. The hospitable custom is for visitors to be offered a sample of the local wine, some of which is remarkably good!

The vines in the region are harvested around October and as autumn approaches the leaves turn from vibrant yellow to crimson, before falling and leaving the winter work of pruning for the next year’s harvest.

If you are buying a property in Góis, or anywhere in central Portugal that has grapevines, we advise you to talk to your neighbours for help. It is usual to establish an agreement that for help with pruning and maintaining the vines the fruit is taken, wine is made, and then a percentage – usually 50% - is given back to you. Unless of course, you feel confident about carrying out the whole process yourself!