He placed Marcos Pombalinos (stones) in the valley telling the world that these were the best vineyards in the Douro; the ones making the highest quality Port wine that could be exported.
The stones are an integral part of the Pedra Alta history. They are called ‘Marcos Pombalinos’ in Portuguese, named after the 1st Marquis of Pombal, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, who was the 1st Count of Oeiras and a powerful prime-minister who ruled Portugal from 1750 to 1777.
The stones are an integral part of the Pedra Alta history. They are called ‘Marcos Pombalinos’ in Portuguese, named after the 1st Marquis of Pombal, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, who was the 1st Count of Oeiras and a powerful prime-minister who ruled Portugal from 1750 to 1777.
The Douro Valley has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001 and is one of the most rugged and mountainous regions of Portugal.