All over the world, it is becoming increasingly common to associate Portugal with gastronomy and the wines and liqueurs that make it famous. We are talking about the traditional cod dishes, the custard tarts, the unmistakable Port wine. Portugal has a lot to offer for your tastebuds, and it would take more than this article to explore it all, so today we'll just focus on the perhaps the most famous of the bunch: Port wine.
During the coldest part of the year, does a weekend trip to the Douro sound like the ideal plan to warm the soul? Identified as the oldest wine region in the world, the Douro area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an excellent option when you want to combine a beautiful landscape with local delicacies. To help you organise your trip in the north of Portugal, we have selected some places you should visit and prepared a wine route that will take you to visit some of the most famous port wine cellars in the world.
Lamego Wine Region
It was around the 17th and 18th centuries that the manor houses and farms of the first stop on our wine route Lamego, began to be built. Today the city is most associated with the production and trade of Port wine belonging to the Douro Demarcated Region, one of Portugal's main wine regions.
To explore the region, we recommend a private wine-tasting tour if you prefer open-air programmes. Or, if you're up for an even more immersive experience, visit some of Lamego's main wineries and cellars. The best known is, without a doubt, Quinta da Pacheca (visits and tastings from 15€).
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Pinhão Wine Region
Located where the Pinhão river meets the Duero, Pinhão is a lovely contryside getaway destination if you're looking for beautiful natural landscapes. But it is also at the heart of the Port wine-making region, and so, the second stop on our route. Oncee again, your visit here cannot end without a wine tasting. This time, we advise you to book a visit to the most famous cellars of the Pinhão region in advance. Our suggestions are:
Quinta da Roêda - visits and wine tastings from €16;
Quinta de La Rosa - visits to the estate include not only a wine tasting but also a gastronomic tasting. Available from €38.50.
You can also opt for an outdoor programme and plan a walk through the vast expanse of vineyards overlooking the Douro river, which will end beautifully with a tasting of some of the best Port wines produced in the region.
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Vila Real Wine Region
To finish this wine route, there's nothing better than a stop in Vila Real. The city that lends its name to the district, in addition to its wines, has a breathtaking landscape and various must-see places, such as:
Casa de Mateus Foundation - when you're here, it is simply obligatory to pass through the gardens, the winery and the chapel;
Quinta do Infantado - this is the ideal spot for a tasting of wines with the Douro denomination of origin;
Panoias Sanctuary - this is a rock sanctuary which is among the most relevant points of interest in the region;
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Finally, before returning home, we suggest you take the opportunity to buy a few bottles of your favourite wines. They will be the ideal way to receive friends or family with a "Portuguese style" dinner once you're back home.