Visiting the Douro Wine Valley in Northern Portugal

We inch up the serpentine bends, pulling the automobile precariously near the aspect of the slim highway nearer to the river, as an SUV getting back from the mountain, hurtles down in haste.

Beneath us lies a latticework of vines rising in schist rock terraces, organized at pleasing angles.

As if splitting the mountain interface, the mighty Douro river carves its means, flowing between Portugal and Spain.

The river has witnessed the efforts of man and vine for greater than 2000 years; in 1991 the Alto Douro was declared a UNESCO World Heritage web site due to the lengthy custom of Port manufacturing and the resultant growth in infrastructure within the space.

Associated learn: A Information to Porto Avenue Artwork

Visiting the Douro wine valley

The Douro wine valley is as spectacular as they are saying, however even within the warmth of summer season, there are only a few vacationers. There are a variety of rural homes throughout the river, some with a noble edge, they usually forged ethereal shadows within the flat inexperienced waters. The terrain is exclusive and I really feel a rising curiosity in regards to the historical past and individuals who dwell and work right here. 

Whereas the grapes for some extremely good desk wines, of which we’ve had the pleasure over three months of residing in Portugal to pattern, are grown right here within the Douro, the area is most well-known for wonderful Ports or fortified wines.

In picturesque Oporto which lies on the basin of the Douro, you will notice distinguished indicators promoting the names of Port wine cellars. Port is saved in these cool cellars, however with the intention to get there, vans should traverse the precarious journey down. We’re advised that it isn’t unusual throughout harvest season for multiple collision or for a truck to tragically take a tumble over the aspect.

Within the outdated days, barrels of pressed grapes had been transported by rabelo alongside the unpredictable Douro.

The Douro wine estates

At varied estates or quintas, you should still discover rudimentary chapels constructed within the outdated type – these had been homes of worship the place the stewards of these small vessels would come to wish for secure passage.

At Quinta do Crasto, we’re taken as much as admire the views of the valley from the pool space earlier than our tasting commences and the attention is tricked into believing the pool flows into the Douro river. 

It’s right here that we’re reminded what we’ve been advised earlier than, that as widespread as Port is, it isn’t so with the Portuguese. Moderately, it’s an English customized that appears to dwell on; naturally a lot of the port produced is for export. The Douro developed the primary appellation system, a wine classification to differentiate the three areas during which the grapes are grown. This was developed 200 years earlier than the French system!

Afterward at Quinta do Nova, we each agree that this may very well be the very spot for a renewal of marriage ceremony vows, besides we each know we’ve household who wouldn’t decide to scaling the hills to get right here. Lunch is an elaborate affair paired with the property’s wines, beneath the shaded pergola.

After a day of exploring, Douro wine tasting (the driving force should go for sensibility, the roads aren’t well worth the threat), and taking in views we head again to the gorgeous CS Vintage House Hotel for a nap and a bathe earlier than dinner at Rui Paula’s DOC, a modern and trendy restaurant with a wonderful fame, on the water’s edge.

And tomorrow? We’ll blissfully do all of it once more!

Kinds of Port in Douro

Broadly, Port could also be characterised into two sorts, wooden and bottled aged. Wooden-aged Ports embody Ruby, Tawny and White. Glass-aged embody Classic and Crusted Ports. 

Port may be efficiently paired with cheese, chocolate and muffins too.