Douro Valley and Porto. A possible itinerary
Posted: 09:00 Tue 28 Aug 2018
Hi everybody,
I returned a few days from a tour in Portugal and, hoping to do something useful for users of the forum, I would like to describe my itinerary during the period in the Douro valley and in Porto.
I'm really excited about my planning, I think I managed to make the most of the few days I had. Maybe my planning can serve as a canvas for those who have few days to spend in those areas.
First day
I rented a car in Porto in the morning at 9 and in an hour and a half I reached the first destination: Quinta do Panascal (Fonseca)
I recommend the visit because in addition to allowing you to move freely between the patamares, you will walk accompanied by an audio guide that explains in a precise and concise the key points of the production of the port. Perfect to start with if you are in the company of people who know almost nothing about Port wine. It is also a wonderful landscape on the affluent Tavora, with many socalcos of many years.
After Fonseca we reached Quinta do Bonfim (Symington Estates, in particular Dow's). Excellent guided tour, which gives the opportunity to see a modern organization of a Quinta. Crossing the vineyards we had a picnic on a terrace with a beautiful view of the Douro, exactly on the loop that kisses Pinhao. In Italian we have exclaimed "La bellezza del Creato" (the beauty of creation), we normally refer to God but here a lot has been done by man.
We stayed in a farmhouse in Folgosa, simple and cheap, but there are many possibilities depending on how much comfort you want.
Second day.
Visit to Quinta do Noval. Beautiful welcome, it is a truly evocative place that has a monumental and seraphic aspect. Very exhaustive the guide who really explained everything to us and with a wealth of details. It will be stupid but I was thrilled to try a few grapes directly from the Nacional plot.
After the visit we crossed the Pinhao bridge looking for a wonderful Miradouro. I think the best view ever is the one exactly above Quinta da Vargellas. The panorama is particularly harmonious and is in front of Quinta dos Canais.
On the way back we stopped at Quinta do Napoles (Niepoort). Really nice to visit with tastings directly from the Douro wine barrel. As well as being evocative, the visit allowed us to see a winery at work. Beautiful people.
We came back in the evening in Porto.
Third day
We visited 3 wineries: Sandeman, Cockburn's and Graham's.
Of Sandeman I really appreciated the exhibition area, with real relics, old bottles and the marketing story that arrives in Porto.
Cockburn's hit my heart with its immense rooms and the workshop where the barrels are repaired.
Graham's is a concentrate of English elegance but I think you're almost all better prepared than me about this.
I spent really beautiful days, collecting something different from each stage.
Last but not least, I tasted so many wines but listing them would make the post just more boring than it already is. I only tell you that even the most experienced connoisseurs of Port wine will find an interesting tasting
Have a nice day and forgive me if I was verbose
P.S. if someone is interested in seeing some photos, can search on google "instagram Pelitcka", it's a public profile
I returned a few days from a tour in Portugal and, hoping to do something useful for users of the forum, I would like to describe my itinerary during the period in the Douro valley and in Porto.
I'm really excited about my planning, I think I managed to make the most of the few days I had. Maybe my planning can serve as a canvas for those who have few days to spend in those areas.
First day
I rented a car in Porto in the morning at 9 and in an hour and a half I reached the first destination: Quinta do Panascal (Fonseca)
I recommend the visit because in addition to allowing you to move freely between the patamares, you will walk accompanied by an audio guide that explains in a precise and concise the key points of the production of the port. Perfect to start with if you are in the company of people who know almost nothing about Port wine. It is also a wonderful landscape on the affluent Tavora, with many socalcos of many years.
After Fonseca we reached Quinta do Bonfim (Symington Estates, in particular Dow's). Excellent guided tour, which gives the opportunity to see a modern organization of a Quinta. Crossing the vineyards we had a picnic on a terrace with a beautiful view of the Douro, exactly on the loop that kisses Pinhao. In Italian we have exclaimed "La bellezza del Creato" (the beauty of creation), we normally refer to God but here a lot has been done by man.
We stayed in a farmhouse in Folgosa, simple and cheap, but there are many possibilities depending on how much comfort you want.
Second day.
Visit to Quinta do Noval. Beautiful welcome, it is a truly evocative place that has a monumental and seraphic aspect. Very exhaustive the guide who really explained everything to us and with a wealth of details. It will be stupid but I was thrilled to try a few grapes directly from the Nacional plot.
After the visit we crossed the Pinhao bridge looking for a wonderful Miradouro. I think the best view ever is the one exactly above Quinta da Vargellas. The panorama is particularly harmonious and is in front of Quinta dos Canais.
On the way back we stopped at Quinta do Napoles (Niepoort). Really nice to visit with tastings directly from the Douro wine barrel. As well as being evocative, the visit allowed us to see a winery at work. Beautiful people.
We came back in the evening in Porto.
Third day
We visited 3 wineries: Sandeman, Cockburn's and Graham's.
Of Sandeman I really appreciated the exhibition area, with real relics, old bottles and the marketing story that arrives in Porto.
Cockburn's hit my heart with its immense rooms and the workshop where the barrels are repaired.
Graham's is a concentrate of English elegance but I think you're almost all better prepared than me about this.
I spent really beautiful days, collecting something different from each stage.
Last but not least, I tasted so many wines but listing them would make the post just more boring than it already is. I only tell you that even the most experienced connoisseurs of Port wine will find an interesting tasting
Have a nice day and forgive me if I was verbose
P.S. if someone is interested in seeing some photos, can search on google "instagram Pelitcka", it's a public profile