Post your experiences of travel, especially for the Douro region. Make recommendations for places to stay and visit or ask advice from those that have already been there.
Will be traveling to Porto with my wife, arriving on the 10th of October in the late afternoon and leaving by train on the 14th at 14:40.
Been to Porto several times and visited many of the lodges. Are there any port/wine-related activities that anyone can recommend? Maybe some special Portforum members exclusives ?
Also very willing to meet up if anyone is in the area, can bring a bottle(s).
Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑10:54 Wed 10 Sep 2025
I won't be in the area in October, but which lodges have you not visited yet? Maybe we can help with suggestions of which ones to go to.
I'm also trying a black glass blind tasting at the Quevedo tasting room on my next trip - that might be a bit of fun!
Hi Alex,
Might visit Quevedo then, someone was quite happy with their recent 72 release, would be nice if they have it by the glass.
We've been to Graham (best experience), Burmester, Kopke, Cálem, Sandeman, Fonseca and Ferreira (in VNDG). I never knew Niepoort had a lodge there so we'll probably visit that at least.
Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑10:54 Wed 10 Sep 2025
I won't be in the area in October, but which lodges have you not visited yet? Maybe we can help with suggestions of which ones to go to.
I'm also trying a black glass blind tasting at the Quevedo tasting room on my next trip - that might be a bit of fun!
Hi Alex,
Might visit Quevedo then, someone was quite happy with their recent 72 release, would be nice if they have it by the glass.
We've been to Graham (best experience), Burmester, Kopke, Cálem, Sandeman, Fonseca and Ferreira (in VNDG). I never knew Niepoort had a lodge there so we'll probably visit that at least.
All suggestions are welcome.
FWIW I highly recommend visiting the Niepoort cellars. I went there a couple of years ago with some friends to do one their tastings (lineup below - excl. some samples from barrel). Very sound bunch in there. They looked after us really well and the tour was spot on too.
M.Charlton wrote: ↑12:16 Wed 10 Sep 2025
FWIW I highly recommend visiting the Niepoort cellars. I went there a couple of years ago with some friends to do one their tastings (lineup below - excl. some samples from barrel). Very sound bunch in there. They looked after us really well and the tour was spot on too.
Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑10:54 Wed 10 Sep 2025
I won't be in the area in October, but which lodges have you not visited yet? Maybe we can help with suggestions of which ones to go to.
I'm also trying a black glass blind tasting at the Quevedo tasting room on my next trip - that might be a bit of fun!
Hi Alex,
Might visit Quevedo then, someone was quite happy with their recent 72 release, would be nice if they have it by the glass.
We've been to Graham (best experience), Burmester, Kopke, Cálem, Sandeman, Fonseca and Ferreira (in VNDG). I never knew Niepoort had a lodge there so we'll probably visit that at least.
All suggestions are welcome.
I can recommend Churchill who have a lodge halfway up the hill toward Graham. It's got a good view and they were very generous with their pours. Great wines too, including some more unusual options such as 2 different crusted options to compare.
(Staff were great too, very helpful including replacing a glass of one of the vintages that wasn't right).
M.Charlton wrote: ↑12:16 Wed 10 Sep 2025
FWIW I highly recommend visiting the Niepoort cellars. I went there a couple of years ago with some friends to do one their tastings (lineup below - excl. some samples from barrel). Very sound bunch in there. They looked after us really well and the tour was spot on too.
Rummy wrote: ↑12:11 Wed 10 Sep 2025We've been to Graham (best experience), Burmester, Kopke, Cálem, Sandeman, Fonseca and Ferreira (in VNDG). I never knew Niepoort had a lodge there so we'll probably visit that at least.
All suggestions are welcome.
Well definitely Niepoort, that’s a really special visit. I also love the tour around Ramos Pinto’s big house on the waterfront (and the wines available by the glass in the tasting room). Cockburn is also a good visit (just above Niepoort) and Poças are worth the walk up the hill.
I’m guessing your visit to Kopke was to their tasting room on the waterfront. It’s now possible to visit the cellars just opposite the Niepoort Lodge.
And, of course, there’s Garrafeira Nacional on Rua das Flores with their wines by the glass…
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
Thank you for the replies up till now. I've contacted Niepoort for he masterclass and will be visiting a few more of your suggestions to explore the btg options.
The suggestions you've received are very good, but I would highly recommend Pocas. They have great Colheitas and TWAIOA. They also brought out a 1994 LBV which was simply excellent.
Edit: I see Alex already recommended Pocas, so I second that motion.
Mike J. W. wrote: ↑23:41 Thu 11 Sep 2025
The suggestions you've received are very good, but I would highly recommend Pocas. They have great Colheitas and TWAIOA. They also brought out a 1994 LBV which was simply excellent.
Edit: I see Alex already recommended Pocas, so I second that motion.
Will definitely add that to my list then. Also booked a diner at Casa de Chá da Boa Nova: so most of the trip is planned by now .
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