The Best Wine Tasting Spots In Alto Douro Porto

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and producer of one of Portugal’s largest exports, Alto Douro must be included when planning a trip to Portugal’s green, rolling north. Here are a few spots to sample quality wine and enjoy the country’s most beautiful landscapes.

Quinta do Bomfim

This family-run farm is one of many owned by the Symington Family Estates. Relatively new, it will be turning two years old in May 2017; it is located in a beautiful, sleepy town called Pinhão. The estate, or quinta, allows self-guided tours through the vineyards, picnicking, and of course, wine tasting. It has been recognized by Wine Spectator, for its excellent Port wines, and the publication named their Dow’s 2011 Vintage Port as the No.1 wine in the world in 2014.

Quinta da Pacheca

Here there’s more to do than simple wine tasting. You can also learn about the viticulture process and enjoy the vineyard grounds. At Quinta da Pacheca, there’s plenty on offer, including a simple tasting, pairing with jam and cheese or even a picnic. Visitors can also book a cookery workshop and rent bicycles to tour the estate.

Quinta das Carvalhas

This vineyard belongs to Real Companhia Velha and has a cellar in Porto that should be a stop on any wine-lover’s agenda. The views are spectacular and take in the Douro and the Torto rivers, as well as the delightful rolling, green landscape. Finding views that beat the Quinta das Carvalhas’ may be hard due to the estates size; it is one of the largest quintas in the area and so has plenty of vantage points.

Quinta da Roêda

They say that wine gets better with age, so the oldest, continuously-running Port wine producer in Portugal must be worth visiting. The land, owned by Croft, produces one of the more popular brands of Vintage Port wine. Like most of the other vineyards on this list, Quinta da Roêda is located in the heart of the Douro Region, near Pinhão.

Adega Cooperativa de Favaios

Wine Bar, Pub, Pub Grub, Portuguese

This last spot is a bit off the beaten track. The village of Favaios lies north of the Douro River, a distance from the other vineyards on this list. Farmers from the Favaios region have formed a cooperative to market and sell the Favaios Moscatel wines, in addition to other varieties (including Port). At the Cooperativa, visitors can learn more about the location’s history and the wines produced.

About the author

Nina Santos

Nina is a Portuguese-American writer living in Lisbon. She spends all of her time exploring and sharing the amazing things that Portugal has to offer.