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.

1. 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 do Bomfim PInhão, 5085-060 Pinhão, Alijo, Portugal +351 254 730 370

Douro landscape © Pixabay

2. 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.

Rua do Relógio do Sol, 261 Cambres, 5100-424 Lamego, Portugal +351 254 313 228

Alto Douro Vinhateiro – Zona de Pinhão © Concierge.2C / Wikimedia Commons

3. 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 das Carvalhas, 5085-034 Pinhão, Portugal +351 254 738 050

5. 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.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.