Long considered a destination for port wine, Douro Valley is quickly becoming a destination for wine lovers alike. Having traveled there this summer, here are my top picks for winery visits in the region.
If you want to taste the best table wines the Douro region has to offer, head straight to Wine & Soul. Started in 2001 by husband and wife winemaker couple Sandra Tavares da Silva and Jorge Serôdio Borges, Wine & Soul is widely regarded as a leader in bringing high-quality table wine to the region.
Wine & Soul offers a tour followed by a few different tasting options, and we chose one that includes their full wine lineup as well as a cheese and charcuterie spread, which I’d highly recommend. Their top tier wine, Pintas, was excellent, but we also thoroughly enjoyed their second tier “Character” Pintas, which was bursting with black fruit and elegant tannins and ready to drink now.
Quinta Nova is another must stop for wine-lovers and view-lovers alike. Sitting high above the Douro, Quinta Nova serves as both a winery as well as a beautiful hotel. The tasting room offers a range of tastings to be enjoyed either inside or on the terrace overlooking the winding valley. We opted for the Robert Parker tasting, which includes not only two Reservas but a taste of their acclaimed Mirabilis, as well as an incredible vintage port that could convert even the biggest of port-skeptics. While their rosé is not included on any tasting flight, it’s well worth it to pick up a bottle (or ten) for the road.
On the other side of the river sits Quinta da Côrte, a magnificent property acquired in 2013 by Philippe Austruy, the owner of Commanderie de Peyrassol in Côtes de Provence and the Château Malescasse in Haut-Médoc. The main winery building is a modern masterpiece, with picture frame floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the valley. Both their Reservas and The Princesa wines are well worth a taste, but their succulent ports were showstoppers. Da Côrte also serves as a small hotel.
For what may be the most beautiful tasting “room” in the Douro, look to Quinta do Pôpa, where the views are as intoxicating as the wines. Both the outdoor tasting room and other outdoor seating areas are the perfect spots to take in the out of this world views. The wine lineup was also very impressive with lots of bold reds and interesting whites to sample.
Finally, for an all-around fun stop, pass by the Pacheca farm, where you can taste wines, ports, and take in the beautiful atmosphere and barrel-shaped hotel rooms.
These are just a few of my top picks; of course if you’re interested in doing port tastings these Quintas are still good places to go, but you’ll probably also want to search out some more port-specific spots. If you have any other Douro recommendations or questions, please leave them below!
Wine Levine 