Douro Valley

"The sublime Douro. The prodigy of a landscape that ceases to be so by dint of being out of measure. It is not a panorama that the eyes contemplate: it is an excess of nature … A geological poem. Absolute beauty." Miguel Torga in "Diário XII"

 Visiting the Douro Valley in just one day is a challenge in itself. I designed this experience favoring an intimate and authentic contact with nature, the people and the traditions of the region. Throughout the day, wines, flavors and unique landscapes will walk with us side by side. On the roads that wind through the mountains, on the train tracks that kiss the banks of the river and finally by boat crossing the reflection of the terraces in the calm waters of the river. We leave Porto towards Régua, during the trip, in addition to getting to know each other better, we have time to talk about Porto and the Douro Valley, its history, the people and their traditions. Arrived in the city of Régua, time for a light walk before boarding the train for about 20 km of the mythical Douro railway line, a peaceful journey along the banks of the Douro river that offers a unique perspective of the villages, vineyards and farms where Port Wine is grown to the mouth of the Tua River.

Now we arrive at the heart of the Douro, leaving the overcrowded tourist routes behind and delving into virgin land … Where the Tua and Douro rivers meet, it's time to sharpen your palate! We start tasting Douro wines and olive oils, and because the landscape is breathtaking, it's time to spread out your towel for lunch, taste the wines and taste the regional snacks. Take a breath, the journey is still halfway through… After lunch, we start by visiting a local winery and getting to know in detail the process of producing Douro wines. During the rest of the afternoon we travel along a route between the Douro and Tua river valleys, cross the terraces and vineyards, contemplate the landscape from the various viewpoints in the region, visit the castle of Ansiães (five thousand years old), the church of Lavandeira and the its decorative frescoes among other places where history and tradition are very evident. At the end of the day, we go down to the Douro again to visit a traditional farm, have a light snack, with a tasting of local cheeses and jams, and taste a Generoso Wine (fortified wine made by locals), before embarking on a boat trip in the Douro and get to know, from a different perspective, the iconic Quinta do Vesúvio and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira where "Dow's Vintage Porto" was born, the best wine in the world in 2011, according to Wine Spectator magazine. The journey is long and following the Douro tradition... before returning to Porto, we have dinner at "Taberna da Helena", an old haystack recovered with a terrace and beautiful views of the plateau, it is time to taste the traditional dishes of the region.