Porto, Portugal and Port wines are inextricably linked. Port, a fortified wine is made from wines grown in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal.
While in Portugal, exploring the local and authentic dishes, we could not miss Port wines and Port Tasting in Porto.
Our quest took us from Lisbon to Porto (Oporto in English), Portugal’s second largest city, to explore this famous wine.
For context, we are novice port drinkers. Besides red ruby port, which we occasionally had growing up, we didn’t know much more.
In Porto, we took port wine tours, visited wineries, sampled port at wine tastings, all aimed at uncovering the magic of this world famous drink.
Join us for a fascinating discovery of port and port tasting in Porto, Portugal.
Table of Contents
Port Tasting at Porto Wine Institute
Learning About Port Wines
Dedicated to the important role of Port wine in the city and beyond, the Douro and Porto Wine Institute (Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto) is a great place to start your exploration.
Museum entrance at Porto Wine InstituteThe institute features a small museum with a detailed exhibition about how Port wines are made. Starting with the grapes used to the different varieties and colors of port wines, this is wonderful introduction to Port wines.
The different shades of Port WinesThe Different Port Wines
There is a lot to Port wines, and we are certainly not experts. Here is a brief primer of the four main categories and subcategories of Port wines.
Ruby Ports, are named for their distinct ruby color. These are young, approachable wines with fresh, fruit-filled aromas. Within this category, you have Ruby Reserve, Late Bottle Vintage or LBV and Vintage Port.
Tawny Ports, are typically a blend of older vintage wines. These ports spend more time in oak barrels and the colors range from ruby red to more ruby-orange or “brick red,” as they mature. In this group, you’ll find 10, 20, 30 or 40 Year Tawny Ports. One delicious Tawny we enjoyed was the Colheita. This is a Tawny from a single vintage.
White Ports, are made from white grapes and come in made in very dry to semi-sweet styles. The wine is typically fruity and often used to make the popular Port Tonic, which is “Port and Tonic” on the rocks.
Rosé Port, is one of the lightest Port wines and like White Port, it is a younger Port. It made from red grapes which undergo a light maceration to keep the color, tannins, and flavors. It can also be used in cocktails.
For an in-depth guide to Port, get the book Port Wines, Rich, Rare & Red: A Guide to Port by Ben Hawkins.
Port Wine Institute Porto Tasting
No visit would be complete without a wine tasting of port wines. As such, the institute offers tastings of different varieties of port wines.
For a small fee of about €1.50 euros per glass, you can sample high-quality Ruby, Tawny’s, Reserve and Vintage ports wines.
If you’re lucky enough to go there on a Thursday evening, the institute’s port maker will whip you up a port cocktail.
Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto
Address: Rua de Ferreira Borges 27, Porto.
Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Prices: Museum is free. Port tasting range from €1.20 euros to €9.90 euros. Count on about €1.50 euros per glass on average.
Pick and choose port wines for tastings A Little More About Port Wines and How Is It Made
Port is wine, made exclusively in Portugal’s Douro Valley and is heavily regulated by the Port Wine Institute.
The grapes used are native to Portugal and include red grapes such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão.
Like any red wine, Port starts out the same. The grapes are crushed and fermented. Then the yeast converts the grapes’ natural sugar into alcohol.
With port, however, aguardente (sometimes referred to as “brandy”) is added to the red wine. This stops the fermentation process and increases the alcohol content to about 20%.
For more about Port, check out this fascinating article, the 10 minute guide to Port, which goes into more detail about this famous fortified wine.
Aguardente for drinking, also known as "burning water"Authentic Food Quest Recommend: To learn more about Port wines, how they are made as well as discover the Port wine institute we recommend taking a wine tour in Porto. This Porto food and wine walking tour combines the history of port wine and the cuisine of Porto.
Port Tasting Porto: the Port Wine Cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia, situated across the Douro River from Porto is the home of the historic Port lodges and wine producers. You’ll find more than 60 port wine lodges.
Despite the name, Port wines are not housed in Porto but in Vila Nova de Gaia, commonly referred to “Gaia” by locals.
The reason the port wines are found in Gaia is due to an interesting twist between religion and politics.
Story has it that in the 13th century, the church was the only institution to benefit from taxes on trade in Porto.
The King then gave authorization to Port Wines makers to escape this tax by moving across the Douro River to Vila Nova de Gaia instead. This was much to the dismay of the church.
Vila Nova de Gaia is also an ideal location for aging port wines. The climate on the north bank of the river is milder, providing better conditions to store the port in the cellars.
From Porto, walk across the magnificent Dom Luis I iron bridge on the upper deck reserved for pedestrian and tramways. You will enjoy the amazing views of the Douro river, Gaia, and Porto.
Here are a few wine lodges to consider for a Port cellar visit and wine tastings.
Riverfront in Gaia with views of PortoIf you don’t feel like organizing your own Port tasting at the different Port Wine Cellars, we recommend taking a wine tour in Porto. This Porto half-day food tour will take you to 3 port wine houses in Vila Nova de Gaia where you can enjoy 10 different port wine tastings.
The Oldest Port House – Real Companhia Velha
Real Companhia Velha is the oldest wine company in Portugal. It was founded by the King and the Prime Minister, Marques de Pombal, back in 1756.
It is located further away from the river and tourist attractions in Gaia and offers intimate tours and wine tasting experiences.
When we visited, we were the only ones on the tour. The visit began with a brief video introducing the company and the Douro Valley region, where port wines grapes are grown.
Our knowledgeable guide walked us to the cellars where their Port wines are aged in large and medium barrels.
Grapes come from the Douro Valley where the company owns several wine estates or “Quintas” (in Portuguese).
In the cellars you’ll find a large portrait of the King and the Prime Minister as a reminder of their heritage. The cellars are now family-owned by Portuguese proprietors.
Large vats for aging the Port winesReal Companhia Velha Port Tasting
The visit ended with the tastings of a Lagrima Porto and a Tawny Porto.
The Lagrima is known to be the sweetest of the white porto wines. Its name, “Lagrima” means tears, referring to the tear shape it forms while being poured into a glass. The consistency is slightly thick and the taste really sweet. It’s a great wine to have chilled as an aperitif or as a dessert wine.
The Tawny Porto is aged for four years in oak barrels. While strong, it has dried fruit and nutty flavors. This Tawny Porto is most commonly enjoyed as a digestif or over a dessert at room temperature.
This was our first visit to a port cellar and it made for a friendly and approachable introduction to port wines cellars and the production process.
Address: Rua Azevedo Magalhãe 314, Vila Nova de Gaia.
Tours: Tours offered daily, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Tours offered in multiple languages. Book in advance by calling +351 22 377 51 00. Duration is about 1 hour.
Prices: Tour and tasting Free with the Porto Card. Otherwise tasting starts at €12 euros for 2 wines.
A Lagrima and Tawny Porto for tastingAuthentic Food Quest Tip: To explore the city and make the most of your visit to Porto, we recommend getting a Porto Card. With the Porto Card, the tour and tasting are free at Real Companhia Velha. You can also get a discount on Port tasting at other Port Wine Cellars in Villa de Gaia. A Porto Card is an official city pass that offers benefits and discounts for over 170 attractions and cultural sites in Porto and the region.
Read more about how to make the best of your Porto visit with the Porto Card.
The Most Accessible Port House on the Douro River – Cálem
Cálem, located right across the Douro river is a popular destination for visitors. Cálem offers well-organized tours for a maximum of 40 people, in different languages. Don’t expect an intimate tour experience here.
However, Cálem has a small and interactive museum that details the Port winemaking process. It is worth spending time here before the tour starts.
On the tour, the guide walked the group through the wine cellars and using video and audio support, recreated the wine making experience. This was very well done and worked even for a large group. The final stop was the vast tasting room near the cellars.
Interactive display at the museumCálem Port Tasting
In the large tasting room, glasses and bottles were laid out on a large table to accommodate our group of about 25 people. We tasted two different Cálem Ports. A Fine White Porto and a Tawny Porto Special Reserve.
The Fine White Porto was smooth and sweet though not as sweet as the Lagrima Port. This is the kind of wine that goes well with fruit-based desserts.
The Tawny Porto, on the other hand, was strong and tasted closer to cognac with a much higher level of sweetness.
Address: Av. de Diogo Leite 344, Vila Nova de Gaia.
Tours: Tours offered in multiple languages, three tours per hour from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can walk-in and choose a tour in the language of your choice or check hours and book online on the Cálem site. Duration is about 1 hour. Tour and Fado show is available in the evenings at 6:00 pm. Tickets are available online as well.
Prices: Tour and port tasting start at €13 euros for 2 Port wines.
Tasting Fine white Port and Tawny Reserve at CalemEspaco Porto Cruz for an Interactive Port Experience
The Port Cruz Space in Gaia is a multimedia center that offers different ways to experience Port wines and the region.
Through a combination of art and interactive presentations, this is a great place to introduce visitors to the wines and region.
In the tasting area on the first floor, you can sample different Port wines and pair them with cheese or charcuterie.
The second floor has a fantastic 360 virtual reality tour of the Douro Valley and as well as a variety of audiovisual resources. There is also an art exhibition space as well as a tasting room.
The Porto Cruz Space also has a restaurant that is only open for lunch in the Summer months.
On the rooftop deck, you can enjoy amazing views of Porto and the Douro River while having lunch or enjoying drinks and snacks in the afternoon.
Experiencing the 360 virtual reality tour at Porto Cruz SpacePorto Cruz Port Tasting
After visiting the second floor, we made our way back down to taste a Porto Rosé and a Porto Tawny.
The Rosé was round, sweet and fruity, making it an easy wine to drink.
The Porto Tawny was full bodied, with notes of berry and plum fruits. It is said to be best served slightly chilled and with rich desserts.
Address: Largo Miguel Bombarda 23, Vila Nova de Gaia.
Tours: The Espaco Porto Cruz is open for visit Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Porto Cruz has the latest hours, especially off season. We recommend to get there once you have finished with the other cellars visits.
Prices: Port tastings start at €7.5 euros or you can have a glass of Port starting at €3 euros. We ended up having a free Port tasting with our Porto Card although the original offer was for a Port cocktail.
A surprising Rosé Port and Tawny for tastingRelated: If you are looking to stay a few days in Porto read our article on where to stay in Porto for food lovers.
Douro Valley – Where the Grapes Come From
After exploring the wine cellars and tasting rooms in Gaia and Porto, we went further north to the Douro Valley, to see the vineyards that produce this famous Port wine.
A Unesco World Heritage Site, Douro Valley, is the first demarcated and regulated wine region in the world. In addition to Port wines, this spectacular region also produces excellent DOC Douro Valley wines.
The Douro river, which translates in Portuguese as “of gold”, was used traditionally to transport port wine produced from Douro Valley to the cellars in Porto.
While in the valley, we visited two port wineries to learn more about the making of this fortified wine.
Related: read how to explore the Douro Valley with our guide about the Douro Valley wineries and the Best Wines in Portugal
A beautiful view of the Douro river and vineyardsAuthentic Food Quest Tip: If you don’t want to organize your trip to the Douro Valley, consider taking a Douro Valley wine tour. You get to visit two wineries and sample a variety of Portuguese wines including a Portuguese olive oil tasting. Also included a Douro River cruise in a traditional Portuguese Rabelo boat and a traditional Portuguese lunch.
Port Tasting with Breathtaking Views at Quinta do Seixo – Sandeman
Our first stop was at Sandeman’s Quinta do Seixo vineyard. While Sanderman does have a cellar in Gaia, we haven’t had the chance to visit it as it was closed for renovations at the time of our visit.
George Sandeman, a young Scott, founded the company in 1790. This ancient property is spread out over 99 hectares of vineyard.
A pioneer, Sandeman is the first wine company to mark its name on a cask with a hot iron rod. It is also one of the first wine companies to label and advertise its wines.
Today, Sandeman is recognized for the quality of their wines and the distinctive image of the “Sandeman Don”.
Sandeman wine estate Our tour guide, dressed as the “Sandeman Don” took us around the cellars.
You can see the production process that was used centuries ago and the new machinery that is used today.
Their Port wines are aged in Gaia, where the climate is better suited for aging the wines.
The final stop was the tasting room with magnificent views overlooking the Douro Valley.
Our guide as a Sandeman Don at the tastingSandeman Port Tasting
The tasting included two different Port wines. A White Port wine usually drunk as an aperitif and a Ruby Port, which is typically consumed as a digestif.
We started out with a medium dry white port – Fine White Port, aged for 3 years in oak barrels. Sweet and delicious, the flavors are tropical with hints of citrus.
White Port is commonly used in the Porto Tonic cocktail, which is particularly refreshing in the hot Summer months.
Porto Tonic is made by mixing half white port, half tonic water, two cubes of ice and a slice of lemon.
For the Ruby Port wine, we tasted a Founders Reserve, aged for five years in oak barrels.
With red fruit aromas and chocolate notes, this digestif port wine pairs well with chocolates, red fruits desserts, and cheese.
This was a fascinating tour of one of the most recognizable Port brands in the world.
The overall experience and particularly the tasting room makes this a vineyard worth visiting.
We finished our visit leisurely sipping the port wines while admiring the magnificent views of the Douro Valley.
Address: Tabuaço, Douro Valley.
Tours: Tours offered daily 10:30 am – 5:30 pm. Check hours and book in advance online on Sandeman website. Duration is about 1 to 2 hours as you can leisurely linger at the tasting room and relish the astonishing views of the Douro Valley.
Prices: Tour and port tasting starts at 13 Euros for 2 Port wines.
Address: Largo Miguel Bombarda, 47, Vila Nova de Gaia
Tours: Tours offered daily, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Tours offered in multiple languages. Check hours and book in advance online on Sandeman website. Duration is about 45 mins. You can also book visits to Ferreira and Offley cellars.
Prices: Tour and port tasting start at €13 euros for 2 Port wines.
Tip: If you’d like to try a 10-year old Sanderman Tawny Port, click to have it delivered to your home.
Tasting at Sandeman with magnificent viewsBoutique Organic Winery – Quinta do Tedo
Located where the Douro and Tedo rivers meet, Quinta do Tedo is a small boutique winery. The property dates back to the 18th century.
It is now co-owned by a Frenchman (of the Bouchard family winemaker in Burgundy), his American wife and a Portuguese winemaker.
This vineyard is fascinating for a number of reasons. First, it is an organic vineyard for both port and red wines. The vineyard started growing organic grapes in 2007. 2011 was their first completely organic harvest.
The vineyard also features a small agrotourism B&B where you can stay and explore the region.
View of the Tedo River from the wineryThis small 14-hectare winery produces 26 different grape varieties and still uses many traditional winemaking processes.
The grapes are harvested by hand, and after destemming, they are crushed by foot. The stomping of grapes process is done by 4 to 6 workers and takes place at night, to control the temperatures in large stone tanks called lagares.
In the oldest part of the winery, we saw the large barrels used for port wines, as well as the wine label bottling process which takes place by hand.
The cellars at Quinta do TedoQuinta do Tedo Port Tasting
For the first time, we got a chance to taste organic port wines. The tasting included three port wines.
We started out with a Rosé port, which is the lightest of the port wines. This was Rosemary’s favorite.
We learned that Rosé port wines are typically drunk chilled and can also be used in sangria or for Porto Tonic cocktail with cinnamon or mint leaves.
The next tasting was an 8-year-old Tawny Porto. Much more complex with fig, peach flavors and caramel notes towards the end. We both enjoyed this Port wine.
The final tasting was a 2011 Quinta do Tedo LBV. It was delicious, slightly fruity with fresh acidity, making it perfectly balanced. This was Claire’s favorite of the three port wines.
Address: Folgosa, Douro Valley.
Tours: Tours offered daily, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Make reservations and book in advance online on Quinta do Tedo website. Duration is about 1 hour.
Prices: Tour and tasting starts at €10 euros for 3 wines.
Port wines at Quinta do Tedo tastingRelated: If you are looking to stay a few days in the Douro Valley read about where to stay in the Douro Valley
In Summary
Learning about Port wines was a completely novel experience. We arrived in Porto as complete Port wine beginners and left with a greater regard for this fortified wine.
Through the port tasting, we had a chance to discover the different types of ports offered in the region. It was amazing to see the differences in colors and the nuances in taste.
Our favorite discoveries were Rosé and White Ports. We also gained a deeper appreciation for aged port wines such as the LBV or 10 year Tawny, which offer more balance and complex aromas.
Port wines offer many endless learning opportunities. We barely scratched the surface.
Regardless of how much you know about port wines, a visit to Porto and the Douro Valley should not be missed.
Have you had Port wine before? Do you like it? Leave your comments below.
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Curious by nature, Rosemary loves exploring new flavors and connecting with locals. She shares her insights and culinary finds from her travels to inspire people to connect local through food.
You cannot just visit Portugal without tasting the wine at Porto. Well, that’s true, and you’re lucky to have experienced it. I have heard a lot about Sandeman Porto and now I am more sure to visit it soon. Your photos have intrigued me much, I must say that.
Thanks Shreya and so glad you enjoyed the article. Indeed, you can’t go to Porto without tasting Porto wines. Cheers
As I don’t drink alcoholic drinks for religious reasons, I can’t really speak to taking a wine-tasting tour. But the half-day gastronomy tour you mentioned sounds like it’s right up my alley! I didn’t used to worry about what I ate when I travelled, but I’ve learned it’s such an amazing cultural (and tasty) experience to enjoy a good food tour.
You are right, the food tour in Porto will give you a well-rounded understanding of the history, culture, and food. Simply skip the alcoholic drinks. Thanks for stopping by.
So excited to stumble on your post about port, a drink I love! I knew a little bit about the different kinds of port, but had no idea there was a Rose Port wine. Time for me to get to Portugal to take a tour and sample all the many kinds of port, I think!
That’s great to hear Claudia. Discovering the different Port Wines is truly an experience. As a Port lover, a trip to Porto should be on your list. Do let us know if you have any questions if you plan a trip soon. Thanks for stopping by.
I loved learning about Port Wine while in Porto. It’s such a beautiful city and I loved exploring the different caves. I did not visit the Wine Institute and regret it, sounds like it was a great experience
No worries, Sherianne. Just another reason to go back to Porto. Like you, we also enjoyed exploring the city. So much to see and do. Hope you get back to Portugal soon. Cheers.
First, let me also admit something.
I have had Port wines many times but did not know it has something to do with Porto or Portugal! 🙂 How ignorant.
I had no idea there are so many different varieties of Port wines. Saving this list, you have mentioned everything in detail. Thanks. We would really want to do some of these tours when we visit Portugal.
BTW, my favorite is white one. 🙂
That’s funny Nisha, yes, Porto does from Portugal and specifically the Douro Valley region. Only Port wines from this region can be called “Porto.” Going there and learning about the wines is pretty fascinating. Glad this article will serve as a resource on your future trip. Agree, we also liked the White Porto and the Rose one as well. Cheers.
I always said I wasn’t a fan of Port wine… until I tasted a good one! It is a lovely drink, even if you don’t appreciate wine in general… which is not my case! 😉 Glad you enjoyed Portugal!
If your travels take you to Porto, definitively explore the various Port cellars. We didn’t know much about Port wines and were very pleased when we found ones we actually liked. Single varietals and Late Bottle Vintages were some of our favorites. As well as cocktails like Porto Tonic with white Port wines. I’m certain you’ll find Port wines you would like in Portugal. Cheers.
I don’t drink, but I would give a taste to say I tried it. Portugal is definitely a place I would love to visit.
Fascinating blog post, so much information! Wow, the only thing I knew about Port wine was that my grandmother drank it every night to “build her blood”. 😀 I also thought Port was favored by my teenage-years friends because it was ‘cheap’, I didn’t realize it has a higher alcohol content ( which most likely had something to do with it)… Interesting that aguardente added to red wine stops the fermentation process and yet increases the alcohol content. I thought the fermentation was what increases alcohol content. I’d love to retrace your steps in Porto, because it sounds like it was quite the eye opener.
Really appreciate your feedback Vanessa, and yes we would certainly recommend exploring Port wines in Porto. Love your grandma’s rationale “builds her blood”…lol. Like your teenage friends, we both had it as kids as well, particularly because it was cheap. Learning more about the wines and how they are made really does a shed new light. Hope your travels take you to Porto soon. Cheers.
So nice that you took those port wine tours, visited wineries, sampled port at wine tastings, that must have taken a lot of time. But, given the fascinating Portuguese people and their tradition, I’m sure you loved it.
Love the idea of the virtual tour at the Porto Cruz Space, would love to see that in person. Such an interesting way to learn about the wine regions.
Thank you Danijela for your feedback. Indeed learning about this Portuguese national treasure in its birthplace is quite exceptional. We did have fun with the VR tour at the Porto Cruz space. This was a first for us and a new way to “take you directly” to the grapes. Thanks for stopping by.
I think this is the wine tasting I did back in Porto in 2007, it sounds like and looks fimiliar the settings in the photo. It was so long a go. But I do remember how good the wines and port were in the region and I think a revisit is needed just for this. 😀
Port tastings are so much in Porto. And if you heading back, Danik, you’ll be sure to find new tastes and appreciations more than 10 years later. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers 🙂
I’m not a huge port drinker but would absolutely love to explore Portugal and experience authentic port. What a wonderful trip!
Thanks, Christa, glad you enjoyed the article. We are also not huge Port fans, but we did find some Port wines we liked and we both gained a new appreciation for this classic Portuguese drink.
Oh my gosh, this looks like heaven! I love port wines but had no idea how many different varieties there are. I really want to do some of these tastings in Portugal.
You are right, learning about the different varieties of Port wines was incredible. Well worth a trip 🙂 Cheers.
We’re planning a trip to Europe next year for our twins 15th birthday and Porto just made my short list! Thanks so much for the tips!
Perfect, Marta. Please do let us know if you need any additional tips as you plan for your Porto trip. Cheers.
Wow, I would love to visit Portugal! I’ll have to remember this post, soooo informative!
Thank you 🙂
Wow they all sound delicious, I’ll have to try them
Hello Rosemary,
This is really very amazing and nice article and I really thanks to you for sharing this enjoyable moment.
Regards,
Kristi
You are most welcome Kristi. So glad you enjoyed the article and discovering more about Port wines in Porto, Portugal!
I really enjoy a good port, especially the deep red ones. This was such a thorough guide to tasting the others! I had no idea that there were white ports as well!
Glad this article resonated with you as a port wine drinker. Indeed, we were just as surprised to discover Rose and White ports as well. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I’m allergic to wine (particularly the sulfites in them) and it’s the saddest thing! I visited Porto and wasn’t able to indulge in Port Wine. But I really enjoyed reading this article! I learned a lot about the different varieties which all look delicious.
So glad you enjoyed the article though. Thanks for stopping by.
Super interesting! I didn’t know much about port but I didn’t think that there would be white and rose ports. I’ve never been to Portugal, but I now will be after reading about these amazing drinks!
So glad you enjoyed the article, Sara. We didn’t know much about Port either and were pleased to discover the white and rose port wines. Thanks for stopping by.
My Uncle lives in Portugal and is always bringing the family Wonderful Port to try when he returns home, I’d sure love to go wine tasting where its actually made though! This is great detailed post that I’ll return to for my next trip to the region 🙂
What a fun uncle who brings you the best of Porto. Do you have a favorite port wine? Glad you enjoyed the article and happy tasting on your next trip to the region.
This looks like the perfect spot for a port tasting. Before reading your post, I didn’t knew there were so many different types of Port! Thanks for the information!
You are most welcome. We didn’t realize there was so much to Port wines, either. Glad you enjoyed the article.
I’d like to consider myself very knowledgeable about French wines (I live in Paris), but I’m totally lost when it comes to Port. Actually, the wine is one of the main reasons I want to visit Portugal. Sad to say I’ve never been. After reading this post, I won’t look like a total novice when sipping on my first Port in Porto.
As a wine drinker, Portugal also has amazing wines. We’ll be covering the wines in a future article. I would highly recommend visiting the Duoro Valley for their incredible red wines 🙂
Well this was a fun post into “portland” I love a good port wine and I enjoyed reading this post. Beth
Thank so much Beth and glad you enjoyed reading the article 🙂
Girls, I’m so envious to you right now. Been to the gym and decided not to go out. This post is not doing me any favours =D I’d love a glass of port wine right now!
Cheers, Anna! Go work out and then treat yourself to a glass of port wine 🙂
Wow, you guys sure did a lot of research! Must have been tough! 😉 I’m glad you did though, because I didn’t really know anything about port wine or that there were different kinds. I can’t wait to visit Portugal and do some wine tasting myself.
Thanks, Vicki, indeed a great “research project” to work on. But, seriously as the most famous drink from Portugal, we had to explore this drink on our quest for authentic food. This was a truly fascinating journey 🙂
I am a teetotaler still loved to read so much info on Porto. Colour of port tells how seriously wine making is taken by people of North Portugal. You have really enriched me with so much knowledge on Calem port, Lagrima Porto, Real Companhia Velha which was founded by king. Could you tell me why brandy is known as Buring Water?
Thank you and so glad you were able to appreciate learning more about Port wines, even as a teetotaler! The brandy is known as Burning Water because of the strength of the alcohol level. We’re talking seriously strong stuff 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
My parents are big port drinkers, and Porto is high on their list. They raved about the port on a recent Europe river cruise, though I don’t believe they took Portugal in. The Douro and Porto Wine Institute sounds like a great place to start a port journey here. It’s fabulous that the experience goes beyond tasting and you can actually learn about the history, cultural significance and how it’s made. And it sounds like some of the port houses are very interactive! Will definitely have to visit a couple of cellar doors. I’m a port beginner too, but I like the sound of Rose port at Quinta do Tedo – will make a note, thanks!
Your parents would love a trip focused on Port wines in Porto! Many of the port wines are not available outside of Portugal and the selection is quite diverse. As novice port drinkers, we were amazed. Indeed for a unique and boutique experience, Quinta do Tedo is a must visit. Appreciate you stopping by, Meg.
I feel wiser after reading your article – honestly I never figured that Port wine was from Porto. Neat articles with lots of explanation, thanks for that! Now I am wine professional!
You are most welcome Veronika. So glad you enjoyed the article. The next step now is to taste some port wines 🙂
I have not tried Port wine before and did not know how it is made. Thanks for the explanation and links. I did not know that there were so many varieties. I think I’d like to tour the port winemakers in the region of Portugal where you visited.
Like you Rhonda, we didn’t know much about Port wines before. Glad you liked learning through our experience. Visiting the winemakers was really fascinating and a great way to understand how port is made! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m not aware that Portugal has its own vineyards. I thought that France is the only European country that grows grapes. I like that view of the sloped vineyards along Tedo River. As a teetotaller, I can’t comment on your experience, sorry.
Thanks for stopping by, even as a teetotaller 🙂 You will find vineyards all over the world and Portugal does have oldest demarcated vineyards in the world.
Porto is really famous for its wines and a wine tour sounds ideal! I love rose wines and I prefer them with almost every meal. I would also love to try Lagrima because I also like sweet wines as dessert. The 360 degree virtual tour of the valley seems also really unique!
Ahhh, the Lagrima…delicate but sweet. Look for it the next time you are buying dessert wines and be prepared for an unforgettable experience.
I have only tried Port Wine a few times, but I think going to the source like you did would be great. I love that you went to the museum and learned all about it first, then visited the wine lodges. The museum at Calem looks nice. The tour group seems too large for my tastes, but it sounds like they still did a good job. Your trip took you full circle all the way to the beginning of the process, which is cool. The “Sandeman Don” dressed guide was a nice touch. Great experience and article.
So glad you enjoyed the article Chris. For port novices like ourselves, we found the best way to explore this famous drink was by approaching it from the different perspectives. We certainly gained a richer appreciation for Port, but we do find too strong! Thanks for stopping by.
There’s nothing like a nice glass of port to sip on in front of a fire on a cold winter’s night. I remember the fuss some years ago when other countries were forced to rename their “port” wines. Now I understand why. I would love to try the Fine White Porto from Cálem Ports.
Sounds like you are a port fan!! In Portugal, port is consumed all the time – aperitif, with dessert and also after dinner. Anytime is a good time for Port wines. If you have a chance to visit Porto, a trip to Calem is highly recommended!! Thanks for stopping by.
Interesting, I had no idea rose and white ports were a thing! My only experience with port has been the ruby ports, which I don’t like so much. Getting out to the Douro Valley seems like the ideal way to get familiar with these wines though — those views are spectacular!
Thanks Carrie. Discovering White and Rose ports were also very new for us. Indeed the Douro Valley is incredible and worth visiting at some point. Cheers