The Douro Valley wine region in northern Portugal is a stunningly beautiful landscape of steep mountains traversed by rows of grapes dotted with olive trees. A wide river runs through the canyon, once used to transport barrels of Port to Vila Nova de Gaia for aging. The region feels a world away from the city, but you can easily take a day trip to the Douro Valley Wine Region from Porto to visit wineries, take a river tour, and enjoy the scenery.
After spending a day wandering around Porto, we took a guided day trip to Douro Valley that included transportation right from our hotel, a river boat tour, plenty of Port and wine, plus lunch. It was well worth the price! But if you prefer to DIY a day trip, a train stops right in the heart of Douro near several Port producers and even a hotel.
Once you’re there, here’s what to do in Douro Valley.
What to Do on a Day Trip to Douro Valley
Tour a Port Vineyard
Our first stop was a tour of Quinta da Roêda, well-known Port producer Croft’s flagship vineyard estate in Pinhão. Located in the heart of the Douro Valley, the estate overlooks the river to one side and is backed up by mountains on the other.
Since it was February, the grapevines were dormant (but still beautiful) and the weather was nice enough for a light jacket. But the region experiences intense heat — up to 120° Fahrenheit in the summer! — so it’s not a place you want to volunteer to help with harvest! Even though it’d be tempting; in the Fall, Croft invites visitors to stomp on the grapes with their bare feet!
After touring Quinta da Roêda, we enjoyed a tasting of three types of Croft Port: Reserve, Tawny 10 year, and Pink. (More about Port and its different categories coming up.)
Cruise the Douro River in a Rabelo
Next we toured the Douro River on a rabelo, a traditional boat used to transport Port casks to the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia for aging. (P.S. Touring the Port cellars in Porto is a must!) Used since the 10th Century, these Portuguese cargo boats are found nowhere else in the world. The shallow, wooden boats have flat bottoms to navigate the shallow, fast-flowing river while full of Port casks. But that doesn’t mean they never had accidents. The casks were never entirely filled so they would float if the boat capsized. Casks were known to make it down the river sans boat! (Today trucks safely transport the Port barrels to Vila Nova de Gaia.)
Grapevines line the entire river, marked with huge signs displaying which Port brands own each vineyard. Many of the brands have English names, not Portuguese. In the 1700s, Port’s popularity in England inspired many British companies to get involved with the production and shipping of Port. Today many popular brands still reflect the English influence (like Taylor’s, Graham’s, Sandeman, Croft).
Drink Wine (Other Than Port)
But Port isn’t the only wine produced in the Douro Valley. The Douro wine region is the oldest demarcated wine growing region in the world, established in 1756. And in 2001 it became the first wine growing region recognized as a Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO. A variety of grapes grow in the region, producing red, white, and rosé wines. Portugal has some of the best wines in the world, but most aren’t exported to the United States so Americans hardly know about them. So don’t pass up the opportunity to taste other wines the Douro Valley has to offer. (And take some home, if you can!)
After our river boat tour we continued onto Vintage Theory, a boutique winery and bed & breakfast in nearby Sabrosa. The famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan grew up in Sobrosa in the late 1400s and his childhood home still stands nearby. There we had a three-course wine pairing lunch featuring pork and risotto, finishing with walnut cheesecake.
Taste All the Flavors of the Region
The Douro Valley produces more than just wine. Also home to the region are olive and almond trees, producing olives, olive oil, and almonds. Our final stop on our day trip to Douro Valley from Porto was Quinta dos Castelares winery. The boutique winery dates to the 1600s and uses ancestral farming techniques to preserve the environment and its history. Like many wineries in the region, grapes are still harvested by hand.
We tasted Quinta dos Castelares’ red, white, and rosé wine while also trying their local olive oil. With some pepper notes and a slightly bitter taste, Castelares Olive Oil was so delicious we bought some to take home! Then we tasted their honey, Mel Santa Maria, and had to take some Heather Honey home, too. We finished with a final glass of wine overlooking the vineyards and the owner brought out almonds (still in their shell) for us to munch on. It was a perfect way to end our day.
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Now that I’ve taken a day trip to the Douro Valley, next time I’d like to stay in the region for a few days. It was so beautiful and everything so delicious, that it’d be the perfect place to relax and take it all in.
Related :: Touring Sandeman Cellars in Porto, What to Eat in Portugal, and A Day Trip to Évora from Lisbon
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