If you're visiting Portugal, one of the must-dos is a wine tour. Portugal is a world-renowned wine country and one the best wine travel destinations in the world, so don't leave our country without experiencing a wine-tasting tour.
Sure if you're not used to wine tastings or you're not a connoisseur, it can be a little bit intimidating. You'll wonder if the guides will use a lot of technical wine vocabulary or whether there are people in your group who know every little bit of information that is to know about wine. But don't worry if you're not a master in wine flavors and varietals, you can still enjoy - most of the time, even more! - your wine experience.
Don't be afraid to ask. Guided tours are exactly the place where you can question and learn more about wine-making and how to taste wine. You may not identify every flavor and technical characteristic of the wine, but you will know if you enjoy it or not. And if you do, ask more about that wine, variety, and process. Whether you're on a tour with a guide or at a farm with the actual owners and wine producers, everyone will be pleased to share their knowledge with you. After all, it is their passion, and everyone loves to discuss and talk about what they enjoy. So don't be shy, everyone will appreciate your interest.
If you like a wine that you taste, after some tastings you won't know anymore which wine was that made you crave more. So if you want to go home and order that favorite wine at a restaurant (or avoid the ones you didn't like) take some little notes so that you won't forget what pleased you the most.
Asking questions to the local guides and producers is not only important for the tour but also for other activities, you can do nearby. Use their knowledge of the region to ask for recommendations for having a great meal. The best way to enjoy a sip of wine is with delicious food. So if you're tour doesn't include regional food tastings, lunch, or dinner, they will recommend the best restaurants in the region.
If you're planning to have many visits in one day, make sure there is a certain time gap between them. Wine tasting can be very fun and it's an activity where you should take your time to enjoy and not simply rush from one winery to the other. You will also find very friendly guides, winemakers, and farm owners who will engage in happy conversations about wine and their products, so expect a visit to last more than an hour.
Don't just stick to the wines you already know. Since you're at a winery, try some new, unfamiliar flavors and varietals. If you stick to the grapes you already know and enjoy, maybe you'll be missing out on some amazing regional varieties that you didn't even know existed. If you favor red, take a sip also on the white, if you prefer the sweet ones, don't leave without tasting the drier ones. Don't go home with any regrets because it's probable that you won't be back anytime soon (but we hope you do!).
Don't eat or drink something beforehand that might interfere with your taste or smell. Coffee, fruity or mint chewing gum or candy will interfere with your palate and you won't make the most out of your tasting. The same happens with heavy sweet perfumes, cigars, or cigarettes. So please avoid using strong perfumes and smoking before you go to a tasting so that you won't ruin your experience not only for you but for the other people in the room.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes so that you can stroll through the vineyards without getting your feet dusty or dealing with a stingy pain or your toe. If the tour is in the open sky, the odds are that you will spend some time under the sun, so bring along a hat and sunglasses.
If you're taking children with you, find out some other activity for them to do like playing with animals or food workshops, so that the children don't get bored and ruin your wine experience. Forget that if you know your child is interested in the wine-making process. Maybe he or she will become a great wine producer in the future!
Don't feel pressured to buy a bottle but at least show some interest. But if you do buy a bottle (or two, or more), don't leave it in a hot car for the day, even if you carefully keep it in the trunk. We recommend you buy a wine case beforehand so that the wine will be more protected from the heat and so that you won't deal with bottles rattling around in your car. Ask the producers or guides to recommend a case or a way to cool your bottles in the car.
If your tasting doesn't include transportation, make sure you hire a driver or a taxi. Chances are you will taste many types of wine and those little sips can add up to an amount. If you're not staying at the hotel or farm where the winery is, they are happy to provide you with transportation to and from your hotel. If you're driving your own or rented car, be sure to pour out or spit once you have had too many tastings.
But the main piece of advice is: enjoy your wine tour in Portugal! See our suggested wineries, vineyards, and tastings in Portugal, and just have fun.