2021 is fastly approaching and so it's time to make new plans and prepare a memorable trip for a year that will definitely count, especially after the current that we are living in.
While there are many cities that make it worthwhile visiting during the hotter months, Porto offers a wide range of activities and attractions, showing its magical and enchanting side also during the colder months.
One of the best activities to do during a trip to Porto is to have a wonderful guided tour to the Port wine cellars and taste the famous Port wine (a sweet fortified wine from the Douro region). At the same time, you will get the chance to enjoy some chocolate and some cheese with your Port. So what could be better to do in Porto than to warm up in the most renowned wine lodges, tasting the delicious Port wines? If you are not sure which Port wine tours to do and which cellars to visit, we selected some of the best wine tours for you:
If you prefer a more traditional Port Wine Tour, then start your tour at Real Companhia Velha, a place filled with stories in an atmosphere with more than 257 years of history and one that will definitely take you back in time. In this cellar, we recommend the VintageTour. This guided tour consists of the century-old Cellar, which begins with a video that portrays the wine production from the Douro to Gaia. The tour follows through the main aging cellar, with a stop at the "Vintage Museum" and finishing with a unique Port tasting at the heart of our historic aging cellars. For the tasting, there will be a selection of four Classic Vintage Ports paired with Maturated cheeses
Just a few steps further you will find Caves Offley, one of the most prestigious estates in premium Port wine production. Here we recommend the Offley Reserve Visit, including a guided tour through the cellars with a tasting of three Offley Porto Wines. Please note that this year this winery is under renovations and will open again in 2021.
Start your day at the riverside in Vila Nova de Gaia, with a breathtaking view over the Ribeira and the beautiful cascade of colored buildings. Visit Caves Sandeman for a 1790 Tour. This guided tour starts at the Sandeman Museum and ends with a wine tasting of Porto Wines in "The 1790" room. Sandeman is of the most emblematic Port wine cellars, characterized by the figure of the mysterious Don, the man with the cape.
Just a few minutes away you will find Caves Ferreira, one of the most well-known names and one of its most charismatic and legendary figures in the Port wine industry: Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira. Here you can take a guided tour of the cellars with a tasting of three Douro PDO Wines from Casa Ferreirinha, the producer of the famous "Barca Velha". here we recommend the Dona Antónia Visit, a private tour to the "Hall of Belongings of D. Antonia" and Ferreirinha Museum, and a commented wine tasting of five Port Wines Ferreirinha in the "Old Bar", a tasting room of the 19th century.
The Cockburn’s cellars are the most extensive in the historic quarter of Vila Nova de Gaia, facing the twin city of Porto across the Douro River. The sturdy granite walls of the Cockburn’s lodge house 6,518 seasoned oak barrels of maturing Port since 1815. At Cockburn’s lodge you will experience a comprehensive visitor center that provides an authentic experience of a fully working Port Cellar. Here, after the museum tour, you will enjoy some of the most exclusive Ports either in the cozy terrace, filled with vines, creating a magical atmosphere, or in the tasting rooms where the guided tasting takes place. And what a better way to end this experience than to take home your favorite Port?
End your tour and your day at Espaço Porto Cruz, a modern multimedia place where you will be able to interactively learn about the history of the Port wine and taste one of the best wine pairings: wine and cheese, where you will have the opportunity to taste five Porto and Dalva wines and five different kinds of cheese and enjoy a beautiful sunset on the rooftop.
At the end of your tours, you can always stop at the Wine Shop at the different cellars for some incredible gifts for your wine and food lovers' friends. After all, Port wine is one of the most classy and elegant gifts anyone can offer and receive, pairing perfectly with regional delicacies desserts, and celebrations.
While in Vila Nova de Gaia, near the Port Wine Cellars, you can stay for lunch at DeCastro Gaia, the restaurant at Espaço Porto Cruz, an innovative place for tasting the Portuguese flavors under the guidance of renowned Chef Miguel Castro Silva, paired with an excellent wine list. If you prefer, you can book dinner instead, finishing your day with the orange colors of Porto's sunset covering the Douro with golden hues.
Why book now your 2020 or 2021 tour? Because by booking all your tours with us you will have flexibility in the future, plus an acquired "Clean and Safe" seal. Through these unique times, we are available to plan, reschedule, and move your trip around your needs, as always. If your new dates may no longer work with your initial travel plan, a dedicated consultant will be available to tailor and reschedule your time in Portugal according to your needs and preferences, and to assure you that you will have the best and most memorable experiences.