PORTUGAL Road Trip: The Douro Valley
After one night in Porto, we're heading out to the Douro Valley for a one-night stay in a beautiful quinta — a rustic farmhouse in the hills of the Douro Valley.
About a 1.5-hour drive from Porto — half on a proper highway, half through narrow, steep and winding mountainous roads — we've opted to stay at a quinta in Lamego, close to Peso da Regua.
After a slight mishap with the GPS (where it guided us onto a tiny stone road that dead-ended on to what seemed like a cliff, where Manon had to get out of the car and guide me as I attempted many, many times to reverse back up without going over the edge), we made it to our home for the night, Quinta da Marrocos.
QUINTA DA MARROCOS
There's many quintas that you can find in the area, and most folks just make it a day trip and visit a few in a few hours, but this one caught my eye. This 17th-century house is one of the oldest in valley and has maintained its own production of local fruits, olive oil, and port wines for over four generations. Decorated in a quaint country style with family antiques, the owner and his daughters welcomed us into their beautiful home and showed us the grounds, the vineyards, taught us all about wine production and daily life in the Douro Valley.
We stayed in the main house, in a charming room (shared bathroom though at the end of the hall), had a tour of the place, got served a delicious dinner in a dining room with stunning views of the valley, sampled at least 10 different port wines, stayed up till 3 am drinking and talking on the terrace, then had a copious breakfast the next morning in the old family kitchen with at least 8 different homemade jams and fresh baked bread.
In short, we had a terrific time and definitely one of the best memories of Portugal!
On our way to our Quinta for the night, couldn't help pulling over to take in these views
Snaps of the Douro Valley
After a slight misdirection from the GPS, finally arrived at Quinta de Marrocos (view from the terrace)
Snaps of this beautiful little Quinta in Lamego
Views from the terrace looking towards Peso da Régua
Watching boats go by on the Douro River
View directly across from our terrace
Time to walk around the grounds of Quinta de Marrocos
There's the terrace that will soon be our drinking spot for the night
Our host, Caesar (and his dog), showing us around
Plenty of beautiful paths to explore
Time for a nice homemade dinner
So incredibly good!
They also make their own olive oil here, which we slathered on everything
Walking around the cellar
Getting a tour of the port wine making process
Cool wax tops
It's tasting time — my favourite time!
I've discovered that I kind of like white port
But now I'm ready for that 20 year old tawny please
I think we were only supposed to taste kinds, but by the time we were done, it was more like 10 different kinds
Morning view of the Douro Valley
A few of the decorative details in this charming Quinta
Loving this drink cart
More details — love this place!
Time for breakfast in this farmhouse style kitchen
Feels so homey
Time to leave and head back to Porto
But not before stopping in Peso da Régua to snap a few pics
Peso da Régua
Last views of the valley
So incredibly beautiful
Goodbye Douro Valley
Photos taken | written by JENNIFER MAHON
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