Douro River Valley Exploration .... Drinking

The drive to the Douro Valley was beautiful and the N222 road is considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world - we agree!

Our drive to Pinhao, where our winery hotel was located, took us through several towns including the beautiful medieval city of Guimaraes - considered the birthplace of Portugal because the first king of Portugal - Alfonso Henriques was born there 1109. Guimarares was a Roman village.

monastery founded by King Alfonso Henriques

  

roman era buildings

support for Ukraine on town balconies

Amarante riverbank

Then we  stopped in the small town of  Amarante where, at this bridge, the town held off the Napoleonic army. We picnicked on the riverbank.

 The Douro River is the central thread through the wine valleys along the river. Some homes, but mostly wineries show up between small towns.

We hired a driver who took us on a wonderful day of tastings at Vallado and Douro Pacheca wineries, with a stop in Lamego for light lunch and to see the famous steps.

Turk had to stop to pic oranges

bottles at Vallado winery

checking out the quinta (farm)

really nice tasting experience

view of the steps from top with church behind us

Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios church

686 steps from church to the town below

really delicious chacuterie of local cheeses, meats, wine

Douro Pacheca winery patio-too much wine?

barrel hotel rooms in winery

views of grapevines

We had a multicourse dinner with paired wines at a restaurant on the Douro River. Lovely!

ready for dinner

our view of the river and Pinhao bridge

a fish thingy

our winery hotel

moon over our dinner table at hotel

view from our room of Douro R and wineries

Sunset cruise on the Douro was relaxing, beautiful, tasty. Boats captain also owned family winery on the Douro. What a life.

our view as we pull out of the marina

cheers!

Turk is happy

bridge with winery above

our captain and wine steward

another winery-Croft port, now owned by Taylor