Beyond the Douro: An Alternative North Portugal Wine Tour

Adrian Bridge is the picture of an English gentleman, yet his influence on the North’s wine industry is undeniable. As chief executive of the Fladgate Partnership, Bridge presides over the port brands Croft, Taylor’s and Fonseca, as well as multiple restaurants and the World of Wine (see below). The Yeatman is the crown jewel of Bridge’s wine empire: a five-star Porto hotel where every room is dedicated to a different Portuguese vintage. A cloud-like mattress topper, tufted headboard and nine-strong pillow menu inform you that you’ve landed in the lap of luxury. Breakfast combines creamy pastéis de nata – the iconic Portuguese dessert – with healthier options such as Bircher muesli, while spa facilities include a gym, sauna and hammam. Views over Porto – visible from every room, as well as from the infinity pool – are the best in town.

A relatively new addition to the city, World of Wine is yet another Adrian Bridge brainchild – a sprawling complex of six interactive museums, 10 restaurants, a wine academy, cookery school and shops, all in the historic Vila Nova de Gaia region. It’s almost comically literal in places – the Wine Experience exhibit lets you step inside a giant grape, while the Pink Palace is an homage to all things rosé. It’s tempered, however, by Bridge’s immense knowledge and respect for the region. If you can, squeeze in a tasting at the Wine School – but know that some sessions are conducted in Portuguese.

Foremost in the rehabilitation of Vinho Verde’s reputation is the Hotel Monverde, which sits among acres of blazing green vines. These act as a baffle against the outside world, with solitary birds the only sound audible from the sun-trap terrace. You won’t want to rush this: spend lunch and dinner here and drink in the view, not to mention several wines. The hotel’s 30 rooms are understandably popular with wedding parties, so book well in advance.

Monverde produces 23 wines across reds, whites and rosés. The vineyard champions sustainable practices, turning unused grapes into fertiliser to grow the new crop. Guests can try the Wine Lover wine-blending experience or indulge in one of several tour and wellness packages, many of them tailored to couples. Book a five-wine tasting to discover the best of the crop – from citrusy Louveiro to inky Vinhão via minty Alvarinho and sparkling Touriga Nacional rosé. They’re wonderful alone, but the platter of bite-sized accompaniments – including cheeses, chutneys and chocolates – really makes them sing.

Lunch and dinner are served in the dining room – below the installation of 366 wooden vine leaves, each representing one working day on the vineyard (with an extra day for leap years). Meals resemble a large-scale pairing menu, curated to set off the fresh flavours of the region. Think duck confit with fig chutney, sea bass with razor clams, and chocolate-coated lychee. It’s all supported by artisan breads made in a local bakery and finished on site.

Rustic Valpaços is the last place you’d expect to find Casa do Vinho, a high-tech interactive exhibition on the Trás-os-Montes wine industry. The displays – in Portuguese at the time of writing, but with an English translation imminent – dive deep into the history and process of local wine production. Scoop up wine, almonds, olives and honey at the well-stocked gift shop.

The countryside around Valpaços could not be more different to Porto’s buzz: tipsy cork trees line the roads, their bark scraped clean by enterprising locals; months-old oak trees spring from the ground like asparagus. It’s here that you’ll find some of the world’s oldest wine presses carved into the hillside, dating from Roman times. Contact a local tour operator such as Detours to taste the fruity Calcatorium wine made in these very presses, using traditional methods. Pour out a glass and toast the winemakers of old.