Ports of Call
With viticultural regions stretching from the Algarve up through scenic south-central Alentejo to Lisbon and northwards to Spain, Portuguese wines run the gamut, from refreshing Mateus Rose and Vinho Verde (green wine) to dry reds and whites. Most famous are Port and Madeira, the sweet fortified wines that are key components of Portugal’s global identity.
Port was a 17th-century innovation of British merchants adding brandy to improve the thin wines of the Douro Valley for export. With Porto as its spiritual heart, the UNESCO-protected Alto Duoro region today, with a winemaking tradition dating back 2,000 years and renowned as the world’s oldest demarcated wine region (1756), offers groups abundant opportunities to connect with this lifeblood product.
Part of an 18th-century Douro River estate, the famed Vintage House Hotel accommodates meetings and events. Nearby, one of the region’s oldest quintas (wine estates), Romaneira offers tours and tastings.
The Douro River itself is a sightseer’s paradise, with local operators providing scenic cruises. Across the river from Porto, pre-Roman Vila Nova de Gaia is where most of the Douro Port is aged and blended. Here, at historic lodges emblazoned with the names of legendary British producers including Cockburn, Sandeman and Taylor, groups can tour caves, aging tanks and tasting rooms for a first-hand look at the Port-making process.
Calem Cellars is an acclaimed venue for functions and events, while The Graham’s Lodge (www.grahams-port.com) offers tours, dining and private tastings in its Vintage Room. The 82-room Yeatman is an exclusive haven offering conference and event space and private dining in its Michelin-starred restaurant.
Remote Madeira once traded wine as a commodity, the heat from long journeys at sea becoming fundamental to its manufacture. In the capital of Funchal, the Old Blandy Wine Lodge hosts folklore or medieval-themed dinners for up to 200 people, tours and tastings included.
