Famed for its sweet port wine, the Douro Valley of northern Portugal is one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Head here in September and you’ll get a taste of its traditions first-hand, as workers take to its steeply terraced vineyards for the annual harvest, picking and pressing the grapes by hand (and feet), as they always have. It’s also a great time to take in the valley’s glorious scenery, the soft, late-summer light picking out the River Douro as it winds between valleys stippled with villages and quintas (wine-growing estates). Set high above the river, the Quinta de Casaldronho makes a great base for a wine break, with 15 hectares of vines, plus olive groves, orchards and walking trails to wander. There’s, naturally, gallons of wine to try – from port tastings to a bottle at dinner served up with regional specialities.
Wine-making in the Douro dates back to the 3rd and 4th centuries
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