We had a magical day spent on the Douro Valley. From Portuguese wines and Ports to bread, oil and honey, everything we sampled was delicious and made by a small, local businesses. We were picked up and dropped off at a very convenient location for us and chauffeured around all day! Our guide was so polite, funny, and patient with us and made sure all of our questions were answered. We opted for the optional boat ride and it was gorgeous. What a special day!
This was a great experience. I got some insights way beyond Portuguese wines. Joao was super knowledgeable and generously shared even more than the 10 wines he promised. I was particularly happy that this also encompasses green, white and red wines as Porto wine only for me would be dull and something you could get visiting one of the wineries in Gaia. I just wish I could find some of those wines back home. I truly recommend this experience, and the location itself, a former church, was quite unique.
Excellent accueil et choix des étapes. Nous avons pu acheter directement chez des petits producteurs introuvables en dehors de la vallée. Les couleurs et les parfums étaient au rendez-vous. Les raisins, les olives et les amendes. J’en garderai un chouette souvenir et une envie de revenir. Seria isso a saudade?
A highlight of a trip to Porto! Meeting Ana Claudia felt like meeting a friend for a whole lot of treats, but the kind of friend who talks history, culture, travel, architecture, food. She was a delight and our tour ran longer than originally planned as the conversation flowed and the sweets were never ending. A great selection of treats with historical and cultural background explained that I wouldn't have tried otherwise. Thank you Ana Claudia for a lovely experience.
It was such a wonderful and authentic experience visiting various family-owned wineries and residences that date back centuries. Tiago even went out of his way to arrange a short visit to the Fonseca winery. The drive around the Douro Valley was so beautiful and exciting with every moment. Not only that, getting to sample the various wines, ports, olives, almonds, and codfish was an incredible experience for the palette.
For me, the pastries are not the main highlight of the tour. They are lovely and some are addictive too. But the most important part is meeting Ana Claudia, a cheerful and nice guide. She clicked with us right away and the tour felt like we were old friends who caught up after a long time. She gave her insight of Porto, a bit of history and also the culture: what matters for the Porto people, their background - so it’s not only the stories behind the pastries. Really enjoyed the experience.
This was a great experience. I got some insights way beyond Portuguese wines. Joao was super knowledgeable and generously shared even more than the 10 wines he promised. I was particularly happy that this also encompasses green, white and red wines as Porto wine only for me would be dull and something you could get visiting one of the wineries in Gaia. I just wish I could find some of those wines back home. I truly recommend this experience, and the location itself, a former church, was quite unique.
What a fantastic day, truly one of the best days I have ever had! They were so accommodating for me to book so last minute, and even picked me up directly from my address. I learned so much about not just the region, but also much of the history and culture of the country. I could really tell they held such a high level of respect for this land.
Thank you once again, and I can’t wait to return to Portugal in the near future! 🙂
Joao was a great host!
It was our very first Airbnb experience and we learned a lot! My wife kept more knowledge, I just focused on the drinking part.
We had a small group of five people and Joao took the time to patiently listen to everyone’s questions. Also, you can tell his knowledge goes beyond Portuguese wines as he could also comment on other spirits based on our diverse cultural background.
I really enjoyed the experience and would recommend to anyone else who wants to learn more. I really didn’t know how vast the Portuguese wine industry is!