Luxury Portugal Wine Tours

With over 40,000 hectares of land under vine, the Douro Valley is widely regarded as the best wine region in Portugal, responsible for 100% of the production of authentic Port wine. Grapes are grown here then sent by boat down the Douro River to age in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Of all the grapes grown in the region, roughly 45% become non-fortified wines which are growing in popularity and renown.

While Port is the best known, non-fortified wines from the wider Douro region, including Vinho Verde, are among the most popular wines in Portugal. The country is full of many unique and interesting grape varieties and focuses on blended wines, which have always been popular among Portuguese natives (in fact, Portugal drinks the most wine per capita each year), but which are increasingly reaching the global spotlight.

Other popular wine regions in Portugal are Dão, Lisboa and Alentejo, while the Algarve and Azores are gaining traction.

Both Porto and Lisbon are nice in different ways and which to choose depends on what type of holiday you’re looking to have.

Lisbon is Portugal’s sunniest city and one of Europe’s only seaside capital cities, so it makes for a unique city break that with a perfect combination of cosmopolitan energy, maritime history, and laid-back coastal vibes. A few days in Lisbon pair perfectly with southern Portugal’s emerging wine regions or exploring Sintra’s palaces.

Porto is further north, more compact and deeply connected to its wine heritage. The city’s character is inseparable from its Port wine trade and as the gateway to the Douro Valley, is unmissable in combination.

Alentejo is sometimes referred to as the “Portuguese Rioja”, sharing warm and full-bodied, oak-aged style red wines. Beyond similarities in the final product, they share the primary grape under the guise of different names: what is called Tempranillo in Spain is known locally as both Tinta Roriz and Aragonez.

If you want to do a side-by-side comparison of your favourite Rioja Reserva, try to find one with vinhas velhas (translated to old vine) and a high percentage of Aragonez on the label!

The best months to visit Portugal are typically April to May and September to October. Spring and autumn typically see warm and pleasant weather across the country (with more sun and higher temperatures further south). Crowds are manageable compared to peak summer months and in wine regions, you’ll see either vines bursting into new life or in full autumn colour.