ALONG THE MEANDERING DUORO

The leaves are falling from the trees and forests are turning red and brown. Autumn has begun. Fireplaces start crackling and postage sales skyrocket. Port? Yes indeed, port sales pop into the air as autumn spreads its wings. Port is a fortified wine of around 20% that tastes best here in our chilly country when the leaves are falling or the ice is cracking. By Charlotte van Zummeren

Port is made in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. The vineyards are located on both sides of the Douro River. The vines are planted according to what is known as terracing. The terraces make it easier for farmers to access the vines. The Douro meanders through the valley and the region is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world.

Vila Nova de Gaia

When you say port or Douro, you also say Vila Nova de Gaia. The wineries - or quintas - that make port in the Douro Valley ship their barrels of wine to Vila Nova de Gaia where they rest in the warehouses of portshippers, who literally 'ship' or export the port. Around the Douro, it is too hot to let the wines rest. The climate in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia is milder due to their location near the Atlantic Ocean. On one side of the river it is called Vila Nova de Gaia and on the other side Porto. The latter is a city with huge differences in altitude. Fortunately, there are plenty of buses and taxis, although a ride in the latter requires a certain death defying attitude. Portuguese drive like crazy people.

Harry Potter

On the river that splits the city in two, lies the Ribeira district. Small streets and plenty of restaurants. In the higher part in Porto is the historic old town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The train station is decorated with the famous Portuguese tiles and not far from it sits the bookstore Lello & Irmão. This shop has a gothic façade and inside, tens of thousands of books are displayed in dark wood bookcases. Stairs meet in the middle of the shop. The combination of the gothic façade and the unusual staircase makes it look like it came straight out of the Harry Potter films. Reportedly, many Potter fans come to that shop as a result. Be that as it may, you always queue up. Everyone wants to go inside and, of course, you can't do that at the same time.

Read the whole article in WINELIFE #55. Order it here. 

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