About an hour and a half by car from Porto, Portugal, in the Pinhão region located in the Douro Valley, begins a 'real winery tour' that cannot be experienced in the city of Porto. With the breathtaking view of terraced vineyards and the Douro River, the wines tasted here, made from cultivation and production methods with hundreds of years of history, have a different richness and depth.
On the 4th of last month, I visited the Quinta do Panascal winery located on a tributary of the Douro River. Established in 1822, this place produces the 'Fonseca' brand port wine and is one of the most famous traditional wineries (Quinta) in the region.
The winery building had a pastoral atmosphere surrounded by thick smoke. This was caused by burning the cut vine trimmings in preparation for next year's grape harvest. Traditional Mediterranean crops such as olive and orange trees also dotted the landscape.
At the Quinta, visitors can learn about everything from grape cultivation methods to the history and manufacturing of port wine through staff guidance or audio guides. The origin of port wine dates back to the loss of French territories that England held for centuries after their defeat in the Hundred Years' War. Among these territories was Gascony, famous for its wine region Bordeaux.
In need of an alternative source for wine, England turned its eyes to Porto, a northern city in Portugal close to London. In the Douro Valley, where the average temperature nears 15 degrees even in winter and there is a significant temperature difference between day and night, wine is produced and exported from the port city of Porto.
However, due to the long sea route to England, the fermentation process was shortened for storage, and brandy was added partway through. This resulted in a high alcohol content of 19 to 20 degrees for port wine, and the short fermentation period caused the natural sugars and flavors to have a strong influence on the taste.
The terraced design around the Douro River allows for good drainage and enables grapevines to receive more sunlight. It's similar to the reasons for the Boseong green tea fields. The grapes grown here are a blend of various traditional Portuguese varieties, such as 'Touriga Nacional' and 'Touriga Franca,' used to make port wine.
One particularly striking process involves the traditional 'Lagar' method, where people enter large wooden fermentation tanks and crush grapes with their feet. This process, undertaken immediately after grape harvest, resembles a festival where young people dance together.
Many companies, including Fonseca, still use this method. Crushing grapes by foot prevents the seeds from breaking, avoiding bitterness, and allows the flavors of the grapes to be extracted naturally. Visitors are also allowed to participate during the grape harvest season (September to October).
The next place visited was Quinta da Roêda, where Croft brand wine is produced. Visitors can taste a variety of port wines, which differ in aging time and method, including ruby, white, pink, and tawny.
Visitors can also enjoy the recently popular 'port tonic' cocktail locally in Portugal. It is a drink made by mixing port wine with tonic water, common in the summer. In addition to wine tasting, there are programs available to purchase baskets containing snacks, drinks, and wine, allowing guests to enjoy a picnic around the vineyards.
Some wineries also operate restaurants where visitors can taste local Portuguese cuisine. Reservations can be made in advance for traditional home-cooked meals.
There are accommodations available for tourists touring the wineries scattered in the area. In the heart of the Douro River area, there is a five-star hotel, Vintage House. Built on the site of an 18th-century vineyard, it preserves the culture of wine and historical architectural styles. Guests can participate in various wine-related activities.
Vintage House is also a hotel operated by the Flatgate Partnership, famous for port wine production and luxury hotel management. This group owns the most renowned port wine brands, including Taylor's, Croft, and Fonseca. It also simultaneously operates the luxurious wine hotel, Itmon, in downtown Porto. The average price for a one-night stay at Vintage House for two is 180 euros, a reasonable rate compared to hotels in Western Europe.
There are no direct flights from Incheon to Porto, Portugal. Turkish Airlines offers the most connecting flights. In cases where the layover at Istanbul Airport ranges from 6 to 24 hours, Turkish Airlines provides a free Istanbul tour service for travelers to utilize during their waiting time. The free tour includes exploration of representative sites in Istanbul.