Port in Porto 🍷

It was going to happen sooner or later. The port tasting. And today it did at Churchill’s Visitors’ Centre. 

  

  

First the White Port, served chilled as an aperitif ; then the Ruby Port to serve with cheese; and then the Tawny Port to serve after everything else! My favourite was the White Port, so I will have to find some in Oz. Unfortunately Churchill’s do not export to Australia. 

After tasting we went down into the cellar to see the French Oak barrels , in which the Tawny Port is aged for 20 years. 

  

  

  
The Ruby Port is held in huge French Oak Vats for 7-10 years.  

  
The Port Tasting Experience was all part of our half day tour. Our driver collected us around 10am. The half day tours are a great introduction to any city. We have done many of these in Europe and find that it helps us pinpoint the places that we will re-visit later. Another upside is that they usually use very nice, comfy cars. Aren’t we fickle! 
Today it was helpful as PD has a dodgy knee after knocking it on the marble hand basin in the small bathroom in Lisbon. The disadvantage of being 6’4.

  

Our first stop was Porto Cathedral. It is one of the oldest monuments in the city and one of the most important Romanesque monuments. 

  

  

  

  

Then onto the Monastery, Serra do Pilar where the view over Porto was fantastic. We can see this from our hotel.

  

  
  

  

We finished our tour with a drive through the old town and a visit to the mouth  of the Douro, where it enters the Atlantic. 

  

  
This afternoon we wandered around the old city, visiting the town square and enjoyed the sights and sounds of a busy Friday afternoon.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

And the door collection continues.