This UNESCO world heritage site is a bucket list travel destination, especially if you are a wine lover. There are a plethora of wineries to choose from, but Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora is at the top of our list.
Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo is a breathtaking winery with 41 plots of grapes planted in the Douro traditional terraces that. It is both a hotel and a winery with a lovely restaurant and bar. You can come for the day and enjoy a wine tasting, a meal and other activities or book a stay!
Quinta Nova has been making wines for centuries and it boasts a wine museum to help it tell the history of Port wine and still wine in the Douro.
Starting out as a producer for Port wine and Quinta Nova now is mainly focused on making high quality Douro still wines. Quinta Nova is more than just the wines. It’s also an estate, an experience and an incredible landscape.
Fair warning; it may not easy to get to the winery by car I assure you it will be worth it! (And you can take a train!). Now here it goes for the 5 reasons:
1.) Amazing portfolio of Douro Wines
Quinta Nova has been producing wines for centuries so you can expect to be amazed by their wines. It’s a work that combines tradition with the winemaking skills of the duo Jorge Alves and Sónia Pereira, an experienced team who guarantees profound respect for the historical heritage of the Douro valley.
The portfolio is diverse with delicious whites, intense and reds, a stunning rosé and incredible Port Wines. Farah Trading Co carries all of these wines in our e-shop!
2.) A restaurant sitting above the Douro river
The Financial Times considered this “the most impressive food in Douro” in 2015 and you must taste it for yourself.
The restaurant is open seven days a week and you should book prior to your visit to make sure you get yourself a seat in this slice of Douro heaven sitting over the river.
It is a delicious mix of cozy home cooking and exquisite high-end cuisine, serving delicious seasonal food in the middle of the unique terraced vineyards overlooking the Douro.
3.) A wine hotel with a pool surrounded by vineyards
This was the first winery to open a wine hotel in the region. You can stay in one of their eleven rooms, all with spectacular views over the centuries-old terraced vineyards - a breathtaking landscape.
In the morning, guests are welcomed at a huge farm table with a delicious breakfast. The gardens are surrounded by centennial trees, and hide an intimate infinity pool overlooking the vineyards.
4.) Wine tastings AND boat rides
It is a gorgeous winery in the Douro so you can expect an array of different wine tastings, all equally amazing. Taste next to the barrels cellar, the Patamar Kitchen or in an outdoor terrace in the middle of the vineyards, offering stunning views over the Douro River.
You can do a flight tasting of the wines of your choosing or you can taste them in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying traditional tapas carefully prepared by the Chef.
But that’s not all! You can sail down the Douro river accompanied by wine tasting and sampling of regional delicacies aboard the Senhora do Carmo, a 1970s English ship.
5.) Get to be a winemaker for a day
Can you imagine flying to Portugal, drive to the Douro, experience the terroir and then get to be a winemaker for a day? It will be the ultimate experience and you’ll get bragging rights for years to come! At Quinta Nova they will let you create your own wine in a special and exciting activity.
You’ll taste and create your own blending lot and do everything from bottling, corking, creating the image and labelling of the bottle. The best part is that you take the bottle home to show your friends!
Cheers and enjoy!
