Farah Trading Co's wine and travel writer Joana here writing to you from my home in Leiria, Portugal! Today we are visiting one of Farah Trading Co's benchmark producers, Quinta do Tedo.
Quinta do Tedo is an 18th century beautifully renovated estate sitting just above the Douro river. It’s owned by the French-American Bouchard Family - you can meet them if you visit the Quinta over the summer – they will be delighted if you come for a tasting and stay for a meal or even an overnight stay in their bed and breakfast.
Visiting Quinta do Tedo is the perfect way to experience the Douro terroir in all its glory; you can walk the vineyards, taste Douro wines (which include a delicious pale, crisp, dry rosé wine!), and limited production Port wines. Visit and also discover their olive oil trees, try their olive oil, hike amazing natural trails and have delightful meals standing over a breathtaking view of the Douro river. All the tour guides are Douro Valley locals, so you’ll get the best insiders info!
1. Delicious Port and Douro wine at Quinta do Tedo
Enjoy flights of Port and red wines overlooking the Douro River in their renovated 18th century tasting room. Sit and enjoy wines where they are made, experience the Douro terroir in an immersive way. If you’re looking for more in-depth tastings, you can experience pairings of DOC wines and/or Ports with regional cheeses and artisanal chocolates, and single-harvest Tawny Port barrel tastings.
Oh! And did you know? Quinta do Tedo was one of the first producers to make rosé port. You can drink it as a cocktail, cold like a rosé wine, in a glass with a zest of lime and a couple of fresh raspberries, or on its own at any time of the day!
2. Quinta do Tedo has a bistro and the view is breathtaking
At Quinta do Tedo they will tell you that “the tradition of tapas dates back to 13th-century Spain, when King Alfonso X declared that no glass of wine should be served without a bit of food” and that’s their whole philosophy at the Bistro.
Expect delicious Portuguese petiscos (tapas) like garlic tawny prawns with toasted almond silvers, Odile’s gazpacho with cornbread croutons or a regional cheese and charcuterie board alongside your wine or adventure yourself in one of their Port Cocktails like the Port rosé tonic or their Tawny spritz.
3. You’ll have so much fun doing their outdoor activities
For the wine lover and nature lover alike, what better way to understand the terroir than to walk it. At Quinta do Tedo you can go on a fantastic hike through their 2.8 mile nature trail. It’s an officially approved trail clearly marked with schist posts that include two stations for birdwatching, a perfect way to observe all the birds around.
But that’s not all! You can spend the afternoon swimming on their pool, or use their kayaks, canoes and mountain bikes to fully explore the area or just enjoy a glass of wine in their bocce court!
If you’re looking for a more relaxing activity, you can enjoy their wine picnics under the olive trees.
4. Quinta do Tedo also produces Portuguese olive oil
Quinta do Tedo has about 14 acres of organic olive groves, with 800 olive trees ranging between 50 and 100 years old. The Douro Valley's arid, Mediterranean climate and soil type make for amazing cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) with very concentrated flavors, it will be fruity and soft, yet with a bitter, peppery "kick" to it. Mouthwatering, right? Imagine this in salads and delicious plates of food at the Quinta or at your home!
5. Yes, you can even spend the night!
They have a charming little wine hotel with four double bedrooms (two have a loft and additional single bed) and one apartment (it fits four people with a kitchenette), all named after their Port Wine selections. After a day walking the vineyards and drinking wine by the Douro, stay in one their bedrooms and in the morning indulge in their breakfast with delicious regional and homemade products before you leave.
Check out more about Quinta do Tedo's wine and tourism offerings here!
Cheers,
Joana
