I’ve never been a great fan of sparkling wines, not even champagne, but I’ve always wondered how they get their bubbles. When I had the opportunity to visit the Murganheira wine cellars to find out how Portuguese espumante (sparkling wine) is made I gladly took it. There are several ways ofRead More →
If you’re travelling to Porto, the chances are you’ll be trying some of Portugal’s delicious port wine during your stay. I’ve been to many port wine establishments in the city over the years, most of them fairly similar in their approach and all enjoyable. My two most memorable port wineRead More →
One of Porto’s claims to fame is its port wine, a fortified wine that comes from the grapes of the Douro valley. If you look across the river from anywhere in the city, you’ll see the names of the biggest brands emblazoned on the red roofs of the port wineRead More →
The village of Melgaço is almost as far north as you can get in Portugal and is only separated from Spain by the River Minho. Surrounded by hills, forests and vineyards and the mountains of Peneda-Gerês National Park, its setting couldn’t be more beautiful. I only had one day toRead More →
After a day walking a section of the Portuguese Way of St James pilgrimage route, I’ve somehow been persuaded to come back and do the full 227 kilometre walk at some point. When I arranged to do one stage of the Portuguese Way with Portugal Green Walks I had no intention ofRead More →
I have a certain fondness for quirky hotels, especially ones that I can afford to stay in. That’s why I couldn’t resist when Casa de Sezim Hotel popped up in my search for a hotel near the UNESCO World Heritage city of Guimarães, the ‘birthplace of Portugal’. Casa de Sezim isRead More →
Dreams come true in various ways at the Santa Catarina Castle Hotel in Porto.Read More →