The Douro Region is so beautiful and has such a rich wine history, dating back 2,000 years, that UNESCO declared the region a World Heritage Site in 2001. We couldn’t agree more, as it is one of our favorite areas in Portugal.
Mesão Frio is only a short drive (80 km) east of Porto, and is a place where visitors will be transported back in time. The town has long been linked with wine making, and as you drive through the picturesque countryside you will see many vineyards, estates and manor houses that date from the 17th and 18th C.
Besides being home to some of the best wines in Portugal, the area also has many places of interest. Sites to see in the area include the Convento de São Gonçalo (Amarante), Sé Catedral de Lamego (Lamego), Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Lamego), Mosteiro de São João de Tarouca (Tarouca), and Ponte de Ucanha (Tarouca). Driving around the area is just magical, but you may want to also experience the journey by boat, train, or even helicopter.
Once you’re finished visiting the area’s tourist sites it may be time for a break, so why not visit a vineyard or two. Here are a few options:
Quinta do Côtto (Montez Champalimaud, Lda. Quinta do Côtto Cidadelhe) – “…Quinta do Côtto estate has 70 hectares of vineyards that are already mentioned in the first documents related with the implementation of vineyards in the Douro valley. The existing manor house is a large and elegant building from the 18th century, built upon an older building from the 15th and 16th centuries, whose remains can still be seen.” For more information, click here. The vineyard is about a 15 minute drive from Mesão Frio.
Quinta de Marrocos (Valdigem) – “The Quinta de Marrocos, one of the oldest in the Demarcated Region of the Douro, provides excellent views over the River Douro and contact with the marcos de feitoria, the solid granite pillars that were set up in 1757 to demarcate the region and which still stand there. At the beginning of the last century, the great grandfather of the current owner, César Sequeira, acquired the Quinta de Marrocos, where the house consisted of the old Franciscan Monastery. Since 1979, César Sequeira has continued in the wine growing business…” For more information, click here. The vineyard is about a 20 minute drive from Mesão Frio.
Quinta do Seixo (Valença do Douro) – “On the south bank of the river Douro, in Cima-Corgo, right opposite the Quinta do Porto lies Quinta do Seixo, which provides a breathtaking, stunning view over the river Douro…With about 108 acres in total, production at Quinta do Seixo relies on 71 acres of selected vineyards, planted on terraces and under the vinha ao alto vertical vineyard system.” For more information, click here and for visit information, click here. The vineyard is about a 40 minute drive from Mesão Frio.
Photo credit: © Christopher Pappas · All rights reserved.
For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.