Visiting Pinhão
Visiting PinhãoCapital of Port wine Pinhão is one of the most visited Portuguese small cities.
The objective, of course, is one of the many wine farms around it, and all the show, of the vines descending to the river.
Accessible by boat, road or train, it’s common to use boat in one way and train in the other, getting two different views of the river.
Port Wine’s front door
Located 20 kilometers after Peso da Régua for those who come from Porto, this is the heart of Port wine producing activity.
A small town, with a hotel used as an overnight stop for the river cruises, the place is surrounded by many and large vineyards, of most of the representative producers.
Everything there is connected with Port, and, when I try to tell something about it all my complexes come to my mind, because my friend Mario is an expert, and the passion and competence he shows when talking about Port wine, advice me to shut up and listen.
So, if you want to know more about Port wine, do as myself – ask Mario. You have him in fortheloveofport and in any other place of the world or internet where the subject is… port wine.
Train station
The train station is one of the ex-libris of Pinhão. Important for combining with the cruise ships on the connection to Porto, its interest is in the many tile panels reproducing the work of wine.
Sightseeing
Dotted around the region are many viewpoints covering spectacular views of the Douro valley.
At the top of the slope behind Pinhão, the Casal de Loivos viewpoint is one of the most accessible and interesting.
Boat trip
A common (and recommended) solution to see the Douro is to take one of the many cruises.
Those who do not have the time or desire to take the boat from Porto can, in Pinhão, choose between mini-cruises lasting one or two hours.
Farms
The many Douro farms enrich the landscape, travelling by car or boat, and visiting some of them is imperative. There’s plenty to choose from, and some of them are excellent viewpoints too.
Tasting wine
Tasting (and buying) wines is the common program in all the many visitable estates. Having a car, the choice is wide and diverse.
For those arriving by boat or train, the alternatives are more limited, but Quinta do Bonfim, right next to the station, is one of the best.
