Portuguese Exploration

Portugal had been on my to-go list for a while. The last time I visited was in 2008, but since then, friends and colleagues have raved about the current experience: distinctive destinations from beach to city, great hotels and restaurants, ease of travel and the fact that English is widely spoken. And of course, for wine lovers, the Douro Valley.

- ALISON NAPJUS

COVID-19 delayed my travel plans, but finally, in April, my husband and I made it to Portugal. The Douro Valley was the highlight. To begin with, it’s absolutely stunning. I’ve visited many wine regions and nothing competes with the Douro’s dramatic natural beauty. All along the Douro River, vineyards rise quickly from its banks, set on rolling hills that are typically very steep in pitch. Tending vineyards in the Douro is not for the faint of heart—and neither is driving at times!

We officially visited only two wineries; the two I selected—Wine & Soul and Quinta do Crasto—offered an interesting contrast that shows the dynamic nature of the Douro Valley today.

Wine & Soul, founded in 2001, is a boutique winery owned by husband-and-wife team Jorge Serôdio Borges and Sandra Tavares da Silva. They focus on expressing specific