PORT OF DELIGHT

The Douro Valley, the home of port wine, offers more than just exceptional vintages. Here, visitors are immersed in centuries-old winemaking traditions, luxurious retreats and awe-inspiring landscapes.

- ANANDHI GOPINATH

Porto is filled with quaint wine bars selling port, but I don't know if any offer a truly memorable way to enjoy this signature Portuguese wine. Many are strategically located in the tourist hotspots, as I found when I stumbled upon one just outside the stunning Igreja de São Francisco, tucked between a pastelaria and a tile shop. While the wine wasn't bad, it was hard to appreciate in the searing summer heat, especially since it was served at far too high a temperature - something I discovered the very next day on a visit to Portugal's world-famous wine-producing region of Douro Valley.

"Port should be served and enjoyed at 10°C, and for white port, 4°C. Anything higher and you're wasting the port," says Sara, our guide from the family-owned Quinta do Beijo, one of the 80 or so wineries in the Douro Valley. Sara's tours are as informative as they are entertaining, and while this quinta, or estate, didn't serve meals, it did offer delicious local cheeses to complement the wine. The shaded nook where the winery is located, surrounded by vines dripping almost-ripe fruit, is idyllic. And right outside? A swimming pool where the children in our group cooled off while we enjoyed our tasting.

This feature isn't unique to Douro Valley wineries. Many embrace the trend of wine tourism where comfort, relaxation and exclusivity are just as important as the wine itself. Guests are treated to an immersive experience-tasting fine wines, savouring local cuisine and lounging by luxurious pools, all set against the backdrop of one of the world's most dramatic wine regions.