The wines of Northern Portugal

nospam@example.com (Philip Ross) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:42:19 -0800

From the Ribeiro we crossed the MiÃ±o river and stepped back 30 years in time. The Portuguese Minho, far more pristine than its Spanish counterpart, is endowed with a number of highly photogenic fortress towns with their defensive walls and watch towers intact, filled with magnificently restored churches, beautifully manicured gardens, quintas (noble estates) and mosaic cobbled squares, along with thermal spas. Vila de Cerveira, Caminha, MonÃ§ao and MelgaÃ§o all delight visitors with their Old World charm.

In MelgaÃ§o, gateway to the Peneda-GerÃªs National Park, we dropped in to sample the areaâ€™s crisp, refreshing, slightly effervescent alvarinho vinho verde. Sampling here couldnâ€™t be more pleasurable in the villageâ€™s Solar do Alvarinho wine center, a showcase for these fresh white wines, along with local cheeses, sausages, honey and handicrafts, including exquisite embroidered linens.

And a visit to the northern Minho valley wouldnâ€™t be complete without an unforgettable gourmet lunch at Adega do Sossego in Peso. A tucked- away charmer, it serves gargantuan portions of local specialties, such as grilled trout stuffed with country ham, washed down with the house alvarinho wine, and ending with a complimentary miniature vat of their homemade digestif.

Iberian Traveler - On The Road - Portugal

The wines of Northern Portugal