Sailing the Douro River – Adventures in Portugal

Defining the Douro River

Sailing the Douro River is an adventure in negotiating rugged, rocky straits, passing steeply climbing terraced vineyards, consuming delectable port wines, and other unique discoveries.  Of all the river cruises in Europe, sailing the Douro River in Portugal is still one of the less discovered routes.  However, this will probably change soon as word spreads about the scenic, relaxing journey that everyone has been enjoying.

Sailing the Douro River ……… Once A Very Treacherous Journey

The Douro River was not always the peaceful estuary you see today tamed by five dams and locks.  It was a dangerous challenge with strong fast currents, rapids, and hidden rocks that made transporting the wine from the Douro valley to the mouth of the river in Portugal very hazardous.

Scenes showing the difficulties sailors encountered while fighting these currents are visible at the wine museum of Regua.  Although the water does not rage around the boats in the same way as before, high water levels can keep them from being able to pass under the bridges north of Regua and restrict the movement  of the river cruise boats.

Sailing the Douro River for Port Wine Tasting

In 2001 the upper Douro wine region was declared a Unesco World Heritage site and recognized as a wine producing region for over 2000 years.  The creation of port wine was almost accidental in the mid-1700s, when brandy was added to the wine being shipped to the British market to keep it from spoiling en route.  The brandy stops the fermentation process and results in a sweeter wine, which is especially popular for drinking with desserts and cheeses.

There was a great deal of hands-on Scottish influence in the port wine production, and many of the traditional large port wine producers seen while sailing the Douro River reflect this heritage with names like Sandeman and Taylor.

Other Treasures Found While Sailing the Douro River

One  of the prettiest places we visited was the family owned Mateus Palace near Vila Real.  It is recognized as one of the finest private houses of Europe and has been occupied by the family of the Count of Vila Real since it was built in the 18th century.  Although the grown children of the owners live elsewhere, the parents still occupy half of the house that is not open to the public.

The gardens are lavishly cared for and beautifully maintained.  The inside rooms of the house that are open to visitors were also interesting to see, although no pictures were permitted.

If you are a fan of the famous Mateus wine, the image shown on the label is the Mateus Palace.

Do you prefer dry or sweet wines, and which country seems to have the best ones for your taste?

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