Tangled in the Terraces of the Douro

During our holiday in Portugal last summer, we made our way from Porto down to Lisbon and the Algarve, but one of our favorite stops along the journey was our vineyard stay in the Alto Douro. One of the oldest wine regions in the world, the breathtaking landscape of the terraced vineyards is both architecturally exact and wild.  With winding, curving steep roads, the drive is spectacular (and not for the faint of heart!) with some nice areas to pull off and snap that perfect picture. 

Through an old friend, we were introduced to the 16th century Quinta Cumiera Vineyard, which has four guest houses right on the vineyard. With full amenities, we were able to play a game of tennis or take a dip in the pool overlooking the fields, but even more, the location is not too far from DOC, the Michelin-starred restaurant from Portuguese son, Chef Rui Paula. Here we enjoyed a late afternoon tasting menu, including in-season white asparagus, and wine pairing while sitting on the river's edge. We were also able to spend time with the son of the vineyard's owner, who now runs Quinta Cumiera. Rodrigo offered us a wine tasting of their latest vintage while telling us about the farm's 300+ year history of making some of the best ports in the region.