The rustic calm of the Pinhão Valley offers a tranquil contrast to the touristic bustle of today’s Douro Valley hotspots but make no mistake: this place has been the engine room of quality Port production for centuries It’s sometimes hard to believe when you contemplate its dusty shuttered shopfronts and somewhat jaded look has become something of a tourist honey pot in recent years Witness the huge cruise ships that frequent its moorings the plush people carriers bringing American daytrippers from Porto – or try driving across it at lunchtime But turn your back on the sweeping bend of the Douro head into the valley that bears Pinhão’s name and you enter a different world – a place of rural calm and quiet where the tumbling terraces of vineyard are punctuated by patches of scrub and olive the hilltops and few flat spaces dotted with the whitewashed houses of tiny hamlets Port’s headline-grabbing vineyards tend to cling to the vital artery that is the Douro river from Quinta da Roêda and Quinta do Bomfim at Pinhão itself upstream to Malvedos and on to legendary Douro Superior estates such as Vargellas the Pinhão Valley remains – relatively speaking – off the beaten track and out of the limelilght this corner of the Douro is vital to the production of premium-quality Ports and all the big shippers have a presence here – but direct vineyard ownership is a relatively recent development started buying wine from Quinta de Terra Feita as far back as the 1890s and even bottled some of its Ports separately in the early years of the 20th century – a precursor of the ‘single quinta’ concept that has since become commonplace But the company only bought Terra Feita de Baixo (‘lower’ Terra Feita one of four components of the original estate) in 1974 Terra Feita de Cima (‘upper’ Terra Feita) in 1990 Junco was acquired in 1997 along with Casa Nova and Eira Velha followed suit a decade later sister house Fonseca (both are now owned by The Fladgate Partnership) bought wine from Quinta do Cruzeiro as early as 1870 but only took over the vineyard more than a century later Fellow Fonseca Pinhão Valley property Quinta de Santo António has been a fixture in the house’s Ports since the early 20th century – but has only been on its books since 1979 This phenomenon of Port houses buying up vineyards has only been a significant trend for around 50 years – and it’s still continuing today Fladgate acquired more than 100 hectares of vineyard in the Pinhão Valley Bragão and Bucheiro for a reported €6 million For Fladgate CEO Adrian Bridge and his team of viticulturists and winemakers the area offers a ‘middle way’ between – and this is a sweeping generalisation – the high quality/low quantity of the Alto Douro and the high quantity/low quality of the Baixo Corgo “The Pinhão and [adjacent] Mendiz Valleys are a kind of marriage of the two,” says Bridge “That’s great for premium Ports like LBV or [Fonseca] Bin 27.” This characterisation of the area as a kind of ‘Goldilocks zone’ for Port production – neither too cool and wet nor too hot and dry – is one that’s only likely to increase in appeal as our changing climate imposes more extreme weather events on a region already known for its searing summer heat Now the Pinhão Valley is set to enjoy a bit more time in the spotlight launched earlier this year with the 2022 vintage this sits roughly in the single quinta space (about £40 in the UK) which blends that house’s Cruzeiro and Santo António properties with fruit from its flagship Panascal vineyard in the Távora Valley Sentinels will be released in non-classic vintage declaration years; unlike Guimaraens earthy fruit of the other Taylor’s quintas – Terra Feita Casa Nova and Eira Velha – to shine through The name – Sentinels – is a nod to history and the 18th-century granite pillars (‘marcos de feitoria’) that delineated the Port production zone all of these quintas earned the prized ‘vinho da feitoria’ classification (meaning their wine was good enough to be exported) Fladgate has been busy higher up in the Pinhão Valley buying Douro wine and Port producer Quinta do Portal in March this year The acquisition covers 53ha of vineyard (Quinta do Portal Quinta do Confradeiro and Quinta do Abelheira) storage facility and the Casa das Pipas boutique hotel and restaurant The deal is most notable for marking Fladgate’s first foray into Douro table wine building on the acquisition of Ideal Drinks Dão and Bairrada (with which Portal shares a consultant winemaker and there’s no doubt that Fladgate will move to expand and enhance that part of the business Bridge is already talking about replanting some of the surrounding table wine vineyards and mechanisation is on the cards in this (relatively) flat part of the valley But there are implications for Port as well Álvaro Siza Vieira-designed winery buildings – resembling perhaps a Bond villain’s lair or a nuclear weapons silo – are set to be repurposed and reorganised with a new roof for improved insulation and windows to shine some light on a planned visitor centre Part of the revamp is also set to involve the installation of lagares – a reflection of the Portal location’s “huge strategic importance” in the Pinhão Valley He is conscious that there is plenty of work to do in order to bring the operation up to the standards that Fladgate wants – but aware too of its potential if you look at the wines that have been made in this situation along with the other recent local vineyard acquisitions made by The Fladgate Partnership not to mention the historic estates on which the producer has relied for many years are set to write a new chapter in the history of the Pinhão and Mendiz Valleys – cementing their enduring status as the beating heart of the Douro Valley’s premium Port production We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Golden sunlight on the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley The quaint Linha do Douro line in northern Portugal weaves through the river valley lined with terraces for what many consider one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe. There isn’t much at the tiny terminus of Pocinho, just shy of the border with Spain the 200km (125-mile) journey connecting this rural village with Porto is its own destination it’s possible to approach the Linha do Douro as an unhurried day trip – one that even offers a break for lunch and wine tasting To ensure that you have time for lunch and wine tasting, it’s necessary to take the first train of the day, which departs from Porto’s legendary São Bento Train Station at 6:30am I was obliged to change trains in the town of Ermesinde or you can catch the first direct Linha do Douro departure from São Bento at 9:20am painted a 1970s-era orange and virtually empty – could easily feature in a Wes Anderson film you’ll traverse Porto’s urban sprawl – predominantly gray The first tunnel (of 23 total) is in Caíde which is also where the views start to become more rural The town of Ribadouro offers the first glimpse of the Douro where you’ll arrive just before 10am (nearer 11:45am are right in town and do tastings of standard and fortified wines which arrives in Pocinho in time for you to catch the last return train back to Porto The final hour that connects Pinhão and Pocinho is arguably the most beautiful section of the line – and the section that the day-trippers on boats from Porto miss out on the train crosses a bridge (one of 35 along the route) to the south bank of the river Shift to the left side of the train to see tiny train stations – shelters abandoned wineries and vineyards that extend right to the tracks the landscape abruptly widens into a broad valley studded with olive trees a dam and a power plant looming in the distance the original wooden station is still intact though there’s not much else to see or do here take a bathroom break and board the train (most likely the same one you arrived on) returning to Porto I did the trip in January, which meant the weather was particularly wet and misty. If you’re serious about clear views or photography – or simply want to take advantage of the longer daylight hours – make the trip during the summer months. Pinhão is your best bet for food and drink. Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, pack a lunch and a bottle of wine ahead of time and plan a riverside picnic. I bought my tickets in advance, yet given how few people ride the Linha do Douro nowadays, you’d probably be fine buying your tickets on the day of travel at the station. A round-trip ticket costs around €30; breaking the trip into bits and buying three separate tickets as I suggest here will cost a tiny bit more. Adult tickets cost €83.50 and group tickets (more than 10 people) are available for €80 BRASIL — A serene orange hue cuts across the horizon with the first rays of sunlight as dawn breaks in the mountainous countryside of Brazil’s second-most southerly state the frost melts and water vapor rises from the ground The smoky landscape of a morning frost is a typical occurrence during winter in this highland region In the kitchen of Sara Aparecida and Silvino de Liz Rosa’s house a wood fire crackles as it warms the room while the couple serve themselves chimarrão the traditional hot drink of people in southern Brazil The day starts early on the Santo Antônio do Caveiras farm Just a few steps from the slightly ajar front door one can see the trunk of a 20-meter (65-foot) tall araucaria tree The tree is a female of the species and is nearly 45 years old it guards over the land below and is something of a family treasure since it produces more than 200 pine cones a year,” said the couple’s son As the owner of a neighboring farm just a few kilometers away in Morro do Bacheiro the family farmer and his father have been araucaria pine nut harvesters for as long as they can remember The practice is generations-old in the region which is home to the largest population of araucaria trees in the state In the area that forms the Planalto Serrano Catarinense the Araucaria angustifolia — also known as the Brazilian or Paraná pine — is the predominant species It is the main feature of the moist araucaria forests or mixed ombrophilous forests as they are officially known which form part of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest It is also the only naturally occurring forest of its kind in the country is a symbol of the region’s culture and cuisine This type of pine nut is also the driving part of a productive chain involving more than a dozen municipalities in Santa Catarina’s southwest São José do Cerrito and Bom Jardim da Serra account for roughly 75% of the araucaria pine nut market in Santa Catarina are working together to promote actions that aim to combine empirical and academic science while valuing traditional knowledge and know-how to strengthen sustainable production chains that preserve and restore native vegetation ensuring the subsistence of local communities generates income for hundreds of families in this highland region and provides opportunities to promote inclusive agriculture collective consciousness and environmental preservation Investment in real food combined with active community associations point the way forward for the people and forests of the region coordinator of the Vianei Center for Popular Education — an association that has been providing advice on family agriculture agroecology and food security in the region — said that a large part of current initiatives had been discussed for a long time “Everything is part of a process of sustainable development for the region as we’re talking about a chain that is still in a position of marginality in a market that is only interested in profit,” he said a value-added tax on sales and services that was a burden on the final price of their products and represented another obstacle to the formalization of the chain of production and retail “We’re talking about a production chain that is mostly informal The legal part of the industry makes up somewhere between 10% and 30%,” Magnanti said Hundreds of araucaria pine nut harvesters sell their products in both their natural and processed form A large part of the harvest is sold clandestinely with current regulations being one of the main obstacles in the production chain an auditor for the economic activity of a local municipal association the data available for analysis are rather unclear “Based on the invoices that passed through local councils in each municipality 234 producers were recorded in the year 2022 who sold 1,500 [metric tons] for an average of 3.37 reais [$0.70] per kilogram corresponding to a total of 6 million reais [$1.2 million],” the auditor said the financial turnover of the production chain came in at 20 million reais [$4.1 million] last year A survey carried out by the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina showed that 1,700 metric tons of araucaria pine nuts were sold in the municipality of Painel alone the latest census carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics showed that 3,386 farming establishments said they have araucaria pine nuts on their property “That shows a projection of the overall productive capacity which can then be divided between the part that is registered for sale the part that is sold without being recorded as well as the part that is not sold because there is insufficient labor to carry out the harvest,” Branco explained with the harvest period falling between April and July the income that comes from extracting and processing araucaria pine nuts is hardly enough to support a family through the year who idealized the prototype for a machine that removes the shell from the nut The extraction of the kernel required additional manpower due to the hard bark of the nutshell Increasing capacity was an important step since processing the araucaria pine nuts once they have been shelled allows for them to be sold outside the harvest season Niehues lives in the community of São Pedro and is part of the Renascer Agroecological Association The project to facilitate and increase the productive capacity of the araucaria pine nut farmers was developed between 2014 and 2017 at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in partnership with the Ecoserra Ecological Cooperative from the city of Lages Urubici is also where the first processing plant for the araucaria pine nut was established we managed to get funding from the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture to set up a small facility on public land which belonged to the local council,” Magnanti said The Renascer Association and the Ecoserra Ecological Cooperative worked together to produce a rotation scheme for families in the community to carry out work on the facility The following step saw the distribution of approximately 15 kits among the farmers which included machines to shell and grind the nuts as well as machines that could be used to seal the plastic bags used to store the roasted nuts The aim of the project was to widen the scale of processing for the product the storage of unprocessed nuts can lead to farmers losing out both in terms of the quantity and quality of their product as they face the risk of their crop becoming infested by pests the number of legal plants that process the araucaria pine nut for sale are still extremely low in number According to data from the Intermunicipal Consortium of the Santa Catarina Mountains a total of 13 have been registered in municipalities such as São Joaquim processes nearly 30 metric tons of araucaria pine nut each harvest which is the edible part of the araucaria pine nut has been eaten for centuries by the inhabitants of the southern highlands of Brazil The most traditional way of preparing the nut is the sapecada which are set alight and burn quickly and intensely This ancient method was previously used by the Indigenous inhabitants of the region and later by the mule drivers who used to travel through the countryside transporting supplies for local traders The sapecada is still a favorite of those who work during the harvest On a day spent harvesting the nut in the forest a sapecada is the go-to dish to keep them well-fed while they work Machines are seldom used for the extraction transportation and processing of the araucaria pine nut on these farms The work to harvest the nut is carried out entirely manually and can be dangerous the properties belonging to Jaison and Silvino de Liz Rosa produced a crop weighing 10 metric tons from their 47 hectares (116 acres) of land and then come and pick it up from us here,” Silvino explained They sold their product at 5 reais ($1) per kilogram they take in around 600 pine cones per day or even make a [pine nut] flour that we can sell the whole year round That way it’ll be easier and we’ll run fewer risks,” said Jaison who has been involved in the harvests for 30 years The harvesters fearlessly climb the towering pine trees It takes a lot of skill to be able to climb 15-30 of these trees a day with each movement at every step being carefully measured After climbing 20-30 meters (about 65-100 feet) up the tree trunk the harvesters reach the crown of the tree and must then take care to make sure that the branch on which their feet are resting is not going to break which could lead them to fall and suffer serious injury the harvesters must also navigate themselves through the tree’s branches the harvesters are only able to get less than half of what the araucaria produces Wildlife feed off the scraps and husks that fall to the forest floor and are left behind after the harvest The azure jay (Cyanocorax caeruleus) is the species that most contributes to seed dispersal It will often bury the araucaria pine nuts but will not always remember to return to the spot where it previously hid the nut “There’s also the red-spectacled amazon [Amazona pretrei] that comes here in flocks from Rio Grande do Sul and only stays during the pine nut season A rich lexicon exists for the araucaria pine nut with every community giving the tree’s seed a different name according to the seed’s characteristics such as its appearance or stage of ripeness pinhão do tarde and pinhão de 25 de março are a sample of the various names the nuts are given The araucaria pine nut harvest season is officially opened by law from April 1 however the harvesters — who have an intimate relationship with and understanding of their environment — say that part of the harvest is lost because of this as some of the tree’s fruit has already ripened by March The fruit here refers to the bulbous pine cones that weigh 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) and hold 100-150 pine nuts Pollination rates cause the size of the pine cones to vary greatly from tree to tree and from year to year with climatic conditions influencing whether the cones end up larger or smaller than average Among the rich variety of the araucaria pine nut the cajuvá is held to be the cream of the crop Beautifully shaped and at the ideal point of ripeness An infinite number of dishes are prepared with the araucaria pine nut with the entrevero — beef and pork with araucaria pine nuts fried in lard — and paçoca — a araucaria pine nut-based farofa or toasted and seasoned flour mixture that is used as an accompaniment to many Brazilian dishes — being the most popular Araucaria pine nuts are also used to make croquetas the Santa Catarina araucaria pine nut was added to the Brazilian edition of the Ark of Taste an Italian body that aims to promote local and sustainable growing and harvesting of food safeguarding products that are part of a diverse human food chain “Slow Food was a chance to make an international connection the araucaria pine nut market was just starting to grow Slow Food put an ingredient that was new to many in the shop window the pine nut producing region became a Slow Food Presidium Food heritage and food security are linked to forest management by traditional populations The Santa Catarina highlands were once a borderless land inhabited by Indigenous peoples from the Xokleng The eldest members of these groups speak of how during the period in which the rural areas of the state were occupied known as bugreiros or “Indian hunters,” to wipe out the Indigenous population of the region The mark of this dark episode in the region’s history has been left on the land referring to the community whose name means “bloodshed” or “slaughter” in Portuguese local farmers have come to see the importance of keeping the forest standing as well as of integrating different tree and plant species which they already intuitively did on their properties without knowing that it was an agroforestry system Managing the forests has allowed the landscape to be protected Facing this is the expansion of the agricultural frontier as it encroaches ever farther into the forest generates a number of obstacles to the evolution of the productive chain The cultural landscape of the Santa Catarina highlands is faced by a number of major threats such as the conversion of forests into pasture the leasing of land for pine plantations to be created monocultural sowing of grains such as soybeans in rural areas and the construction of small-scale hydroelectric plants “The araucaria can be found above an altitude of 500 meters [1,640 feet] [above the town of] Rancho Queimado This whole part of the state had a different history of occupation from other parts of Santa Catarina It was an area that was part of the province of São Paulo It only became part of the state much later A large part of the fragments of forested land that are home to the araucaria are found on private estates The vegetation that once covered almost 200,000 square kilometers (77,220 square miles) of high-altitude land has been decimated the predatory exploitation of natural resources that powered southern Brazil’s timber industry saw the area of araucaria forests fall by 98% It was only in 2001 that the National Environment Council (CONAMA) outlawed the felling of the araucaria — a tree species that has been around since the time of the dinosaurs There are fossilized remnants of the araucaria that have been dated to 250 million years ago only 1% of the 3% of remaining areas belong to the original forest cover The species is critically endangered and was included in the official list of endangered Brazilian species and in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) It is forecast to go extinct within the next 50 years if no action to preserve and recuperate the species is taken According to Marciano Coelho Correa, a director at the Ecoserra Ecological Cooperative, clandestine felling of the araucaria still goes on I mean that they need to be backed up with the science and the law so that they can promote the management of the trees on their properties.” The araucaria pine nut harvesters who manage the resources of the forests play a vital role in the construction of the landscapes of the region plant management integrated with small-scale agro-ecological crops characterizes the conservation of an agroforestry system feijoa trees and Mimosa scabrella grow among the forest “The connection between araucaria forests and agroecology changes the lives of those who depend on the land as it gives people the chance to make use of things that are important to them,” Correa explained developed by the postgraduate program in Agricultural and Natural Ecosystems at the Federal University of Santa Catarina seeks to formulate conservation strategies through use for the maintenance of the species in the landscape and culture economic and social aspects aims to contribute to the development of reference units in agroforestry management with araucaria The ongoing project has received funding from FAPESC the Research Support Foundation of the State of Santa Catarina and has partnerships with the Vianei Education Center the Environmental Institute of Santa Catarina and the Santa Catarina State University campus in the city of Lages On the majority of the properties that are part of the focus area of the study at least 50% of the area is covered by araucaria trees Silvino’s farm has 24,000 trees — coming in at 600 per hectare and three times more than what would be expected in an araucaria forest that had not undergone any type of intervention “They have been carrying out activities that interfere with the landscape for a very long time What they would need to add to what they have traditionally done is thinning out [the forest] in areas where there is a high density of trees,” Siminski said What the study argues is that the conditions that farmers in that region have are different “The harvesters aren’t going to turn their land into soybean plantations or cattle-ranching pastures What they want is to manage the araucaria numbers in a way that allows them to carrying on producing pine nuts in the long term And legislation needs to be modernized to attend to this situation Social and economic well-being and the defense of life are the basic concepts of agroecology the farm of Joelce da Rosa Damas and Maria Elizabete Oliveira Damas is part of the Acolhida na Colônia ecological agrotourism route The locals open their doors to the visitors holds the valorization of the countryside way of life as its guiding principle The agroextractivist couple collected nearly 80 bags weighing 50 kilograms (110 pounds) each in 2022 “Some of it I got from our farm [9 hectares in size] and the rest I got working as a sharecropper on my neighbor’s farm,” Damas said He built the community’s sheds that are used for storing and processing the araucaria pine nuts and has also made a machine that can separate the pine kernel from the husk based on the teachings he received from an old farmworker the harvesters would make a ladder in the trunk of the araucaria tree itself with a machete This method has since been dropped by the harvesters of today for it is even more risky than the current way of scaling the trees Joelce changed from his traditional methods to an agroecological approach after being hospitalized three times with a serious infection because of the use of chemical products They were really traumatic experiences for me and my family No money can replace the health and quality of life of the plants the animals that feed on them and those who make their living from the land,” he said The return to an integrative and systemic understanding changed how the farmer saw and related to nature “Most of our income comes from selling apples Faced with the necessity of creating a structure that transcended the local economy the rural producers came together to create the Ecoserra Ecological Cooperative Organic agriculture in the region has been strengthened by the territorial brand for twenty years “There was little demand for a large volume of products for sale We needed to have an intermediary that would go beyond direct sales especially in terms of the institutional market through which we have access to public policies such as the Food Acquisition Program and the National School Meals Program,” explained Marciano Coelho Correa which is responsible for the annual distribution of 40-80 metric tons of every harvest and off-season product including araucaria pine nuts processed in 500-gram (1.1-lb) and 1 kg (2.2-lb) bags the farmers sell their products in the local market grocery stores and they supply federal government programs “It’s important to remember that the vast majority of the araucaria pine nut harvest circulates [through the economy] via middlemen,” Natal Magnanti said São Joaquim and Capão Alto sell their goods to the CEASA or to other regions in Santa Catarina or to states such as Paraná Another vital form of distribution is the direct sale of produce at roadside stalls located on kilometer 182 of the BR-282 highway is literally flowing with araucaria pine nuts the owner Antônio Milton Amarante has been selling the araucaria pine nut to a whole range of consumers “At my stall I sell all kinds of farm products but the araucaria pine nut accounts for 90% of my income From the first day of the harvest season onward does not close his stall for even a single day This article was first reported by Mongabay’s Brazil team and published here on our Brazil site on Apr The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] Portugal -- Travel pros braved the rain on the banks of Portugal's Douro River in the port of Pinhao on Thursday to witness the christening of Avalon Waterways' new ship Saturday Night Live alumna and actress Cheri Oteri was godmother of Avalon's first ship in Portugal and the 15th in its fleet I name this goddess of Portugal's Douro River she is one of the most sustainable vessels in Europe," Oteri said during her blessing "May her sunny disposition carry this ship The 102-passenger Alegria set sail on its first voyage on March 26 The four-night sailing is an abbreviated version of the Douro itinerary Avalon will operate this year Guests on the first cruise included Avalon and Globus executives as well as travel advisors and media Avalon Waterways president Pamela Hoffee said the ship's name -- Alegria means 'happiness' in Portuguese -- factored heavily into the company's decision to choose Oteri as the ship's godmother saying the Emmy-nominated comedian was the "perfect choice."  "As a difference-making entertainer -- and one of the ground-breaking women who inspired modern comedy in America -- Cheri has brought so much inspiration and joy into our lives," Hoffee said during her remarks onboard the Alegria ahead of the ceremony Avalon invited Oteri and guests to the sundeck to watch a surprise fireworks show over the terraced vineyard hillsides that overlook the Douro The Avalon Alegria's first revenue cruise departs April 3.___ Correction: The Avalon Alegria has capacity for 102 passengers An earlier version of this report mistakenly said the ship has 102 cabins As the BBC show Celebrity Race Across the World nears its conclusion the four competing teams approach the end of their 6,000-mile journey Unchanged in format since the first Race Across the World aired in 2019 the Bafta-winning series involves teams of two (a mix of couples friends and family combos) racing to reach a destination using any means of transportation other than air travel The route for the first series was London to Singapore then it was Mexico City to Ushuaia in Argentina for the second series while the third series this year — narrated by John Hannah and transplanted from BBC2 to the higher-profile BBC1 — focused solely on Canada drawing almost five million viewers a week Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. With Europe in the throes of what could be one of its worst heat waves, fatalities mounted in Spain and Portugal and a 116-degree reading in Portugal broke a national record. Billions of cicadas will soon emerge, is your state on the list? Rounds of severe storms to impact Central, East US Halley's Comet to set off meteor shower Monday night Soggy South Central states: Intense downpours to renew flooding risk Second arrest made in one of New Jersey’s largest wildfires Study reveals the surprising evolution of weirdest animals on Earth Coyote drinks from Los Angeles salon's skylight The REAL ID deadline is less than a week away Fungi could be used to build homes one day, researchers say Get AccuWeather alerts as they happen with our browser notifications. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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Volume 13 - 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2020.00078 This article is part of the Research TopicBrain Disease Mechanisms - Editor’s Picks 2021View all 12 articles Genetic analyses of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have revealed a strong association between mutations in genes encoding many RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) RBPs are a group of evolutionally conserved proteins that participate in multiple steps of RNA metabolism has been shown to be involved in neurodegeneration and the development of ALS While the exact mechanism by which dysregulated RBPs contribute to ALS remains elusive emerging evidence supports the notion that both a loss of function and/or a gain of toxic function of these ALS-linked RBPs play a significant role in disease pathogenesis through facilitating abnormal protein interaction and by disturbing ribonucleoprotein granule dynamics and phase transition we summarize the current knowledge on the molecular mechanism by which RBPs are dysregulated and the influence of defective RBPs on cellular homeostasis during the development of ALS The strategies of ongoing clinical trials targeting RBPs and/or relevant processes are also discussed in the present review such as transactivation response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma/translocated in sarcoma (FUS/TLS) we summarize the current understanding of how RBPs are dysregulated and the role of disrupted RBPs in ALS development We also highlight the emerging therapeutic intervention by targeting these ALS-implicated RBPs mutations in genes encoding many RBPs are highly associated with ALS dysregulation of RBPs as a result of compromised nucleocytoplasmic trafficking and sequestration by abnormal RNAs also contributes significantly to disease pathogenesis This section will briefly discuss these underlying mechanisms resulting in RBP dysregulation in ALS These gene mutations could lead to loss of function and/or gain of toxic function (will discuss in detail later in this review) contributing to the development of the disease Structure and mutations in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) Schematic diagram for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-associated RBPs The location of single point mutations for each RBP is indicated as red dot and the psi symbol denotes the location of multiple mutations associated with ALS-related motor neuron diseases gene mutations and fragmentations cannot explain all cases of the observed mislocalization of RBPs Protein aggregation is a common event in neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. Several mechanisms have been recognized to contribute to protein aggregation in ALS, including self-aggregation, altered RNP granule dynamics, sequestration by aberrant RNA foci, and defects in protein quality control system (Conlon and Manley, 2017; Morriss and Cooper, 2017) Dysregulation of RBP influences various aspects of the RNA metabolism, resulting in diverse molecular phenotypes, such as disrupted transcription and RNA splicing, abnormal RNA transport, altered mRNA stability, and protein translation. Possible mechanisms involve the loss of function and/or toxic gain of function of these RBPs through aberrant protein interactions, aggregate formation, perturbation of RNP granule dynamics, and phase transition (Figure 2) The following sections will discuss the known/speculated disease mechanisms in genes Mutations in RBPs may result in mislocalization within the cells due to disruption in nucleocytoplasmic trafficking which can lead to the formation of toxic protein aggregates within cytoplasmic inclusions The accumulation of these aberrant RNA granules enhances the toxicity/pathological effects in mis-regulating normal RNA metabolism and thus leading to neurodegenerative phenotypes such as demyelination This speculation warrants future investigations Early studies on ALS therapy have been mostly focused on SOD1. However, SOD1 mutations account for approximately only 20% of fALS and approximately 2% to 3% of all ALS cases (Taylor et al., 2016) Given the recognized importance of RBPs in ALS RBPs have emerged as critical therapeutic targets for the treatment of ALS The contribution of dysfunctional RBPs in both fALS and sALS has been greatly appreciated over the last decade since the recognition of TDP-43 as an ALS causal gene and TDP-43 proteinopathy as a hallmark for ALS The ALS-implicated RBPs share structural and functional similarity Dysregulated or mutant RBPs have been shown to cause disease phenotype through common protein pathologies current evidence also points to a distinct function and unique mechanism for individual RBPs in the pathogenesis of ALS A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathological role of these RBPs in ALS development will lead to a novel avenue for therapeutic intervention for this devastating disease All authors contributed to the writing of this article This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (PJT 159546) and the ALS Society of Canada YM is the recipient of a Doctoral Fellowship from the ALS Canada-Brain Canada YM and YX are the recipients of UBC Four Year Fellowship YX is also supported by the UBC ECOSCOPE program KZ is the recipient of the Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research program PX is the recipient of the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research program CN and HLi are supported by the MITACS Accelerate program The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest Axonal transport of TDP-43 mRNA granules is impaired by ALS-causing mutations Gene discovery in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: implications for clinical management HSC70 expression is reduced in lymphomonocytes of sporadic ALS patients and contributes to TDP-43 accumulation TDP-43 regulates its mRNA levels through a negative feedback loop No supportive evidence for TIA1 gene mutations in a European cohort of ALS-FTD spectrum patients Autophagy induction enhances TDP43 turnover and survival in neuronal ALS models Therapeutic reduction of ataxin-2 extends lifespan and reduces pathology in TDP-43 mice The pathobiology of TDP-43 C-terminal fragments in ALS and FTLD Cholinergic-associated loss of hnRNP-A/B in Alzheimer’s disease impairs cortical splicing and cognitive function in mice ALS associated mutations in Matrin 3 alter protein-protein interactions and impede mRNA nuclear export Eukaryotic stress granules: the ins and outs of translation TDP-43 post-translational modifications in health and disease RNA dysregulation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Cytoplasmic relocalization of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 controls translation initiation of specific mRNAs Autophagy in motor neuron disease: key pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic targets RNA-binding proteins in neurodegeneration: mechanisms in aggregate Evaluating the role of the FUS/TLS-related gene EWSR1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis A yeast functional screen predicts new candidate ALS disease genes Targeted exon capture and sequencing in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis The chaperone HSPB8 reduces the accumulation of truncated TDP-43 species in cells and protects against TDP-43-mediated toxicity ATXN2-CAG42 sequesters PABPC1 into insolubility and induces FBXW8 in cerebellum of old ataxic knock-in mice Monocytes of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis linked to gene mutations display altered TDP-43 subcellular distribution DeJesus-Hernandez Expanded GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat in noncoding region of C9ORF72 causes chromosome 9p-linked FTD and ALS FUS-immunoreactive inclusions are a common feature in sporadic and non-SOD1 familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis TDP-43 regulates the alternative splicing of hnRNP A1 to yield an aggregation-prone variant in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Synaptic FUS localization during motoneuron development and its accumulation in human ALS synapses RNA toxicity from the ALS/FTD C9ORF72 expansion is mitigated by antisense intervention ALS-associated fused in sarcoma (FUS) mutations disrupt Transportin-mediated nuclear import Ataxin-2 intermediate-length polyglutamine expansions are associated with increased risk for ALS Small-molecule modulation of TDP-43 recruitment to stress granules prevents persistent TDP-43 accumulation in ALS/FTD Ataxin-2 interacts with FUS and intermediate-length polyglutamine expansions enhance FUS-related pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis François-Moutal Small molecule targeting TDP-43’s RNA recognition motifs reduces locomotor defects in a Drosophila model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Prion-like low-complexity sequences: key regulators of protein solubility and phase behavior Mice with endogenous TDP-43 mutations exhibit gain of splicing function and characteristics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis GGGGCC repeat expansion in C9orf72 compromises nucleocytoplasmic transport Subcellular localization of matrin 3 containing mutations associated with ALS and distal myopathy N-terminal sequences in matrin 3 mediate phase separation into droplet-like structures that recruit TDP43 variants lacking RNA binding elements ALS-linked mutations in ubiquilin-2 or hnRNPA1 reduce interaction between ubiquilin-2 and hnRNPA1 Nuclear-import receptors reverse aberrant phase transitions of RNA-binding proteins with prion-like domains Nuclear export inhibitors avert progression in preclinical models of inflammatory demyelination Phosphorylated TDP-43 in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis RNA targets of wild-type and mutant FET family proteins Friend or foe-Post-translational modifications as regulators of phase separation and RNP granule dynamics Phase separation of FUS is suppressed by its nuclear import receptor and arginine methylation Loss of TDP-43 causes age-dependent progressive motor neuron degeneration Potentiated Hsp104 variants antagonize diverse proteotoxic misfolding events Mutations in the Matrin 3 gene cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Modifiers of C9orf72 dipeptide repeat toxicity connect nucleocytoplasmic transport defects to FTD/ALS TARDBP mutations in individuals with sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS mutations of FUS suppress protein translation and disrupt the regulation of nonsense-mediated decay Genetic mutations in RNA-binding proteins and their roles in ALS Lost in transportation: nucleocytoplasmic transport defects in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases Mutations in prion-like domains in hnRNPA2B1 and hnRNPA1 cause multisystem proteinopathy and ALS Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) E1 binds to hnRNP A2 and inhibits translation of A2 response element mRNAs Mutations in the FUS/TLS gene on chromosome 16 cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Lagier-Tourenne Divergent roles of ALS-linked proteins FUS/TLS and TDP-43 intersect in processing long pre-mRNAs CDC7 inhibition blocks pathological TDP-43 phosphorylation and neurodegeneration The tau tubulin kinases TTBK1/2 promote accumulation of pathological TDP-43 The phosphatase calcineurin regulates pathological TDP-43 phosphorylation Synaptic paths to neurodegeneration: the emerging role of TDP-43 and FUS in synaptic functions TDP-43 repression of nonconserved cryptic exons is compromised in ALS-FTD Whole-exome sequencing identifies a missense mutation in hnRNPA1 in a family with flail arm ALS Muscle developmental defects in heterogeneous nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1 knockout mice López-Erauskin ALS/FTD-linked mutation in FUS suppresses intra-axonal protein synthesis and drives disease without nuclear loss-of-function of FUS Pathological TDP-43 distinguishes sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with SOD1 mutations TIA1 mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia promote phase separation and alter stress granule dynamics TDP-43 and FUS in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia Matrin 3-dependent neurotoxicity is modified by nucleic acid binding and nucleocytoplasmic localization Proteostasis and ALS: protocol for a phase II multicentre clinical trial for colchicine in ALS (Co-ALS) Domains involved in TAF15 subcellular localisation: dependence on cell type and ongoing transcription FUS pathology in ALS is linked to alterations in multiple ALS-associated proteins and rescued by drugs stimulating autophagy Protein-RNA networks regulated by normal and ALS-associated mutant HNRNPA2B1 in the nervous system Antisense oligonucleotides extend survival and reverse decrement in muscle response in ALS models Poly(ADP-ribose) prevents pathological phase separation of TDP-43 by promoting liquid demixing and stress granule localization An antisense oligonucleotide against SOD1 delivered intrathecally for patients with SOD1 familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a phase 1 Motor neuron disease-associated loss of nuclear TDP-43 is linked to DNA double-strand break repair defects Phase separation by low complexity domains promotes stress granule assembly and drives pathological fibrillization Analysis of spinal and muscle pathology in transgenic mice overexpressing wild-type and ALS-linked mutant MATR3 Protein sequestration as a normal function of long noncoding RNAs and a pathogenic mechanism of RNAs containing nucleotide repeat expansions Molecular epidemiological study of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Japanese population by whole-exome sequencing and identification of novel HNRNPA1 mutation Impaired DNA damage response signaling by FUS-NLS mutations leads to neurodegeneration and FUS aggregate formation TDP-43 enhances translation of specific mRNAs linked to neurodegenerative disease FET proteins TAF15 and EWS are selective markers that distinguish FTLD with FUS pathology from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS mutations Ubiquitinated TDP-43 in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS genes in the genomic era and their implications for FTD Phosphorylation of TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) by truncated casein kinase 1δ triggers mislocalization and accumulation of TDP-43 Disruption of RNA metabolism in neurological diseases and emerging therapeutic interventions Long pre-mRNA depletion and RNA missplicing contribute to neuronal vulnerability from loss of TDP-43 Virus-mediated delivery of antibody targeting TAR DNA-binding protein-43 mitigates associated neuropathology FUS phase separation is modulated by a molecular chaperone and methylation of arginine cation-pi interactions ALS-associated mutation FUS-R521C causes DNA damage and RNA splicing defects A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 is the cause of chromosome 9p21-linked ALS-FTD Increased cytoplasmic TDP-43 reduces global protein synthesis by interacting with RACK1 on polyribosomes Mechanistic view of hnRNPA2 low-complexity domain structure interactions and phase separation altered by mutation and arginine methylation Targeting RNA foci in iPSC-derived motor neurons from ALS patients with a C9ORF72 repeat expansion Scekic-Zahirovic Motor neuron intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of FUS-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS-associated mutant FUS induces selective motor neuron degeneration through toxic gain of function Shelkovnikova Antiviral immune response as a trigger of FUS proteinopathy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Toxic PRn poly-dipeptides encoded by the C9orf72 repeat expansion block nuclear import and export TDP-43 mutations increase HNRNP A1–7B through gain of splicing function Antisense oligonucleotide therapy for neurodegenerative disease ATXN2 trinucleotide repeat length correlates with risk of ALS TDP-43 mutations in familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Mutational analysis reveals the FUS homolog TAF15 as a candidate gene for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Characterizing the RNA targets and position-dependent splicing regulation by TDP-43 Widespread FUS mislocalization is a molecular hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis TARDBP mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with TDP-43 neuropathology: a genetic and histopathological analysis Reconsidering the causality of TIA1 mutations in ALS cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 6 C9orf72-generated poly-GR and poly-PR do not directly interfere with nucleocytoplasmic transport Mutant FUS causes DNA ligation defects to inhibit oxidative damage repair in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Autophagy activators rescue and alleviate pathogenesis of a mouse model with proteinopathies of the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 Targeted depletion of TDP-43 expression in the spinal cord motor neurons leads to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like phenotypes in mice Viral interaction with molecular chaperones: role in regulating viral infection Partial loss of TDP-43 function causes phenotypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Stress granule assembly disrupts nucleocytoplasmic transport The C9orf72 repeat expansion disrupts nucleocytoplasmic transport A mutant MATR3 mouse model to explain multisystem proteinopathy Mohamud Y and Luo H (2020) Dysregulation of RNA-Binding Proteins in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Received: 06 March 2020; Accepted: 22 April 2020; Published: 29 May 2020 Copyright © 2020 Xue, Ng, Xiang, Liu, Zhang, Mohamud and Luo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Honglin Luo, aG9uZ2xpbi5sdW9AaGxpLnViYy5jYQ== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish. PINHAO, Portugal (AP) — Ribbons of bright green grape leaves alternated with golden stone walls as far as I could see along the steep banks of Portugal’s Douro River. Cantilevered steps led up hand-stacked dry stone walls to narrow ledges, where the schist rock had been crumbled, also by hand, to make the soil. The terraces, planted with rows of vines, basked in the early summer sunshine. Tony Smith was showing me around his Quinta da Boa Vista estate outside the winemaking town of Pinhao, with 26 miles (42 kilometers) of walls, some 9 meters (30 feet) tall, supporting vines at least 80 years old. “Vines thrive when they suffer a bit,” he said. No kidding. These mountain-hugging terraced vineyards produce one of the most recognizable wines in the world and the most visible export of this economically struggling country: Port, or vinho do Porto in Portuguese, from its namesake harbor city at the Douro’s estuary, 80 miles (130 kilometers)downriver from Pinhao. In June, on my fourth trip to the region, I explored the port cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia (often simply called Gaia), the city on the opposite riverbank from Porto, and then drove up the Douro to visit three vineyards near the towns of Baiao and Pinhao. Holding a glass of 20-year tawny port at the Ramos Pinto lodge in Gaia, the house head winemaker and general manager Joao Nicolau de Almeida smiled at the dark amber swirls. “The most humanized wine,” he called it, because, from stone-breaking to the constantly changing blends over years, it’s “people’s work, not just nature’s.” Tawny was De Almeida’s first wine - at age 6 at his parents’ dinner table - and first school break job, when his father sent him to work in the family warehouses as punishment for bad grades. Over the last 30 years, De Almeida has been a leader in studying and modernizing Douro winemaking. The story of port, just like the resilient Douro grapes of which it’s a blend, continues to be one of human creativity. “Port-tonic?” a waiter offered as I sailed the Douro between the monument-crammed historic center of Porto and the wine cellars directly across the river in Gaia during the St. John’s Day regatta of rabelos, the traditional boats that were used to transport wine barrels. The trendy cocktail, made with white port, seeks to attract younger drinkers, said Rui Cunha, a Porto-based winemaker and great-grandson of Adriano Ramos Pinto, the house founder. Already in the late 19th century, he commissioned risque Art Nouveau advertisements of port as “a temptation,” including a glass-holding snake slithering up Eve as Adam watches. The ads are on view at the company’s museum. But for all its indulgent luxury reputation, port’s origins are backbreakingly earthy, stemming from rocky, steep terroir that couldn’t be more different from the gently rolling hills of Bourgogne, Chianti and Napa. Because vines need little water and can grow where little else will, Romans and then 12th-century Cistercian monks cultivated them along the upper Douro, which flows to the Atlantic from northern Spain (where, called Duero, it also waters celebrated vineyards). In the 1600s, English traders deprived of French wines turned to Portuguese producers, and, one story goes, added brandy to the full-bodied reds to preserve them on their sea voyage - making port. By the mid-1700s, parts of the Douro valley - beginning near the town of Peso da Regua, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) upstream from Porto - became a demarcated region, its vines and wines highly regulated to protect indigenous grapes like the prized touriga nacional. The landscape was unchanged until the 1980s, when port shipping companies started buying land upstream and innovators like De Almeida introduced vertical planting and larger terraces alongside the traditional ledges to mechanize some of the work. The latest trend has been bringing Douro winemaking closer to its country roots. The same Douro grapes blended for port are now being used for quality-certified table wines with a more universal, and inexpensive, appeal. As you travel upriver from Porto, just before the Douro region you cross the southernmost corner of another Portuguese demarcated wine zone, the generally cooler and wetter vinho verde one. In the granite hillsides around Baiao and Regua, it produces mostly a dry, mineral white. “Vinho verde is a growing segment,” being less alcoholic and a better fit with light foods, said Smith, whose other quinta, Covela, makes two kinds. During a Saturday lunch at Bom Retiro, Ramos Pinto’s quinta near Pinhao, friends and I used bacalhau, roast beef, Serra da Estrela cheese and custard as excuses to try five bottles - white port, white and red wine, and vintage and 20-year tawny port. The latter’s flavor lingered in my mouth like an exquisitely buzzy blend of caramel and dried nuts. All around me were the grapes that went into my glass, hand-picked from plants growing on those hot hand-carved stone terraces - monuments to a grueling feat of human ingenuity well worth toasting, even if you only drink water. Taylor’s Port owner The Fladgate Partnership has re-acquired the Vintage House Hotel it built in the heart of the Douro Valley – more than a decade after selling it. Taylor’s originally opened the Vintage House Hotel in Douro as the first quality hotel in the midst of some of the finest Port vineyards, at Pinhão in 1998. But, it sold the venue four years later. Now the company, also owner of Croft, Fonseca and Krohn, as well as the five-star Yeatman Hotel in Oporto, has bought the property and 14,000sq m of adjacent land from ECS, the company responsible for the Fundo Recuperação Turismo, which acquired it in 2013 following economic restructuring. ‘It will provide visitors who stay at The Yeatman in Oporto an opportunity to extend their visit in the Douro,’ said Adrian Bridge, Fladgate CEO. ‘Over the next few years, we will be working with the local authorities to create an improved tourism infrastructure in Pinhão, which we see as the centre of tourism in the Douro Valley, and where we have the potential to create a great visitor experience.’ Decanter.com understands that the extra land bought as part of the deal will allow an extra 30 rooms to be added to the current Vintage House capacity of 43 rooms and suites with river views, although this expansion may not take place for another two or three years. Meanwhile, work is continuing on a new road between Oporto and Pinhão, including a tunnel cutting through the Serra do Marão mountain range, which will cut travel by car by 20 minutes when it opens next year. The hotel is set to close in January and February 2016 for refurbishment before reopening in March. A recent business deal in Portugal is a blend of wine and family and a sign of the growing success of Douro wines. Vintner Cristiano van Zeller and his wife and children, owners of the Quinta Vale D. Maria winery in the Douro Valley, signed a deal earlier this month to sell the company to Aveleda, a leading Vinho Verde producer owned by their cousins Martim and António Guedes. The deal includes the winery and 111 acres of vineyards; the sale price was not disclosed. As part of the sale to Aveleda, van Zeller, his wife, Joana Lemos, and their three children have become minority shareholders in Aveleda, and Cristiano remains executive director of Quinta Vale D. Maria. He’s also the head of Aveleda’s new fine wine division. His daughter Francisca stays as brand manager, while Joana Pinhão remains the chief winemaker. Cristiano told Wine Spectator that this is a new life, one that they “are very happy and very enthusiastic to embrace.” Founded in 1870, Aveleda is the largest exporter of Vinho Verde, and owns Casal Garcia, Follies, Charamba and the Adega Velha brandy. Casal Garcia is a popular brand in Portugal and the top-selling Portuguese wine in the U.S. The success of Aveleda has allowed it to build an increasingly higher-end portfolio. The white wines have been significantly improved by investments in viticulture and winemaking, with the help of consultants Valérie Lavigne and the late Denis Dubourdieu. In early 2016, Aveleda purchased the Seis Quintas estate, acquiring 125 acres of vineyards in Douro Superior. Buying Quinta Vale D. Maria gives them prime vineyards facing Rio Torto, close to Pinhão, as well as one of the most prestigious brands in modern Portuguese wines. Quinta Vale D. Maria was created by van Zeller and Lemos from land purchased from Lemos’ relatives in 1996, following van Zeller’s sale of Quinta do Noval, a pioneering Douro Valley estate. Van Zeller grew Quinta Vale D. Maria into another top Douro brand, for both Vintage Port and table wines. The particular character of the Rio Torto terroir yields a special finesse and elegance to the quinta’s dry reds and Ports. Van Zeller later released a top-end red called CV, and recently the quinta started to issue bottlings from the most emblematic blocks of its old vineyards. The brand also now includes white wines from purchased grapes, and entry-level reds from vineyards in Douro’s north bank, just past Pinhão. Van Zeller says that he and Francisca can now concentrate all their efforts “on creating business and brand awareness for Quinta Vale D. Maria and, of course, for the Douro region and its wines and Ports.” He added that these efforts will now be supported by “one of the most efficient and professional wine company teams in Portugal.” He will continue to personally co-own the Douro Boys brand. His partners collectively agreed to keep Quinta Vale D. Maria in the group. Inside the first U.S. location of the French luxury retailer, guests can enjoy fine wine at … Phase one of the Viticulture and Winery Technology program’s new home, funded by a $10 … The Tuscan wine company has purchased a minority stake in Tenute delle Terre Nere; De … While the White House has paused tariffs on foreign wines at 10 percent for now, the trade … Vintners and guests at Italy’s premier spring tasting shared the belief that quality beats … The drinks giant is shifting all its wine focus to luxury brands like Mondavi, Schrader and … Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution – no matter how small You can change how much you give or cancel your contributions at any time Send us your comments or opinion on this article Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal Travel to the ‘Kingdom of Aurea’ with Millie Bobbie Brown and uncover its mysteries in Netflix’s latest release the film showcases majestic and breathtaking destinations igniting curiosity about the filming locations of Damsel offering fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Damsel This upcoming Netflix film takes audiences on a journey into the realm of fantasy and adventure Offering a unique twist on the fairytale trope Damsel follows the story of a “dutiful damsel” who agrees to marry a charming prince only to have her life take a dark turn when the royal family attempts to sacrifice her Headlined by Millie Bobby Brown as Princess Elodie the star-studded cast also includes Nick Robinson Damsel‘s captivating story unfolds in a fantastical realm of dragons and magic, drawing inspiration from real locations that are even more alluring off-screen than on-screen. While certain scenes were filmed in studios across locations in London much of the shooting also took place outdoors The picturesque landscapes of Portugal served as the backdrop for Damsel‘s filming locations offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the mystical world of the adventure movie The gateway to these tourist destinations in Portugal is Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon Once a stronghold of the Templars, Tomar now stands as a historic gem adorned with splendid Portuguese architecture that showcases the country’s rich culture, history, and traditions. The city served as a shooting location for Damsel, portraying the majestic kingdom in the Netflix release Things to do in Tomar: Explore the Convent of Christ Another historically significant city in Portugal featured as a shooting location for Damsel. The renowned Capillas Imperfectas castle and the UNESCO-enlisted Batalha Monastery might have been used for external shots The name “Batalha” translates to “battle” the town was constructed to fulfil a vow to the Virgin Mary as a token of victory in the battle against King Dom João I the town commemorates this victory every August showcasing the best of its culture and traditions Things to do in Batalha: Visit the Batalha Monastery Fundação Batalha de Aljubarrota The ancient city of Sortelha contributes to the mediaeval ambience of Damsel. As one of the oldest villages in Portugal it boasts historic castles that attract tourists with their architectural splendour Sortelha is a sought-after tourist destination known for its preservation of traditional roots the surrounding mountain ranges of Sortelha feature prominently in the movie Things to do in Sortelha: Explore Termas Rádium/Hotel Serra da Pena (ruínas) Serra da Estrela showcases the natural beauty of the Iberian Peninsula Damsel utilised the majestic peaks of Serra da Estrela for shooting outdoor scenes in the film; viewers can catch glimpses of Millie Bobby Brown’s character amidst the snowy peaks stands at 6,538 feet and is a popular destination for skiers Things to do in ​​Serra da Estrela: Explore Covão d’Ametade Praia Fluvial de Foz d’Égua and Covão do Boi The cast and crew of Damsel ventured to the wine town of Pinhao to capture the grandeur of the Douro River and its valley The natural landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Douro Valley provide an idyllic setting for Damsel’s universe Things to do in Pinhao: Explore the Douro River and its valleys Trilho de Pinhão – Casal de Loivos and indulge in authentic port wine at famous vineyards like Quinta da Roeda and Quinta dos Malvedos London, the capital of the United Kingdom making it a key filming location for Damsel Troubadour Meridian Water Studios served as the primary shooting location for the movie The cave scenes in Damsel were brought to life through VFX and stages at this studio Things to do in London: Explore iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London consider our guide on free things to do in London How to reach London: Heathrow Airport is the main airport serving London Related: Discover The Charm Of Netflix Series One Day Through Its Filming LocationsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Priyaja took her love for reading to the next level by majoring in English and minoring in Journalism ..Read Moreat Lady Shri Ram College For Women (DU). She is extremely curious about the world and wishes to visit all the countries once in her life. She identifies as a foodie and loves to spend her free time exploring different cuisine and curating new dishes. As a former Food Writer at NDTV, she can help you find the best places to eat in Delhi! Read Less Dining News Europe © 2025 Copyright TRAVEL + LEISURE ASIA site by Burdaluxury Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest on travel The Alto Douro deserves its Unesco world heritage hype with roads corkscrewing up to terraced ridges bluffs and one insanely gorgeous quinta after the next These wine lodges are your fast-track ticket to the region’s soul and home-cooked meals paired with rare wines as sunset silhouettes the hills aged tawny ports — the wines here are sensational which is perhaps unsurprising given that they’ve had 2,000 years to perfect them (this is one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions) and wine producers here still adhere to good old-fashioned hand-picking and grape-stomping rituals aim to visit during autumn’s explosion of red and gold when the vendimia (grape harvest) is in full swing or in early spring when the hillsides are puffed pink and white with almond blossom Main photo: Cristo Rei statue on Serra da Marofa Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo (Getty Images) Our travel journalism is written and edited by independent experts to inform inspire and advise our readers about the best choices for your holidays We also feature properties and itineraries from a specially selected list of trusted operators These buttons and adverts are clearly signposted and provide direct links through to external sites Check in to Quinta NovaPeering out across the curve of vine and river from its hilltop perch this 19th-century wine lodge presides over an estate owned by Portuguese royalty until 1725 Now in the fourth generation of the Amorim family it’s a magical spot to stay the night in rooms furnished with restrained elegance and antiques Rest by the pool or throw yourself wholeheartedly into all things wine-related tastings of award-winning brancos and tintos Chef André Carvalho expertly matches dishes like slow-cooked octopus and butter-soft Trás-os-Montes veal with estate wines Discover Douro Valley Full Day Private Tour with Lunch* The view from Miradouro São Leonardo de Galafura (Alamy)2 Take in the view from Miradouro São Leonardo de GalafuraEvery lurching hairpin bend on the N313-1 makes you want to grind to a halt and lunge for your smartphone as frankly nowhere in the Alto Douro will grab you quite like Miradouro São Leonardo de Galafura which at 640m above sea level takes in the full spread of the valley with vines combing the ridges like dragons’ backbones and the bright-blue ribbon of the Douro unravelling far below Bring a picnic and find yourself a rock at the top Discover Porto: Day Trip to Douro* Visit the town of PinhãoOn a particularly lovely bend in the river Pinhão is the Douro dream: its slopes perfectly crosshatched with vines and sprinkled with wine lodges that are visions in whitewash and bougainvillea The town is a handy base for diving deep into the valley: on a road trip which is festooned with 1930s azulejos (tiles) depicting the grape harvest Some of the world’s best port wines hail from these terraced and many quintas throw open their doors for tours and wine tastings Among them is the Symington family-owned Quinta do Bomfim and picnic on the terrace (pre-booking required) Recently they teamed up with Michelin-starred chef Pedro Lemos to open pop-up restaurant Casa dos Ecos Discover Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch and Optional Cruise* Parque Natural do Douro Internacional (Alamy)4 Get active in the Parque Natural do Douro InternacionalParque Natural do Douro Internacional often falls under the radar delivering one dramatic miradouro (viewpoint) after the next as the Douro carves a wild path through sheer cliffs and canyons bristling with holm oak which provide refuge for endangered bird species such as the Egyptian vulture It’s a terrific springboard for off-grid hiking make it the three-hour loop from Lamoso to the wispy Faia d’Água Alta waterfalls The vineyards of Quinta de la Rosa (Alamy)5 Join the wine harvestThe Douro is never more beguiling than in the mellow days of autumn when its vine-blanketed slopes turn crimson and the aroma of grape must hangs thickly in the air Nothing beats joining the locals to pick grapes during September’s wine harvest followed by a wild session of bare-footed grape-stomping in the traditional granite tanks they call lagares There are several quintas that let you participate in the grape harvest: either grabbing a bucket and secateurs to hit the vines or getting deliriously messy treading grapes With a terrace hovering romantically above the Douro glass-fronted slickly minimalist DOC is one of the region’s top tables who has two Michelin stars under his belt for the Casa de Chá da Boa Nova near Porto Ingredients sourced with utmost care shine in season-driven dishes that echo the region and Paula’s fondest food memories These are as simple and satisfying as sous-vide egg with alheira sausage and Azores pineapple with coconut and beet Let the experts pair them with wines from the encyclopaedic list There’s more than one kind of vintage at Quinta da Pacheca (Getty Images)7 Relax at the Quinta da PachecaEmbosomed in vines on a rise above the river this revamped 18th-century quinta hits the romantic sweet spot with its swanky hotel and stylishly converted wine-barrel rooms gazing wistfully out across the vines wine tastings (including a cheese pairing one) and cookery classes immerse you in regional food and wine culture you might just fancy kicking back on the deck and cracking open a bottle of estate red The Museum of Art and Archaeology of the Coa Valley in Vila Nova de Foz Côa (Alamy)8 Go back in time at Côa ValleyIn Portugal’s hot where the Côa river hooks up with the mighty Douro the Unesco world heritage Côa Valley presents a vast open-air gallery of palaeolithic rock art human and abstract motifs have been engraved in schist over the past 25,000 years; rudimentary doodles that still evoke a sense of dawn-of-time wonder and mystery Head out along dirt tracks by 4×4 to one of the park’s three visitable zones: Canada do Inferno As this is still a working archaeological site the museum in Vila Nova de Foz Côa presents an interesting romp through palaeolithic life and rock art the Unesco world heritage heart of the Douro wine region the sun-drenched town of Peso da Régua is a superb base for striking out into the surrounding vineyards and quintas The town was once a hub for transporting barrels of finest port wine along the river in flat-bottomed barcos rabelos Now you can drift past the vines on a boat trip to Porto trundle along the Douro Valley on a vintage steam train to Tua (on weekends from June to October) and get the inside scoop on the region’s wine-producing history at the Douro Museum Discover Douro Valley Wine Tasting, River Cruise and Lunch from Peso da Regua* The stairway at Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Alamy)10 Visit the town of Lamego and its medieval castleThe vine-cloaked hills of the Alto Douro wrap lovingly around Lamego alley-woven town topped off by a medieval castle goes to Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies) one of Portugal’s most enthralling religious sights Here a long and staggeringly ornate baroque stairway lavishly embellished with blue and white azulejos (tiled panels) zigzags up to an 18th-century rococo pilgrimage church Find Portugal’s most romantic townEdging east to the point where the Douro spills into Spain Barca d’Alva is the jumping-off point for a journey south to Castelo Rodrigo a medieval village so well preserved it resembles a romantic stage set The pleasure here is simply wandering the web of lanes within the ancient walls which twist up to a ruined castle and eyrie-like lookouts that contrast the view east to the mountains of Spain and west to the vineyards of the Douro Blow the budget at Quinta do CrastoClinging to a promontory high above the vine-wreathed slopes of the Alto Douro this fantasy quinta has views to make you gasp out loud With a history reaching back to 1615 and gnarled vines lovingly tended by the Roquette family for more than a century this is a sublime spot to dive deep into the region with four intimate guest rooms and a trapezoid infinity pool designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura that appears to float above the Douro River Tours whizz through cellars with state-of-the-art barrel-stacking systems and impeccable eco credentials and wine tastings (pairable with lunch or dinner) spotlight some of Portugal’s most phenomenal wines and ports — from rich Discover the best tours of Portugal Inspired to visit Portugal but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from TUI Holidays and BA Holidays Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here The Maritime Police will intensify surveillance near Pinhão Beach where part of the cliff collapsed on Saturday Speaking to Lusa, the port captain and local commander of the Lagos Maritime Police said that “the area was properly signposted with access to the site of the landslide being prohibited” which occurred in the early hours of Saturday destroying access to the staircase to Praia do Pinhão located between the beaches of Dona Ana dos Estudantes and Pinhão The alert was given to the maritime authorities by a member of the public on the morning of the same day Maritime Police will intensify daily patrolling of the location “in order to make people aware of the danger and ensure the safety of those who pass by” “People are always curious to go and take photographs but it is important to remember that anyone who passes through may be subject to an administrative offence” Hugo da Guia added that access to the Pinhão staircase “was not impeded but there were signs at the site warning of the risk” of collapse The captain of the port of Lagos warned of the risk of people accessing the site due to the instability of the cliff noting that “a small movement of debris was recorded in the same area last night” The collapse of part of the cliff in Pinhão was reported to the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) an entity that monitors the cliffs along the Portuguese coast Lusa contacted APA to obtain further clarification on what happened From the sound of the wheels on the ancestral rails to the wind in your hair, or the black smoke that puffs from the chimney, these are all the sensations of this extraordinary and unique journey on the Douro Historical Train. The route takes this historic steam locomotive along the banks of the Douro River, leaving passengers blown away. From Régua to Tua, the trip is an odd journey into the past, brightened by the beauty of the landscape, classified as World Heritage by the UNESCO. Climb on the train and come with me as we go on a journey back in time… Made in 1925, the locomotive has five classic wooden carriages and always leaves at the scheduled time, chasing the Douro river. The journey thrills passengers of all ages taking, them back to live memories from the past. The train is the star of Tua, and everyone who sees it waves and smiles at it passes by. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marisa Caiano (@marisacaiano) If you are going on this trip, you can sit in the carriages, listening to a local music group playing traditional songs from the region, or toasting with a glass of the old and emblematic Porto Ferreira wine. The cut-out drawings of the valley and the divine look of its ridges are stunning, leaving you unable to look away from the landscape for even for a single moment. Arriving at Pinhão, you can admire the magnificent tile panels, but be prepared to be amazed at the last stop, Tua. Pure, magical and colossal, it is right here that Tua, on the banks of the Douro River, becomes more rocky and wild, but somehow managing to leave a soothing mark on the soul. There is also a small showcase of regional products at the station that should not be missed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Twins and the Bucket List (@twinsandthebucketlist) The line was completed in 1880, flanked by cliffs that reach almost 700 meters in height with colossal granite blocks. Lining the river are wonderful chestnut trees, pines, and cork oaks, imposing in size and waving with the breeze. Here and there you can see squirrels, golden eagles, black storks and hawks. In the tunnels, you can also sometimes see bats. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dino Gomes Sousa (@dino_stewart) Vale do Tua Regional Natural Park brings together five town councils with various cultures and traditions, and it is this diversity that makes visitors fall in love with this magical place. The Tua Valley is home to almost 550 species of butterflies of rare beauty and is part of the Alto Douro Wine Region. The incredible geography created by the river provides a unique place to visit and contemplate. The landscape is marked by mountains, plateaus and valleys from the Douro, Tua, and Tinhela rivers. The director of the Tua Valley Regional Natural Park, Artur Cascarejo, once said that “the Valley is a destination of love”, explaining, “those who live here love Tua, the ones that visit us fall in love with it too”. In addition to the undoubtedly passionate train journey, you can also walk through the Tua Valley along the train line, considered to be one of the most beautiful rail routes in the world. From the valley of the Pinhão River to the eastern limit of Carrazeda de Ansiães, the stunning landscapes will fill your senses. Diversity is what defines the area, both in terms of gastronomy, wines, handicrafts, geology, and flora. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Teresa Alexandre (@teresa_alexandre) In Tua Valley there are many places where you can enjoy watching the nature of the riverside ecosystems, the Vila Chã dam in Alijó, the Palheiros castle in Murça, the Linhares river, the Carlão de Santa Maria Madalena or São Lourenço, and the granite slopes that line the Douro. There are 12 walking routes available in the Park, with the most recent walking route starting at the door of the Tua Valley Interpretive Center. On this route, you can take a round trip to the dam and enjoy the dam wall and the hydroelectric central designed by architect Eduardo Souto de Moura. Along the path, you will find wooden walkways over the Douro. The wine-growing terraces, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, are worth visiting and you can go up to the Carrazeda plateau to discover the ancient walled village of Ansiães.Go to the Church of São Salvador and São João, Romanesque temples that are worth seeing, but don’t forget to stop at the “Olhos do Tua” viewpoint, because the view here is stunning. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alexandre Pinto (@alxpnt) In Carrazeda de Ansiães, you can visit the International Museum of Contemporary Sculpture and the Ansiães Castle, which dates back to the third millennium before Christ and can be visited for free. The ancient Roman baths of São Lourenço, where you can bathe in these wonderful waters, are also impressive. Take a trip to Tralhariz, a village with just over 50 inhabitants, with a charming unit of Housing Tourism lost between the valleys of the rivers Tua and Douro, with 30 hectares of vineyards, olive groves and pasture. It has a fabulous manor that dates back to the XVIII century and was turned into a hotel. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ruimca (@ruimca) In addition to the walk and train ride that should not be missed, take an incredible boat trip along the Douro. I assure you that the landscape is breathtaking. The Parque Biológico do Douro offers fantastic trips on the river from 10 euros per person. The natural flora of the Tua Valley also deserves special attention, from its forests to its meadows and heaths, among many other natural riches that you must visit. Finally, go up to the Senhora da Graça Viewpoint, from where you can see the entire region of Trás-os-Montes, and don’t forget to taste the regional traditional delicacies such as sausage and meatloaf, the fantastic cheese, wine, and ham. These are experiences you will never forget! View this post on Instagram A post shared by I LOVE DOURO (@ilovedouro) Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website Taylor’s Port has announced the release of its new Taylor’s Sentinels Vintage Port a blend of wines produced on its properties in and around the Pinhão Valley and Eira Velha—are all located within the original 1756 demarcation and were awarded Feitoria status the highest classification for Port vineyards The name Sentinels is inspired by the granite pillars which stand guard along the demarcation line that separates the highest quality Port areas and where many of the Taylor’s estates are situated A total of 335 stone posts were placed between 1758 and 1761 to mark this area Each of the properties offers distinct characteristics in terms of altitude The blend for Sentinels Vintage Port is based on ‘parcel selection’ a meticulous process of choosing wines from specific plots on each estate the Sentinels Vintage Ports will be crafted in years that do not produce a classic Taylor’s Vintage These vintages yield wines with the potential to age and improve in bottle yet are approachable and enjoyable when young said it was “thrilled” to introduce the collection He said: “This release underscores our commitment to producing exceptional Ports that honour the legacy of our historic estates The Taylor’s Sentinel’s blend is a celebration of our past and a testament to our dedication to quality.” said it was a “tribute to the unique terroir” of the Pinhão Valley He said: “Each estate contributes its own character to the blend resulting in a wine that is both complex and harmonious It’s a true reflection of the rich heritage and meticulous craftsmanship at Taylor’s.” Record-breaking heat has killed over 1,000 people in Western Europe over the past week while firefighters battle to contain blazes scorching swathes of three countries amid a worsening climate emergency One 60-year-old Madrid sanitation worker collapsed in the middle of the street while working Friday The man was rushed to the hospital with a body temperature of over 106°F and died of heat stroke He was one of 123 people who suffered heat-related deaths Friday in Spain In drought-ravaged Portugal, where temperatures soared to over 116° in Pinhão on Friday, the Health Ministry said Saturday that 659 people have died from heat-related causes over the past week In Britain, the U.K. Met Office on Friday issued its first-ever Red Extreme heat warning for Monday and Tuesday when an "exceptional hot spell" is expected to hit the country AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys said "there is concern that this heat could become a long-duration heatwave" lasting into August in places including "the valleys of Hungary Parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia are also suffering heatwaves and wildfires Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people in France, Spain, and Portugal have been evacuated as firefighters battle out-of-control wildfires burning throughout parts of those countries. More than half of Portugal is on red alert status as firefighters work to contain 14 separate conflagrations and the Greek island of Crete have also fought wildfires this week Italy is in the midst of an early summer heatwave coupled with the worst drought in its north in 70 years—conditions linked to a recent disaster when a huge chunk of the Marmolada glacier broke loose Scorching temperatures have even reached northern Europe An annual four-day walking event in the Dutch city of Nijmegen announced Sunday that it would cancel the first day when temperatures are expected to peak at around 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) Studies have shown that the human-driven climate emergency is increasing the frequency and severity of heatwaves Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com Associated Press articles: Copyright © 2016 The Associated Press ShareSaveLifestyle8 Reasons To Visit The Dramatic Douro Valley In PortugalByPer and Britt Karlsson Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Britt & Per Karlsson write on wine and wine travel 08:19am ESTShareSaveThis article is more than 5 years old.“This wine is called Abandonado” slope of rocky schist soil with vines planted 85 years ago It was abandoned (hence the name of the wine) for a long time; it was too hard to work.” Now Domingos Alves de Sousa and his family are again working this plot and they make a stunning wine from it The wine producers in the Douro Valley are used to hard work that offer such breath-taking views to the wine tourists mean hard conditions for the workers in the vineyards magnificent landscape is one of the reasons to go to the Douro Valley in northern Portugal This is definitely one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world Another reason to go is if you like port wine because this is where it is made But today the dry Douro wines make up an ever-increasing part of the production fortified wines are not your thing you will enjoy it here They have a very distinct personality of their own they have totally resisted the urge to import international varieties is shared with Spain where it is called Tempranillo are field blends which means that several varieties – it could be as many as 40-50 different – are planted all together Even if you prefer your wines dry you should give the ports a chance 30 or even 40-year-old tawny is an experience Faced with these wines or a well-matured vintage port The wisest thing is to be ready to taste both the ports and dry wines And to bring good shoes for vineyard walks Here are 8 places you shouldn’t miss in the Douro Valley: a quinta (vineyard/winery) owned by the famous port house Fonseca and situated not too far away from Pinhão the focal-point village of the wine region you can wander around the property on your own and admire the dramatic slopes overlooking the Távora River their rare organic port and the Guimaraens Vintage have a glass of their refreshing white port and tonic cocktail and relax in the garden The spectacular view from Quinta do Panascal run by Domingos Alves de Sousa and his family is situated about halfway between Vila Real and Peso da Regua The white Branco da Gaivosa is a favourite of mine These grapes combined give a complex and refreshing wine with mouthfeel and texture View over the vineyards from Quinta da Gaivosa Quinta do Tedo is wonderfully situated by the Tedo and the Douro Rivers Kay Bouchard from California and Vincent Bouchard from Burgundy have created a very welcoming wine estate They offer their visitors a 3 kilometer (1.86 miles) beautiful walking trail along the Tedo and a bistro with fabulous views which is open for lunch and dinner And the best thing is that after dinner you don’t have to leave Quinta do Tedo has five bedrooms so you can wake up to this stunning scenery and enjoy a hearty breakfast Perfect for a few days of relaxing holiday View over the river Tedo from Quinta do Tedo The winery buildings are even older than that you can taste some excellent wines made by the company Lavradores de Feitoria owners of 19 different quintas in the Douro Feitoria makes quite a lot of wine and I recommend specifically Três Bagos and Meruge is a lovely wine made from 100% OF the very interesting grape Viosinho If you recognize the Palacio de Mateus from the label of bottles of Mateus Rosé has nothing to do with the palace or the wines made by Lavradores de Feitoria How the palace ended up on the label of Mateus Rosé is another story This one you definitely shouldn’t miss if you go to the Douro Valley Have some local cheese with bread and olive oil as a starter a delicious Portuguese speciality) made in Ervedosa style (each village has their own recipe for cabrito) or the wild boar You instantly feel at home at Toca da Raposa interesting producers that one has never heard of If you continue from Ervedosa a little further up the mountains you will eventually reach Sao João de Pesquera which surprisingly because it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere The full name is Quinta da Senhora do Rosário And I strongly recommend their white port aged in big oak casks for 30 years Who could imagine a white Port could taste this good The very talented Rui Paula is one of the most famous chefs in Portugal the cuisine is creative and beautifully presented by the talented staff and creates something very elegant and tasty sometimes even from the village itself or close by In the summer you sit outside on the terrace Maybe you will stay a few days in the city of Porto before heading into the Douro Valley almost opposite the Bolsa Palace and a stone’s throw from the river Prova has a magnificent choice of wines and small delicious things to eat Diogo and his team will help you choose a special wine The famous steam locomotive 0186, the illustrious historic Douro train, is back in operation and you can experience an unforgettable journey along the Douro River, from Régua to Tua, from July to November 2023. Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday the train whistles its way along the Douro riverside, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wikimedia commonsThe Alto Douro Vinhateiro region caught the attention of UNESCO and in 2001, 24,600 hectares of the region were classified as a World Heritage Site. Among the 13 municipalities included in the area is Peso da Régua- exactly the point where the historic Douro train begins its journey.  The Douro region has fabulous landscapes that will be engraved on your memory. Peso da Régua, also known as Régua, is a city in Trás-os-Montes and the birthplace of the famous and much-loved Port wine. After the creation of the Real Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro it became the first demarcated region to distribute wine worldwide. Wikimedia commonsIn Peso da Régua there are several spectacular viewpoints from where you can enjoy the magnificent Serra do Marão, churches and chapels that embrace many believers and the famous Casa do Douro, known for its stained glass windows that tell the story of the wine region.  When you get on the train you automatically feel the thrill and excitement of an unprecedented journey about to begin. The train starts, the charm of Régua is left behind (but never forgotten) and we continue the journey to the next stop. This journey along the banks of the river marks a mixture of emotions and intensity, in the beautiful fashion of Porto.  PixabayInevitably a land of wines, Pinhão is a parish in the municipality of Alijó in the heart of the Douro Vinhateiro, the oldest Demarcated wine Region of the Douro (of Portugal and the world!) and is famous for the terraced landscape of the Douro vineyards and the farms with many stories to tell. Wikimedia commonsPinhão: the first stopThe locomotive refuels at Pinhão station and there you will have the opportunity to admire the tiles that decorate the walls of the station, installed in 1937, and which tell the interesting story of the stages of wine production. Let yourself be absorbed by the power of the green hills that surround you and inhale the pure northern air.  The journey continues on the century old train and the panorama only improves: mountains, plateaus, valleys, small hills... the landscape divides and multiplies in beauty and grandeur when we reach the Tua region. The unique landscapes are due to the particular geography of the area, with quartzite ridges and low-relief plateau areas. It is a naturally beautiful place with little human intervention and great impact. Wikimedia commonsHistoric Douro train: how much does a journey cost?Tickets for a trip on the historic Douro train are €49 for adults (€46 if you're in a group) and €25 for children aged 4 to 12. On board this train you not only enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Douro line, a traditional music group will also entertain you, you can taste the sweets of Régua and savour the famous Porto Ferreira, which has been doing justice to good Port wine since 1751.  If travelling by train already had a special taste, the historic Douro train takes the experience to the next level. The best hikes in Portugal: trails you can’t miss Portugal may be famous for its golden beaches and historic cities but it’s also a dream destination for hikers From rugged coastal paths to mountain adventures Portugal offers trails for every level of experience here’s your guide to the best hikes in Portugal Croft Port’s new visitor centre offers tourists an insight into a working vineyard tours of the vineyards and wineries and a chance to experience the foot-treading of the grapes has terraced vineyards overlooking the River Duoro The vineyards and cellars were extensively renovated when Croft returned to family ownership in 2001 including reintroducing traditional granite lagares – the large tanks used for food-treading grapes Tourists will have the opportunity to participate in traditional foot-treading at the visitor centre during harvest time Croft Port was founded in 1588 and bought the Quinta da Roeda estate in 1889 The estate has been the main source of wine for the firm’s Vintage Ports ever since Croft Port is also known for making the first ever rosé Port The Alto Douro wine region, where Quinta da Roeda is located, is a UNESCO World Heritage site The area has been producing wine for around 2,000 years and the landscape is inherently representative of the full range of historic and modern activities associated with wine making SaveLog in, register or subscribe to save recipes for later.You have reached your maximum number of saved items Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime ShareReflections in the Douro River.Turismo de Portugal The ancient Romans knew a lovely location when they saw one Two millennia ago they found a delightful spot on the Douro River Their settlement eventually gave its name to a new country and the port wine produced here Portugal's second-largest city is a worthy launch-pad for an exploration of the Douro Valley Porto's gabled houses perch on a rocky gorge above the river mouth creating a medieval old town overlaid with gilt-gleaming baroque excess Ocean and river trade funded many a fine library museum and art treasure over the centuries and Porto's churches overflow with gold from the Americas A bottle of port from Croft, founded in 1588.Quinta da RoedaAdvertisementSoak up the old-world charm at the 1920s Majestic Cafe, a fantasy of marble tabletops, spotted gilt mirrors and Belle Epoque glamour, or at Cafe Luso where traditional Porto speciality tremocos (bread with yellow lupin beans) is an accompaniment to draught beer as you people-watch which spectacularly reinvents Portuguese classics such as sucking pig Head down to the informal bars that crowd Douro's riverfront for a pre- or post-dinner drink Sunset is a classic time for locals and tourists alike to stroll the quays chatter in the wine bars and watch the setting sun tangle itself in the ironmongery of the Eiffel-designed bridge lies across the bridge in Vila Nova de Gaia Grapes have arrived here from along the Douro since the 17th century to be transformed into port and stored in barrels which offers light versions of Portuguese dishes such as cod with creamy fennel Another sign of the changing times is The Yeatman Hotel It sits in cool white and pale lemon right among the rustic port lodges its corridors enlivened with wine-related exhibitions its light-flooded rooms decorated with farmhouse antiques You can pair wines with roast pork in the restaurant Portugal.Vintage House HotelPorto's newfound energy has more recently been rippling upstream and reinvigorating the entire Douro Valley River cruisers and tourists now flock to this once overlooked wine region The Douro flows only 200 kilometres from the Spanish border to the sea just beyond Porto but packs in lovely landscapes and centuries of history and ancient farms called quintas brace themselves on vine-clad slopes The Douro is the world's oldest wine region Grapes have been produced here since ancient times The entire valley is contoured with age-old terraces and stone walls that support vines as well as silvery olive trees and spring-blossoming almonds The most glorious section lies between Bitetos and Regua but a new generation of winemakers is changing the reputation of its fortified wine for too long seen as a cheap pre-dinner drink for grey-haired Agatha Christie characters and many winemakers have now also turned to creating white wines using interesting local grape varieties such as malvasia fina and taste port afterwards in the old stables you can clamber into the granite tanks and help tread the grapes Architect-designed cellar doors, chic hotels and Michelin-star restaurants now grace the Douro Valley as never before. Thirty kilometres downstream from Pinhao is Six Senses Douro Valley which has brought an Asian sensibility and extravagant spa to a terracotta manor house amid the vines Local winemakers moonlight as sommeliers in its Vale de Abraao restaurant There's more good dining – for example, on cod with almond crust and Lamego ham – at former railway warehouse Castas e Pratos, or at Cacho d'Oiro which specialises in roast kid and oven-baked octopus is an old bishopric splendidly draped in baroque buildings The Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies is an important pilgrim destination up a heart-banging flight of steps but if your mind is more on temptations of the flesh the town is also noted for its Raposeira sparkling wine and bola de Lamego smoked-ham sandwiches In the countryside nearby, you'll find Casa dos Viscondes da Varzea The aristocratic quinta provides the chance to sample the estate wines and a local lunch of codfish and octopus rice The family had its property confiscated during the socialist dictatorship and effervescent owner Maria Manuel tells an entertaining tale of how she won it back It's also worth travelling into the hills across the river from Lamego to Casa de Mateus a petite baroque palace of jewel-box prettiness reflected in ponds The palace gardens are shaded by giant cypress trees and gaze over surrounding vineyards fat with tinta roriz grapes subtler and – like the "new" Douro Valley itself – has a bit of extra sparkle Majestic Cafe, cafemajestic.com Cafe Luso, cafelusodesde1935.com Palco, hotelteatro.pt Barao Fladgate, baraofladgate.com Croft, croftport.com Ferreira, sograpevinhos.com Espaco Porto, Cruz myportocruz.com The Yeatman Hotel, relaischateaux.com Vintage House, vintagehousehotel.com Quinta da Roeda, croftport.com Six Senses Douro Valley, sixsenses.com Castas e Pratos, castasepratos.com Cacho d'Oiro, restaurantecachodoiro.pt Casa dos Viscondes da Varzea, hotelruralviscondesvarzea.com Casa de Mateus, casademateus.com Brian Johnston travelled courtesy Viking Cruises news and the hottest openings served to your inbox ShareLicense this articleMore: at least if you tuck into the local speciality a Francesinha – generous amounts of steak and cured ham stuffed between slices of toast swathed in a mass of melted cheese and then doused with a boozy tomato sauce with chips and beer optional but recommended On the bright side for the health conscious there's plenty of chance to walk it off in Porto's vertiginous streets which rise up from the banks of the Douro river in a jumble of winding paths And multiple opportunities to stop and stare: at the 20,000 blue-and-white tiles (azulejos) depicting scenes from Portuguese history in the São Bento railway station; at the iron facades that adorn countless shops and restaurants survive the city's gradual modernisation; at the city's magnificent Romanesque cathedral; at the famous and wonderfully preserved Lello bookshop in which a diminutive cart distributes stock on a shopfloor railway navigate by the tall bell tower of the Clérigos church visible from virtually everywhere in the city; or by the surviving sections of the 14th-century Fernandine defensive walls hewn out of the granite on and out of which Porto is built Chances are, though, that these and other attractions – the vast glass-and-steel Casa da Música designed by Rem Koolhaas the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art in its beautifully landscaped gardens – are not the first things that spring to mind when you think of Porto They aren't for my father – a semi-retired sommelier – or me Speculating about what to expect on the short plane ride from Stansted It's a correct but partial view that the city's tourism officials hoteliers and restaurateurs are keen to expand by drawing attention to Porto as a breath-of-fresh-air alternative to other European city-break destinations which sits overlooking the Douro from the Vila Nova de Gaia region on the south side of the river the hotel is the brainchild and pet project of Adrian Bridge and although port and wine are central to its aesthetic – from the decanter-shaped swimming pool to the Caudalie Vinothérapie treatments in the vast spa – he is keen to make sure Porto no longer hides its light under a bushel the Yeatman is a luxurious and comfortable base all hushed corridors you could drive a car down and impeccable service; right next to the byzantine network of narrow roads that connect the city's long established port-wine cellars and a short hop over one of Porto's six river bridges to the bustling north side Those who prefer to stay right in the heart of town might try the Teatro a more modern (and modestly priced) hotel that takes its design inspiration from the theatre that stood on the site in the 19th century almost implausibly beautiful Infante Sagres where the likes of Bob Dylan and the Dalai Lama have stayed but the hotel has recently opened a brasserie-style restaurant called Book We also visit a couple of posher establishments that seem to fall in with the image of the hip new Porto currently being promoted but it seems to both of us that they offer the kind of food and atmosphere not hard to find in most European capitals; self-consciously refined But the one culinary experience not to miss is eating barbecued sardines in the harbour district of Matosinhos Follow the smoke and head for the Rua Heróis de França where you can take your pick from a lengthy row of plainly decorated restaurants each with an outsized pavement grill and bursting with people – all piscine life is on the menu newly caught and whacked on the barbecue with nothing but salt Porto's enthusiasts are right to point out that there's far more to the city than its most famous product but you'd be unwise not to pay it some attention Sit on the banks of the river and sip it in its white tawny and late-bottled vintage incarnations looking idly at the rabelo boats that are now a tourist attraction but were traditionally used to transport casks of the stuff down river from the Douro Valley if you're here for more than a couple of days don't miss out on the chance to head further inland to the small towns and never-ending vineyards of the Douro itself less than a couple of hours away by car and also reachable by train to Régua or Pinhão We drive and experience proper dropped jaws when we turn off the motorway and arrive at the first viewing point: from high up all you can see is a vast expanse of broad river and enough grapes we manage to lunch on roast kid at Régua's splendid Castas e Pratos restaurant relax in the cool luxury of the Aquapura spa hotel and sample the wares of no fewer than four different quintas (including the Quinta do Seixo we are shown around by a man in the trademark black hat and cape) my dad and I sample the delicious wines and port so comprehensively that a cooling swim and a short nap are required before dinner (after which We're certainly not up to the grape-treading that you can participate in at some of the smaller quintas – although most grape-crushing is now mechanised Spittoons are not much in evidence and so a word of caution: unless you are teetotal and have nerves of steel consider enlisting the services of a driver to take you on quinta visits: when we visit the fairly challenging roads are further complicated by the constant traffic of grape trucks I feel I know more about port wine than I had imagined possible: that its grapes grow so well here because of the schist soil that regulates night-time temperatures; that one of its greatest producers was a woman named Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira; and that the little chapels that dot the riverside sprang up to bless the rabelo boatmen who might come a cropper in its treacherous shallows I also realise that I will come back – here and to Porto – time and again and that its champions are right to think it can give other short-haul destinations a run for their money This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media The page you are looking for might have been removed Copyright © 2025 Sakal Media Group – Gomantak Private Limited - All Rights Reserved Refine your palate with this Port wine route Wikimedia commons Editorial Team 3 February 2022 it is becoming increasingly common to associate Portugal with gastronomy and the wines and liqueurs that make it famous We are talking about the traditional cod dishes Portugal has a lot to offer for your tastebuds and it would take more than this article to explore it all so today we'll just focus on the perhaps the most famous of the bunch: Port wine.  During the coldest part of the year, does a weekend trip to the Douro sound like the ideal plan to warm the soul Identified as the oldest wine region in the world the Douro area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an excellent option when you want to combine a beautiful landscape with local delicacies To help you organise your trip in the north of Portugal we have selected some places you should visit and prepared a wine route that will take you to visit some of the most famous port wine cellars in the world.  port wineLamego is one of the best places to taste Wikimedia commonsIt was around the 17th and 18th centuries that the manor houses and farms of the first stop on our wine route Lamego Today the city is most associated with the production and trade of Port wine belonging to the Douro Demarcated Region one of Portugal's main wine regions.  we recommend a private wine-tasting tour if you prefer open-air programmes if you're up for an even more immersive experience visit some of Lamego's main wineries and cellars Quinta da Pacheca (visits and tastings from 15€) Find holiday rentals in Lamego Pinhão is located right at the heart of the Port wine-making region Wikimedia commonsLocated where the Pinhão river meets the Duero Pinhão is a lovely contryside getaway destination if you're looking for beautiful natural landscapes But it is also at the heart of the Port wine-making region your visit here cannot end without a wine tasting we advise you to book a visit to the most famous cellars of the Pinhão region in advance Quinta da Roêda - visits and wine tastings from €16;Quinta de La Rosa - visits to the estate include not only a wine tasting but also a gastronomic tasting You can also opt for an outdoor programme and plan a walk through the vast expanse of vineyards overlooking the Douro river which will end beautifully with a tasting of some of the best Port wines produced in the region Find holiday rentals near Pinhão The last stop on our route is the famous Vila Real region Wikimedia commonsTo finish this wine route there's nothing better than a stop in Vila Real The city that lends its name to the district has a breathtaking landscape and various must-see places Casa de Mateus Foundation - when you're here it is simply obligatory to pass through the gardens the winery and the chapel;Quinta do Infantado - this is the ideal spot for a tasting of wines with the Douro denomination of origin;Panoias Sanctuary - this is a rock sanctuary which is among the most relevant points of interest in the region; Find Holiday rentals in Vila Real Finally, before returning home, we suggest you take the opportunity to buy a few bottles of your favourite wines. They will be the ideal way to receive friends or family with a "Portuguese style" dinner once you're back home. Alvega and Pinhão recorded on Tuesday (22 August) the highest maximum temperatures in mainland Portugal while in 50% of the territory there were temperatures equal to or greater than 40°C According to data released by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) among the highest maximum temperatures were Alvega (Abrantes with 45.4°C in Lousã (Coimbra) with 45.2°C “Until (…) 18:00 on the 22nd of August 2023 very high values of air temperature were recorded” In addition to maximum air temperature values equal to or greater than 40°C in about 50% of the territory temperatures above 42°C were also recorded in 15% of the territory Maximum air temperature values equal to or greater than 35°C occurred in about 80% of the territory while temperatures equal to or greater than 30°C occurred “in practically the entire territory” the previous highest maximum temperature values for the month of August were surpassed: Pinhão (45.6°C) In seven of these stations – Tomar/Vale Donas Luzim and Montalegre – “the previous absolute extremes were exceeded” Freak Temperaturesit's just just BS globalists' intox But soon game over for media system : martial courts for 'm & champagne or Porto wine for us Just follow the (true) news from the states & Q : people waking up & dominos starting soon with hunter & sleepy Joe If you've chosen the Algarve this year to spend a few days on vacation we'd like to remind you that two of the most dangerous beaches in the country are in this very area it’s back in the news: the Algarve has some beaches that are dangerous for those who frequent them which have claimed a number of lives in the past Two beaches in the Algarve are on the list of the most dangerous in the country due to the conditions in the area where they are located The south of the country is one of the favorite places for the Portuguese nowadays you have to be careful when choosing the beaches where you’re going to lay down your towel and take a dip which on the Algarve coast are always very stable there are other concerns to take into account especially the well-known cliffs in this part of the country which make it one of the most popular beaches in the world No wonder Falésia Beach was considered the best on the planet by users of the TripAdvisor platform When land conditions are taken into account is considered very dangerous due to the difficult access to get there Access is via a small rural path that follows a temporary stream and through a dense riverside vegetation Another beach in the Algarve that is also considered very dangerous is Praia D this time due to its rocky slopes and cliffs which are always in imminent danger of collapse Everyone sees the danger warnings on these beaches but the truth is that few people respect them the collapse of one of these cliffs caused part of one of Lagos’ most famous beaches to disappear and because it happened at a time of year when there is still no beach the natural accident didn’t cause any injuries The only regret is that there is now one less beach for everyone to visit and photograph We believe that not only two beaches in the Algarve “suffer” from this natural beauty but what makes them one of the most beautiful beaches in the world That’s why our advice is always to avoid spreading your towel near these cliffs respecting the warning signs so that your summer is as safe as possible Estes são os destinos de férias preferidos dos nossos leitores