Portugal is quickly becoming a wine hotspot, and for good reason. Wine chasing is a great way to see this beautiful country. In this post, we will share some of the best wine tours in Portugal and describe some of the most common wine regions to visit. If you’re looking for an unforgettable wine tasting experience in a fun place to explore, then Portugal should be on your bucket list.
Portuguese wines are as varied as the country’s landscape. Whether you’re traveling to Portugal to explore Porto’s rich history, Lisbon’s rooftop bars, or hitting the beach in the Algarve, there is a wine growing region nearby.
Wine tours are very popular in Porto, especially boat tours, as you can coast up the river and gaze at the vineyards while learning about the port. Several wine tour operators are based in Lisbon or for day trips.
Portugal isn’t a huge country, so it’s possible to get a diversified wine education in a couple of weeks if you want to see all the best of Portuguese wine.
Most Popular Portugal Wine Regions
Below are the most visited wine regions in Portugal for tourism and the type of wine produced. These aren’t the only regions for growing wine in the country, but some of the most traveled.
Douro Valley
Douro Valley is one of the most beautiful wine growing regions in the world. The Douro River runs from the Douro Valley wine region all the way to Porto and the Atlantic coast, and vineyards coat the hills on either side of the river. Port wine is the major wine produced in this region, though a growing number of winemakers are exploring different styles with various grape varieties.
Port producers have historically floated their harvest from the valley to their wine houses and facilities along the river in Porto, and continue to do so today.
Minho
Minho (Vinho Verde) is the northern part of Portugal and extends to the Spanish border. Alvarinho and Vinho Verde blends are the predominant white wines being produced in Minho, including sparkling wine. The landscape is stunning, and wine tours in this region will take you to some of the most picturesque vineyards in Portugal.
Algarve
The Algarve is the southernmost area of Portugal along the coast. The wines produced in this region tend to be bold, like Syrah or Tempranillo, since the weather is especially hot during the growing season. The Algarve is visited most frequently for beach vacations in Portugal, and vineyard area is expanding with the growth in tourism in the region.
Best Wine Tours in Portugal
While renting a car to explore Portugal wine country on your own is fairly simple, why not eliminate some of your travel research and go on a wine tour? Here are the best wine tours in Portugal, offering exceptional wine tasting experiences to fulfill your wine chasing needs. These wine tours are all highly rated and offer unique experiences for the wine regions they feature.
Douro Valley: Authentic Douro Wine Tour Including Lunch and River Cruise
Your Guide: Oporto Road Trips
Duration: 9-10 hours
Your tour guide will pick you up in Porto at your hotel/rental and guide you to Douro Valley in a small group of up to 8 people. When in wine country, you’ll visit two wineries to taste port wine and DOC Douro wine: Quinta do Tedo and Quinta do Beijo.
Lunch, bottled water and a 1-hour river cruise are included. The tour lasts approximately 9-10 hours, so plan to be gone the whole day.
Porto: 3-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour – Guided Experience
Your Guide: Blue Dragon Porto City Tours
Duration: 3 hours
If you would prefer to stay in Porto rather than go to Douro Valley, a great way to sample the region’s wine is by joining a food and wine tour.
Blue Dragon Tours will guide you to cafes and markets on a walking tour, where you’ll make 5 stops to taste the local food, coffee, beer, and wine. The company doesn’t just offer wine tasting tours – you can also book an e-bike, segway, or tuk tuk tour.
Minho: Private Vinho Verde Tour: Visit 2 Wineries with Wine Tastings & Lunch
Your Guide: Bago D’Uva 360º
Duration: 10 hours
Bago d’Uva provides premium private tours in Portugal and this tour includes some of the best wine tastings in the Vinho Verde (green wine) region.
After a pickup at your hotel in Porto, your guide will drive you to two different wine estates in the Vinho Verde DOC, including Soalheiro, an exceptional producer of sparkling wines from alvarinho.
In addition, you’ll stop for a regional lunch in Melgaço where you can taste the less common red vinho verde with smoked sausages.
Setubal: Private Wine Tasting Tour to the Setubal Wine Region from Lisbon
Your Guide: Taking You There
Duration: 6 hours
If you’re based in Lisbon for vacation, you can take a day trip to wine country and be back for dinner at the TimeOut Market.
Your guide will swoop you up at your hotel in Lisbon and drive you 45 minutes south to the Setubal wine region, where you will visit three wineries, including the “mother house” of Setubal that showcases many wines from the region in one tasting room.
Winery stops include Quinta de Alcube and José Maria da Fonseca. There will be snacks of local products available, and the drive is full of beautiful views of Arrábida Natural Park.
Algarve: Small Group Wine Tasting Tour from Lagos
Your Guide: South Explorers
Duration: 3-4 hours
If you’re staying in Lagos or nearby, take a day trip to the beautiful wine country in Algarve. This small group guided tour picks you up in Lagos and takes you to Quinta Do Frances Winery, where you’ll learn about winemaking and taste 3 wines along with cheese and sausage.
In addition to cruising through the countryside, the tour will also stop in to see a remarkable castle in the ancient Moorish town of Silves. It might be hard to leave the beach for a day, but you won’t regret it.
Graham’s Port Winery Tour & Tasting
For a comprehensive winery tour and education on port wine in Porto, visit Graham’s Port. They offer several options for port tasting after the extensive tour in their spacious tasting room. You can even stay a little longer and enjoy a glass of wine at their wine bar overlooking Porto and the river.
FAQ: Portugal Wine Tastings
What is the best wine region in Portugal?
Defining the “best” depends on your taste preferences. The most established and popular wine region for tourism in Portugal is Douro Valley. Douro Valley is beautiful, offers river cruises, rolling hills, port wine, and you can base yourself in the city of Porto or in wine country.
How much is wine tasting in Porto?
There are many tasting rooms in Porto near the river. Port wine tasting prices vary depending on the wineries you choose to visit and the type of port you want to sample. You might expect to pay 15-20 euros for a classic ruby port tasting while reserve tastings can cost over 40 euros.
Wine tours also vary in price, as some take large groups, small groups, or offer private tours. Small groups are our favorite type of wine tour, since you get to meet other like-minded travelers, but if you are already traveling with a group, a private tour is the better option.