Our certified organic grapes are looking healthy a week or two out from veraison and receiving visits from auxiliary fauna!
After a few weeks of harsh wind, heavy rain and some hail (that severely damaged some neighbouring Quinta’s vineyards, but spared Tedo from its direct line of fire), the sun is back and burgeoning summer vibes abound!
Last summer, we stay-cationed in Douro Valley (after nearly 30 years here, we still managed to discover new hikes, look-out points, river beaches, culinary pit stops and great new wines!) and revamped Quinta do Tedo’s B&B facilities and wine tourism experiences for when the time came to share them with you all again safely.
It seems that time has come! As Europe reopens (we even received our first US visitors last week!) and vaccinations continue to roll out (admittedly after a laggard start here in Portugal) we are seeing more and more visitors indulging their cooped-up wanderlust in Douro Valley.
***WARNING: We cannot guarantee you won’t impulsively book a trip to Quinta do Tedo if you read on.***
Wine tourism and hospitality run in the blood of our half-Burgundian-half-Napa-Valleyan family and local Portuguese team (with the occasional French or American stagiaire).
In 2007, we were one of the first Quintas in Douro Valley to open 7 days a week year-round for classic tours of our 18th-century vinification lagares and ageing cellars and tastings of our Ports, Douro DOC wines and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Today, we also offer premium tastings of our reserve wines, Vintage Ports, older Tawnies, and wines and Port that have received 90+ Robert Parker points or are produced from our Savedra vineyard parcel, a special 65+-year-old field blend of 20+ grape varieties.
Pair our tastings with a regional cheese and/or charcuterie board with estate jam, or homemade chocolates of varying cacao levels for a heightened experience of flavours and textures.
Head into our Underground Wine Gallery with one of our WSET-certified staff, wine thief in hand, to “steal” a taste of single-harvest Tawny Ports straight from the barrel.
Forget about tasting and enjoy a Port Cocktail on our terrace; our iconic Porto Rosé Tonic - a fun and refreshing balance of sweet, tart, bubbly and boozy - is a must! Or give your liver a break with our fresh-squeezed orange juice or ginger lemonade from our estate’s organic orchards.
Wine and dine on Chef José Fernandes’ weekly market-inspired specials and modern interpretations of classic Portuguese recipes in our charming Bistro Terrace. Or wine and picnic under a centenary olive tree between our organic vineyards along Tedo River. Vegetarians, pescatarians, carnivores and omnivores are all welcomed!
Enjoy a light picnic with friends or family and surrounded by nature in this most serene and intimate nook on our property.
Remember, while wine and olive oil are important keys to the healthy Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, they should be consumed in moderation and combination with daily activity and plenty of rest.
Experience a more leisurely slice of life on our working farm by booking one of our B&B rooms or family-style apartment. Each is uniquely adorned with traditional textiles, Tedo-inspired artwork, custom-made SUGO cork and up-cycled material wall hangings, and of course, amazing views to fall asleep and wake up to.
How many species in our birdwatching guide can YOU spot?
Sip our estate wines, Ports and Port cocktails and snack on a mixed cheese and meat board as you cool down in our panoramic pool, dig into a book under the shade of the orange tree in our private garden, or play a relaxed game of bocce in our newly installed court overlooking Tedo River.
Explore 3 km of walking trails through our vineyards and olive groves, down by the Tedo River and up to a feitoria stone, one of the 335 erected in the 1760s by the Marquis de Pombal to demarcate the limits within which Port could be made in Douro Valley.
Borrow our binoculars and bird-watching guide and tune into 120 species of resident and migratory birds’ rich activity of sound, colour and movement across our property.
Check out our bikes, kayaks and brand new stand up paddleboards to hit the road, trails and river within meters of our property and experience Douro Valley at different speeds and from different viewpoints.
What else is new this year? We’ve partnered with Captain António (local tour guide) and his son, António Jr (WSET-certified sommelier) to offer sunset rides on their RIVUS Wine Boat, a classic English Trawler built in 1971. Enjoy Quinta do Tedo’s Porto Rosé Tonic and light snacks or other beverage and meal combinations served by the crew on your way up to Pinhão and back to the dock located 5 minutes by car from Quinta do Tedo. Kay or I will accompany guests on all Tuesday outings from June - October.
Kay will also host half-day harvest experiences that kick-off with a snack in the vineyards followed by grape picking, a light lunch, estate tour and tasting and, of course, convivial foot-treading in our lagares! We expect harvest around mid-September this year and suggest you send an email to enotourism@quintadotedo.com for more info and to sign up for our waitlist so we can notify you when the exact dates will be!
The Bouchard Family, Tedo Team and #tedofriends foot-treading Port-in-the-making to owner Vincent Bouchard’s cadence in our traditional lagares.
We suspect you are ready for summer fun in the sun at Quinta do Tedo and we are more than ready to receive you so let’s make it happen! Até já amigos.