Port wine (also known as vinho do Porto, Portuguese pronunciation: [ˌviɲu duˈpoɾtu], or simply port) is a Portuguesefortified wine produced in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal. It is typically a sweet red wine, often served as a dessert wine, although it also comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties.
Hence, the most popular tourist attraction in Gaia is the Port Wine Cellars, warehouses where the famous Port wine is stored. The Cellars are placed in Ribeira de Gaia, an area of the city located on the bank of River Douro opposite Porto.
While technically
its own city, Vila Nova de Gaia is situated just across the Douro from Porto
and is woven into the city’s fabric both by a series of bridges as well as its
shared history of port-wine making.
Three reasons really set it apart from other types of wine; the location, the grapes, and the fortification process. These three details are what sets Vinho do Porto (that’s port in Portuguese) apart from many other wines across the world.
The reaches of the valley of the Douro River in northern Portugal have a microclimate that is optimal for the cultivation of olives, almonds, and especially grapes important for making port wine. The region around Pinhão and São João da Pesqueira is considered to be the center of port production and is known for its picturesque Quintas estates clinging onto almost vertical slopes dropping down to the river.
There are several categories of ports, that can usually be broken down further by their aging and quality. , you’ll most commonly find a Ruby Port, a Tawny Port, and a White Port.
Ribeira de Gaia has also some excellent
restaurants, particularly in Cais de Gaia.
Even if you are not visiting the cellars, you should visit Ribeira the Gaia to get some
amazing views of Porto.
