Much of the tour was spent in the "garden", which we'd call a woodland, surround the family's, it's family owned, summer home. Filled with exotic trees from around the world it's also whimsical. Winding paths bring you to a goat tower, a romantic house for the newly married, a duck house, an outdoor chapel for weddings and much more. Four full time gardeners are employed. Their vineyards are accessible enough to allow the use of mechanical harvesters.
The next stop was up the Duoro River Valley about sixty miles to the east. This brought us to the mountains where grapes are grown on terraces on the steep mountain sides. Many of the terraces are built with a porous rock that absorbs moisture when it rains and then releases it later to nurture the vines. Similarly it absorbs heat during the day and keeps the grapes warmer at night.
After a long winding climb with many switchbacks we reached the Sandeman Winery, also family owned and established in 1790. Here we were served lunch including a wide selection of wines from which he could choose. One of their specialties is port wine for which northern Portugal is famous. The views were spectacular.
A number of lock and dams have been built on the Duoro which allows navigation by commercial river boats. We saw both an AMA and a Viking boat. Road Scholar is offering a river cruise on it at a later date.
More touring is planned for tomorrow (Sunday) but we're having a farewell dinner tonight because some participants will leave early. Of the 22 in the group 6 are men and three of us from Minneapolis Metro area. It has been a very congenial group.
Takk for alt,
Al
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| A cork tree which has been harvested and now will rest 9 years. |
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| In the "garden." |
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| A wine tanker. |
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| The view from Sandeman Winery. |
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| Vine terraces. |
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