03 Aug 2025
Starting from the Serra do Pilar viewpoint, high above the city next to the cathedral and looking down across and over the river and across to Porto was a spectacular and photogenic introduction to the tour! It was then a short drive to the Poças Cellar door, and an introduction to port wine…tasting was the best way…together with a Pastel de Nata….and if you are perplexed at which vintage or bottle of port, or two, to take home??...just ask the young ladies at the sales desk!!
We then moved on for a casual lunch with Miquel, and to savour a typical Portuguese menu, in a friendly neighbourhood restaurant matched with green wine. Now, only in suburban Portugal could you imagine a visit to a traditional, bespoke sardine factory (Conservas Pinhaus)….but so it was to be. After a walk around the factory to observe the staff complete each stage in this process, we were then shown how to make tins of… take-home chocolate ‘sardines!’ Production lines today may be more efficient, but you learn respect for those who started in this industry in its early years! A relaxed and pleasant drive to and around the beach town of Matosinos capped off what had been a delightful and informative day in the lives of those live and work in Porto, and Miguel was the perfect host to show us around!