Hacienda Zorita ~ built in 1392. Originally (and still is) a monastery, it now houses the winery, restaurant and 5 star hotel. They produce, from their own organic farms, goat cheese & olive oil that you will fall in love with and want to bring some home.
The winery’s roof and ceiling shape appears to be a large boat that is upside down and is in fact, modeled after Christopher Columbus’s boat, The Santa Maria. He stayed here, at the monastery to ponder his upcoming voyage.
There are 1392 barrels in the cellar to honor the date the monastery was built.
Salamanca, Spain
Salamanca, Spain ~ a young (but VERY old college town. Universidad Salamanca is the oldest in Spain and one of the oldest in all of Europe. Christopher Columbus spent much time in Salamanca. As you know in the 1400s people thought the world was flat so he spent time with bigger thinkers near the university… people who believed him and supported his plan.
Hacienda Zorita ~ Salamanca, Spain
Hacienda Zorita ~ built in 1392. Originally (and still is) a monastery, it now houses the winery, restaurant and 5 star hotel. They produce, from their own organic farms, goat cheese & olive oil that you will fall in love with and want to bring some home.
The winery’s roof and ceiling shape appears to be a large boat that is upside down and is in fact, modeled after Christopher Columbus’s boat, The Santa Maria. He stayed here, at the monastery to ponder his upcoming voyage.
There are 1392 barrels in the cellar to honor the date the monastery was built.
Fabulous Food at Quinta Nova
Not only was this the most majestic winery…. they FED us!!! Our Wine Club Gang on the veranda, al fresco with a 5 course meal (included) served to us…. So delicious…served with several of the Quinta Nova wines…..
Our chef, Carlos, was so blown away when we presented him with a bottle of Tara Bella ’09 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from here in the Russian River Valley…. just too cool….
More of Quinta Nova
What can I say, it just one of the best tours and tastings we had. Our guide Maria Louisa was charming, sweet and knowledgeable…. She was so excited to receive a bottle from Kevin and Wendy of 2009 Tara Bella Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
Perched high on the mountains overlooking the Duoro Valley, the vistas are exquisite… we plan on returning to Portugal and Quinta Nova in 2018….. with YOU!
Quinta Nova Winery Tour
Our Quinta Nova winery tour was one of the highlights for me on this Wine Club Adventure. After climbing for an hour through the mountains, we came upon a winery built in 1795! It is the first of several that now has resort like accommodations and is a remote hotel with a 5 star restaurant.
Combining Old World techniques with very modern information, they produce spectacular wines. Owned by a Portuguese family that owns almost ALL of the Portuguese cork orchards in all of Portugal. A spectacular getaway…. I give it a highly recommend….wendy
Road to Quinta Nova
We could see Quinta Nova winery (Quinta means Estate) from our Hotel Delfim across the river…. (but you can’t get there from here). Our wine club gang climbed into our luxurious bus with our nerves of steel driver, Bruno, and began the journey crossing the river, climbing up into the mountains and down to the other side of the river….. on a tiny cobblestone road, to our destination Quinta Nova.
Hotel Delfim ~ Regua, Portugal
View from our lawn balcony at the Hotel Delfim in Regua, Portugal… the traveling wine club group would gather here after dinner (included)…. to sip Portuguese wines as well as ’09 Tara Bella Cabernet Sauvignon (we shipped over 3 cases a month before we arrived to enjoy and to give as thank you gifts to our winery hosts).
Rollin’ On The River
Our dedicated guide, Diana, found so many unexpected fun things to do that were not part of the original itinerary. Like this private 2 hour boat ride, putt putting along the Duoro River, gazing at the breathtaking views as well as the astonishing workmanship of the thousands of vineyard terraces created as early as 1200AD…. WOW!
Regua, Portugal
Climbing higher over the mountains that protects the Duoro Valley from the Atlantic influence, we are now arriving to the spectacular grape growing region. The grapes are grown here, the wines are made here and then sent down river to Porto to be cellared….. Amazing…..
Quinta da Pacheca
Another old winery…. this one we tasted fabulous Reds…. Tinto Cao and Touriga Nacional…mmmmmmm. Our host, Antonia, was so happy when we presented her with a bottle of ’09 Tara Bella Cabernet Sauvignon. Then we were whisked away into the private family dining room for the most amazing lunch (included) where we were served among dozens of dishes… “mama’s” homemade sausages….. so good….