Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Heading East now out of Porto toward Regua in our luxurious bus for 35 with only 10 of us on board…. we each had our own section!

Stopping for fresh cherries in the mountains, the terrain becomes more and more spectacular!

Duoro ValleyDuoro Valley Duoro Valley

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

A leisurely boat ride to view the 7 bridges of Porto….  The wine club enjoyed great accommodations on the traditional river boats used for transporting Port from the inner Duoro.

Duoro River Duoro River Duoro RiverDuoro River

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

A private tour with the Vice President of Marketing for Sandeman’s took us deep into their cellar.  Loved being able to present our host with a bottle of ’09 Tara Bella ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon!

Sandeman's Port Sandeman's Port Sandeman's Port

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

A walk into one of the older Port Houses… Burmester… late 1700s

Burmester Port Cellar Burmester Port Cellar Burmester Port Cellar

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Porto Cruz Cellars, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal…. very modern tasting room…. beautiful Ports.

Portugal port tasting

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Constructed by the Moors in the 8th and 9th Century A.D., this castle is situated on two peaks of the Serra de Sintra, and from its walls there are magnificent views.

Surrounded by walls and several towers. It underwent various repairs, particularly in the Romantic period (about 1860), when King Consort Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha restored it, afforested the surrounding areas and gave the ancient ruins new dignity.

This place was AMAZING!!!  No wine though…

Sintra, Portugal Sintra, Portugal

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Our wonderful tour guide that stayed with us from beginning to end, Diana Cruz, (LOVE YOU), got for us a surprise visit into the bowels of The Yeatman.  Housing possibly the largest wine collection in all of Spain…. valued at 25-30 MILLION Euro….. (that is A LOT!).  The cellar master, Carlos was so happy when we surprised him with his own bottle of Tara Bella ’09 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon…

Wine Cellars at The Yeatman Wine Cellars at The Yeatman Wine Cellars at The Yeatman Wine Cellars at The Yeatman

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

From our fabulous 5 star accommodations at the amazing Hotel Yeatman in Vila Nova de Gaia, we can gaze from our balconies across the Duoro River to beautiful Porto….. We’re in heaven…..(and you can see that we are enjoying much Tara Bella ’09 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon)

Hotel Yeatman in PortugalHotel Yeatman in Portugal

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Bacchus Statue in Portugal

Our Wine Club group in Anadia, Portugal….. leaving Quinta do Encontro Winery, we see the Bacchus statue in the middle of a busy roundabout.  Our driver let us all out… we dashed across the road to take this photo…..

I believe there was definitely wine involved in this decision……

What an amazing time we are having, tasting wine and eating delicious food all across Portugal!

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyards of Quinta do Encontro in Porto, Portugal

In the vineyards at Quinta do Encontro in Porto, Portugal.