Wine tasting in Porto

From our five-star hotel The Yeathman, I walk down a small three hundred steps. It's warm, but pleasant thanks to the breeze coming from the Douro River. The picturesque view of Porto also makes the steps less burdensome. Not to mention the colorful staircase of the World of Wine adorned with ceramic tiles. We are warmly welcomed into WOW's wine school with a glass of wine. José Sa, Experience Manager and a true wine connoisseur, leads us to the classroom. We take our seats behind the tables and are all ears as José begins his story.

^{Foto's: Ellen van der Aa}

The Wine School


In addition to various museums and restaurants, Porto's new cultural hotspot, World of Wine (WOW), also has its own wine school. Here, wine experts conduct workshops at different levels. You not only learn to distinguish, select, and analyze wine but also gain insight into the Portuguese wine regions. We are taking the beginner's course at level 1. Here, you learn the basics of winemaking, the wine jargon, and how to get the most out of a wine tasting. The goal? That everyone confidently chooses the desired wine at a liquor store or restaurant by the end. This workshop costs €30 per person and can be reserved on-site.

^{Foto: Ellen van der Aa}

Wines, wines, wines

José takes us back to the beginning of wine. "A very long time ago, wine production began. Perhaps 9,000 years ago. There are stories that even on Noah’s Ark, there were two barrels of wine that were later further produced." Whether it was red wine or white wine, we don't know. But did you know that you can also make white wine with red grapes? The inside of the red grape is actually the same as a white grape. In the production of red wine, only the skin is used, which gives it its red color. But the skin also provides a structured and fuller wine. Speaking of types of wine: José tells us that in Portugal, there are no less than 260 different grape varieties, and therefore also many different types of wine.

^{Foto: Hayffield L/Unsplash}

^{Foto: Maksym Kaharlytskyi/Unsplash}

Klaas, Willem, Smoke, Cigar


I know, you must be laughing now. That was also my first reaction when my travel companion said this. But it's a mnemonic to remember the steps of wine tasting: Look, Swirl, Smell, Sip.

1. Look

With your eyes, you can already deduce a lot about the wine, such as the type of grape, the age, and the climate. The darker the white wine, the older it is. The browner the red wine, the older it is. A Sauvignon Blanc is a light, young wine, while a Chardonnay is a darker, older wine.

2. Swirl

Time to swirl. Swirling allows more oxygen to come into contact with the wine, releasing more aromas. While swirling, you can see the thickness of a wine. If the wine sticks well to the glass, it is thicker, meaning it contains more alcohol or sugar. If the wine quickly disappears from the glass, it is thinner.

3. Smell

At this step, we search for the aromas released during swirling. José explains that smelling reveals a lot about the wine. You can recognize the grape variety, whether the wine has been aged in wood, and whether the wine is still good. From fruity aromas to floral and spicy aromas. Tip: reset your sense of smell by smelling yourself.

4. Sip

Or more politely put: taste. The moment of truth: is it to your liking or not? With tasting, you discover the sweetness, alcohol, acidity, and body. During the workshop, I taste red wine for the first time in my life. What do I think of it? I need some time to get used to it... I prefer white wine or rosé.

^{Foto: Hayffield L/Unsplash}

Hotel tip: The Yeathman

In this five-star hotel, you will undoubtedly feel like a movie star or another important person. Right next to World of Wine stands this incredibly beautiful white hotel with a total of 109 rooms. They are all named after a wine producer, and I had the honor of staying at Quinta de Bairo. In this hotel, you will experience luxury and receive top-notch service. Everything has been thought of. For example, the terrace is made in layers, mimicking the wine valleys. And there is a mini-exhibition on each floor to gain cultural knowledge about Portugal. Finding it difficult to make choices? Then it's a challenge to venture into the wine bible. Here you will find no less than 1300 types of wine that the wine team knows inside out and pours with all their love. The highlight is undoubtedly the view, visible from every room. Even from the bathtub.

This trip was made possible in part by Lieb Management and WOW World Of Wine. Also, read: 'Visit the newest hotspot in Porto: World of Wine (WOW)' or visit our Portugal page for more inspiration!