May 22
It was the second day in Portugal.
After a breakfast at the winery, we drove up the Douro liver.
There are so many vineyards at the unbelievably steep hillsides.
It is really amazing.
After we left from Douro liver side road, we climbed up mountain road for about 30 minutes.
Finally, we arrived at Secret Point Wines, a up-and-coming modern winery.
Mr. Rui Walter, the owner of the winery, welcomed us.
After his big success as a wine consultant, he got his own winery.
What a beautiful view is this!
We were guided to the modern cellar.
Then we had a wine tasting.
Every wine was very natural and elegant.
They were quite different from the old style Douro wine, which was dark and full-bodied.
Very tasty!
After the tasting, we had a nice buffet lunch at the terrace of the winery.
I enjoyed a wine talk with Rui.
Then I was surprised very much because he is a friend of Hans, who is the big boss of the winery of Pangolin in South Africa and a real friend of mine.
What a small world is this!
Then we drove down the mountain and went back to the Douro liver side.
We visited to Quinta do Seixo, the old winery related with Sandiman Port owned by SOGRAPE.
Mr. Miguel Nora, the Asia Area Manager, welcomed us.
What a beautiful Douro view is this!
We were guided to the cellar by Mr. Sandeman.
The cellar is so beautiful.
After the cellar tour, we had a professionail wine tasting led by Mr. Antonio Baraga, the General Wine Maker of SOGRAPE.
All of the wine were very nice.
Then two more wineries joined to our tasting.
I was surprised at seeing the funky label of wines from Vigno Verde and Douro named Pessoa.
The presenter, who name is Livia, was a beautiful and funky lady, too.
Even though funky label and lady, the quality of the wine was very fine, extraordinary.
Then we had wine talks a lot.
Then, then, then,
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!!!
She is the wife of Jorge!
I know him!!!
He is a friend of Jose, the owner and winemaker of Pangolin.
He used to stay South Africa and assisted to produce Pangoline.
What a, what a small world the wine business is!
Then we had a very nice dinner at the garden of the winery.
We enjoyed very nice wine, foods, wine talks in extraordinary atmosphere on the top hill of Douro liver side.
After the dinner, we moved to Viseu by 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive.
It was so nice and so long day, too!
