Life is not all beer and skittles, there is of course...port. The Gaia waterfront of the Rio Douro is completely dominated by the many lodges and warehouses of the famous port companies, each beckoning to the many purveyors of the noble juice by spelling out their names in huge letters across the roofs. Of course, one can always follow one's reddened nose into the dark cellars of choice to sample the odd tawny and a grand ruby. My choice has turned out to be... to follow my nose to as many cellars as I can possibly squeeze into one afternoon and still remain upright!!! I have however, decided not to keep you in the dark and have lined up an absolutely ambrosial drop of Cockburn's Vintage Port 2000 to begin my descent into pleasure. It is dark, big, fruity and sweet and perfectly wonderful.
Porto abounds with excitingly sloping boulevards and visually remarkable landmarks, all exciting to the senses, but by George, it does make for a bit of a puff to get around. Few cities of the world are built on the edges of a ravine but when you find yourself thrust onto the edge of one of these cities, one just must investigate every cranny and nook to the best of one's abilities, succumbing to the temptation of exercise. So where better to launch oneself into the unknown..well slightly known......but on the southern bank of the Rio Douro where the production and consumption of port takes on bodily and biblical proportions. It seems a bridge too far but I do find the bridge that seems a tad too far, and cross to the other side...and quench the thirst... and might I say, any future temptation for exercise, with a delightful Agres Bohemia Reserva 1835. This is a refreshing auburn beer, and just the thing to cleanse the palate before going down to the ...cellars.
Well, I must say I have had a wonderfully leisurely two day trip by slow donkey cart to arrive finally at...Porto. It must be said and said over and over again that Porto is one of the most spectacular and scenic cities in the world! And of course...it is the home and namesake of one of the worlds most popular tipples... and one of my favourite libations...port.
Much of riverside Porto, or the bairro of Ribeira, has been declared a UNESCO World heritage Site. It really does have something to interest everyone. Please enjoy as I relax in a wonderfully inspiring cafe on the waterfront of the Rio Douro and settle in to my first..no doubt the first of many...Sandeman Vintage Port 2007. This particular example from one of Portugal's most famous cellars, is of an opaque purple color, almost black. The aroma is of ripe red and intense black fruit aromas. One can also detect hints of pepper and clove. I am truly in heaven and don't plan on leaving any time soon. We have only just begun.
