If you are a wine lover, it is a must to visit Portugal, the country with some of the best and most charming traditional wineries in all of Europe. Portugal is perhaps the one place where the native grape varieties are still picked by hand and foot trodden in the old-fashioned way to produce some of the finest wine in the world.
There are many wine-producing regions in Portugal, making it difficult to choose which ones to visit. If you want to visit as many wine regions as possible, the best idea is to hire a car and travel by yourself from one region to another as you take in the breathtaking sights of the beautiful landscape and countryside Portugal has to offer. More about car hire in Portugal here: Autoportugal.
As many wineries as there are in Portugal, you will also get to choose from numerous car rental companies to kick-start your trip. Carry out a thorough car rental comparison, compare car rental prices and models of the cars available before you make your choice.
Here are some of the leading wine-producing regions of Portugal that you must visit in your rental car.
1. Douro Valley
The picturesque Douro Valley is the country’s most famous wine-producing region, and some of the finest wines in the world come from here. The Valley is known for producing distinctive port wines.
The vineyards in this region are truly breathtaking as they are carved onto the slopes of schist rock along the Douro River. The vines make their way through the difficult conditions and the hard schist rock to somehow reach wetter soil underneath. Some of the best wineries and vineyards to visit in this area are:
- Quinta da Romaneira
- Quinta de la Rosa
- Quinta do Seixo
- Quinta do Portal
- Quinta do Côtto
- Quinta Nova
- Quinta de Marroco
- Quinta do Passadouro
2. Minho Region
The Minho Region is located towards the northwestern part of the country. Lying near the Atlantic Ocean, this region is famous for Vinho Verde, or the unique Green Wine. The term Verde, though, does not literally refer to the color of the wine but to the unripe status of the grape. Green Wine is supposed to be drunk while it is still fresh and young, while the actual color of the wine remains a pale yellow. This type of wine is famous for its fizz, crispness, and high acidity.
The best vineyards and wineries to tour in your car rental include:
- Palacio de Brejoeira
- Paço de Teixeiró
- Quinta do Ameal
3. Alentejo Region
Located southeast of Lisbon, the Alentejo wine region has become quite famous for its high-quality wines in recent years. The area underwent a major revival in the 1980s and now produces some of the highest quality red wines.
This region is also famous for manufacturing wine in the traditional Roman way. This unique wine is known as Vinho de Talha, and it is a fragrant and deep wine and it needs to be stored in specially made huge clay pots.
If you have not yet booked your trip to Portugal, this is the perfect time to make your plans and don’t forget to book your rental car as well. You will easily find great offers on rental cars in Portugal if your search for cars at special search engine for rental cars. Compare all companies in one search online and find the best deals and cheapest cars.
