A week in Portugal in pictures

I’m just back from travels in the Douro, Bairrada and Celorico da Beira, Serra da Estrela where I was speaking at the 1st Portugal International Wine Meeting & Tasting.  Quite a week, here are some pictures for now:

First buds at Quinta das Carvalhas, the Douro: the 2011 growing season is underway!

And when it all kicks off in the autumn, lots of vats to fill – Lavradores de Feitoria, 18 vineyards, each vinified separately:

And at in lagares at Poeira

Not to mention terrace walls to rebuild.

Next stop Bussaco Palace Hotel betwixt Bairrada and the Dao a.k.a. Scooby Doo towers:

Protectors of a fine cellar:

Of wines well worthy of reflection…

And on to Baga-country with the Baga king, Luis Pato

Barrel tasting Filipa Pato’s boutique Bagas in her pocket-sized cellar.

Followed by a  refreshing pit stop at Quinta das Bageiras with Baga Friends.

No suckling pig for me, but fresh caught Bass (7 kilos!) and Baga went down very nicely.

On to cheese country – Beira Interior, the home of Serra da Estrela

Two days of talking – social media guru Adegga’s André Ribeirinho takes the stage

A visit with Alvaro Castro at Quinta da Pellada, at 550m

A very fine fortified finale, Moscato back to 1902