Porto Half Day Private Food Tour

Gastronomic Adventure Exploring the City of Porto

Accompanied by a food expert and Portuguese wine lover, you will uncover the secrets of Portuguese food, its historical and cultural aspects, and much more, following with carefully selected stops, you will be able to explore some of Porto´s hidden gems and fully immerse into the local food scene, like a tavern, local shop and snack-bar where you will find the town´s beloved specialities, including savouring some classic sweets.

Porto is a magnificent city and a must-visit destination if you are exploring the northern part of the country. City of wine, and churches, always has something to offer to its visitors. It is the second biggest and most inhabited city in Portugal behind Lisbon, with around 250.000 inhabitants. Porto has a fairly long history and several buildings and monuments of great architectural value. Some of the landmarks of the city are Porto Cathedral, Clérigos Tower, Carmo Church, and Liberdade Square.

In terms of gastronomy, classic recipes usually include various types of meat and fish, all accompanied by a good glass of Port Wine, of course. Some of the best dishes in the city, very popular among Portuguese and visitors are the Francesinha, Tripas à Moda do Porto (Porto-style tripe), Caldo Verde (Portuguese Green Soup), Sardinhas Assadas (Grilled Sardines), Bolinhos de Bacalhau (Cod Fritters), Cachorrinhos (Portuguese styled Hot Dogs) and Pastéis de Nata (Portuguese Custard Tarts). Let us not forget about the delicious quality cheeses that the local cheesemakers produce in Portugal like the Serra da Estrela, Évora, São Jorge, Rabaçal, Transmontano goat cheese, and Azeitão among others.

Portugal´s Signature Wine: The Port Wine

This gastronomic journey would not be complete without tasting the admired and strong character Port wine, in one of the centenarian`s Port´s cellars across the Douro river. 

The Designation of Origin Vinhos do Douro e de Porto (IVDP) are divided into differentiated categories depending on whether they mature in oak barrels or sealed bottles.

The different types of Port wine are:

• Vintage: The Port with the highest price is the one that also has the best quality. It has been aged in barrels for two years and then bottled between 10 and 50 years. Normally, Vintage Port is usually taken after 30 years of maturation.
• Garrafeira: Combined maturation in bottles and barrels. It is difficult to find it and you will hardly be able to drink it in Porto.
• Ruby: It is the most common and the one that you will surely taste if you make a wine visit. You can find it in its Reserva and Rosé versions.
• Tawny: Aged in oak barrels, these wines are gradually exposed to oxidation and evaporation. They are usually semi-dry or sweet wines and the ideal is to drink them paired with cakes or other desserts.

Sweet, captivating, and the best companion to delicious Portuguese cuisine. Port wine has travelled around the world and has received worldwide popularity for its characteristic flavour and for maintaining the essence of its native land.

An authentic food and wine experience in Northern Portugal for foodies and wine lovers!

DAY 1: 
PORTO

• Meet your guide at your hotel and depart for the first stop.
• A sample of northern Portuguese breakfast tasting.
• Stop for a classic local sweet.
• Visit a charming grocery shop, then taste some unique and quality selected products.
• Wine tasting paired with some tasting snacks (two different wines).
• Eat like locals: A small selection of some of the most representative Portuguese food.
• Visit to a Porto Wine Cellar, at Vila nova de Gaia Town: Visit and Taste.
• Ending at the port wine lodge in Gaia (NOTE: Cockburn`s Port Lodge - R. de Serpa Pinto 346, 4400-307 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal).