Vindima - picking grapes, treading the press, tasting fresh must
Foto: Pedro Rebelo Pereira via Pexels
Harvest in Minho is one of Europe's oldest rituals. In September, dozens of estates open to guests wanting to experience the picking - it's not folklore for tourists, it's real work, with a shared meal at the end.
A typical day starts at 8am with a hearty breakfast. Each visitor gets a basket and shears; 4-5 hours in the vineyard, shaded by the vines (September sun is gentler than August). Communal lunch: caldo verde, bacalhau, last year's wine. Afternoon: visit to the press to see the grape treading (some estates still do it by foot) and fresh must tasting - sweet, slightly fizzy, completely different from finished wine.
Recommended: Quinta de Sanjoanne, Quinta de Soalheiro, Quinta da Aveleda.
Book at least 2 weeks ahead. Around €40 per person, meals and tasting included.