We're driving from Coimbra to the Duoro Valley next month and I've allowed 2/3 of a day and an overnight before heading to Porto for the weekend and returning home on Monday. Currently I'm booked to stay at Covas do Duoro at the Quinta Da Marka which is just next to Pinhao. I'm considering changing my overnight reservation to the Quinta Da Pacheca which is in Lamego. Does anyone know of either of these places and have + or - comments. Is one location better than the other? Any comments on favorite wineries to visit? Also, still looking at hotels in Porto if anyone has a shout out on this as well. Thanks!
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Cascais, Portugal
1826 posts
I can speak to Pinhao as I’ve stayed there twice. The wineries around there are nice. I’ve stayed at Quinta de la Rosa twice and they have a nice tour and very good restaurant. The Bonfim winery is in town and a new restaurant associated with them (I think) by a famous chef from Porto. When I was there last month, we did a tour of the estate of another winery that drove us up in the hills. It was lovely.
All this said, Pinhao is an ugly town. But, river is nice and the views of the grapes from town are lovely other than it’s very dry and much browner than a normal year. You can do a two hour cruise that is enjoyable.
As I haven’t been to Lamego I can’t compare the two. Maybe someone else will chime in with info about it.
I obviously enjoyed Pinhão or wouldn’t have gone back for the second time.