Don't be fooled: my decision to live near Rias Baixas was not only to obtain a sound education this…read moresummer, but to drink some of the world's best wine (and smuggle as much as possible home). My host family was not only kind enough to take me to Bodegas Terras Gauda, but to share with me a story of how their son got into trouble one summer and spent 15 days in the beating hot sun cutting grapes at this particular winery. Oh boy, do I wish I had photos of that! I can't relish in the misfortunes of others for too long because I need to do other important things, like drink and learn about wine. Due to the "special" relationship my host family has with the bodega, we were allowed to have a quick tour during off-hours. The winery itself is very close to the Río Miño and the terrain enjoys fairly mild temperatures, averaging around 15 degrees centigrade (59 degrees Fahrenheit) for the year, and oscillating patterns of rainfall. This makes for grapes that ripen with high sugar content and an acidity much lower than other wines from the Rias Baixas DO region. And after tasting a variety of wines (a blend of the three grapes of the Rias Baixas region, a pure Albariño, and the black label Albariño), I did notice how much smoother the wines were than other Rias Baixas DO wines I have had in the States. Of the three wines sampled, I preferred the blend because the wine was a bit heavier, had a much more pronounced aroma of apricot, and tasted more strongly of fruits. After tasting the wines, I knew that making a few purchases was compulsory. I received quite a bargain - a box of three wines was approximately 30 euro. Good luck trying to get one decent bottle of Albariño in the states for under $15. Speaking of luck, please wish me luck getting as much of this wine through US Customs as humanely possible.

From the owner: Bodega familiar dedicada a la producción de vinos del Ribeiro desde hace tres generaciones.read more

This winery has a large venue for groups, weddings, etc. Two large rooms are transformed into…read moredining rooms for our large bus tour group. The table settings were beautiful. An accordionist played between the three course servings. Port wines were on the table with a carafe of water. The pot roast and mashed potatoes served were delicious. Drunken pear and chocolate brownie for dessert were nice. The servers will accommodate vegetarian and GF meals. A guide from the village entertained us with more regional knowledge and jokes. Then we walked outdoors to see the vineyard and patio that had a fig tree. A European Robin sang in the tree. Was delightful.

As part of a group cruising the Douro, we visited Quinta de Avessada. We enjoyed some time on their…read moreterrace overlooking the vineyard and their flowering garden. Their restaurant is part of a winery. The owners gave us an entertaining presentation about the wine growing and winemaking. They had wine dating back three or more generations. We had a very nice traditional Portuguese lunch, with plenty of appetizers of cod fritters and sausages, with several courses and musical entertainment (including an accordion) in their lovely building. We enjoyed their white and red wines, and we had lovely service from their friendly staff. A highlight here is the owner, who was such a fun-loving host. He seemed to love his job of entertaining and informing the luncheon group very much. He did a great job of raising my rating higher. This is a great tour stop in Portugal near the Duoro River.

Our tour guide created an interesting experience. The grounds are gorgeous. The wines and cheeses…read moreare great. The staff is friendly and happy to accommodate you. And, the food is tasty.

Must book in advance for tours and/or wine tastings. Views are extraordinary, but the advanced…read morebookings seemed unnecessary--it was quiet, with employees twiddling their thumbs. Gift shop prices were reasonable.

The setting, facilities, owner, staff, and wines are simply the best. A true findread more

Beautiful location right on the vineyard…read more Full service hotel with spa, wine tasting, great food and excellent staff. Rooms are exceptional and a full breakfast is included in the main dining room. It's called a wine experience for a reason!!! From the moment we checked in we were welcomed with a glass of champagne. After check in, we went to the room, which was spacious, spotless and absolutely lovely. A bottle of champagne was on ice in the sitting area with a nice welcome note. Everything in this hotel was a 5 star experience. If this hotel was in Napa, it would easily be $1000 a night. So IMO, it's an exceptional value. The main are of the hotel has beautiful sitting areas with fire places. It's relaxing and calming. Besides the amazing wines, the food was very good. At dinner, the Sommelier paired wine with our dishes which was a nice touch. The staff was super friendly and helpful, especially when they pick you up by tuk tuk to take you the restaurant and then back to your room after dinner. The pool and spa are also a nice touch to complete this experience. I highly recommend this hotel. If you want to feel pampered and a little bougie this is the place.

This hotel is such a beauty! Directly in the vineyards, the…read morehotel is composed of different small buildings for the rooms and other facilities. All of them surrounded by the calming and gorgeous view of perfectly straight rows of plush, green vines. Our room was very modern and comfortable with a full wall window facing a view I won't forget. Even on the second night, it seemed as exciting as the first. I can't get enough of this place. It may take some time to find all the light and decipher all the switches and options but if you have trouble, the staff is very friendly and keen to help you. On our arrival we were greeted with a very welcoming glass of their own sparkling and they also brought our bags directly in our rooms while we were checking in. If you don't want to walk to your room, you can always ask for a ride in their golf carts. We did came back pretty late in the evening, but each night we gathered with our group in the lobby bar on the first floor of the main building. The bartender was very helpful and friendly. He made very pleasing recommendations and they had very interesting choices. I hope I get to go back.

My wife and I spent over a week in Portugal and while we enjoyed every minute, the true highlight…read morewas our visit to Quinta de Santa Cristina. First, the staff was extremely accommodating as they adjusted their schedule for us to come a bit earlier. The picturesque view of the mountains, small towns, and vineyards were absolutely stunning! While it was a bit misty and rainy, the view was well worth the trip. You could also easily make a day of the visit as they have recommended hikes of 15 minutes, 30+ minutes, and 90 minutes through the scenic countryside. The staff was fantastic as Maria was extremely friendly, answered all of our questions, and walked us through the vineyards. She explained how each wine was made and walked us through the winery and full wine making process. We left with a much deeper knowledge and appreciation for the wine. Each of the wines were delicious and the tapas with the wine were very tasty - an added bonus! We got a great sampling of the wines and the tapas were local meats and cheeses that really hit the spot. We actually walked away with a bottle of each wine that we sampled as they were all very good and the bottles were very reasonably priced (4-6E). This was an amazing value, wonderful experience, and one that we will always remember. Thank you Maria and Quinta de Santa Cristina!