Before we left home, we had weather/coat conversations: Do I need the zip-in lining for my blue coat or should I just take my puffy coat or do I need gloves?? The answer was “Of course not” Wrong! Today was cool and just as we started for the bus, it started to rain. By the time we arrived at lunch, we had that cold between the shoulder blades feel and dampness of feet.
From PinHao, we drove the back roads UP the mountains and winding around. There were very sharp drop-offs on the right side (of 1,000 to 1,500 feet), no guard rails, and steep vineyard terraces on either side. If you were prone to car sickness, it was not a good day —enough said. We eventually reached Mateus Palace. It is the beautiful palace pictured on the Mateus wine bottle. (If you came of drinking age in the 60’s or 70’s, you know the bottle. It was shaped like a canteen and deep maroon color.) Mateus was never made there - only pictured on the bottle. We toured part of the Palace. The family still lives in part of it. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens modeled after the gardens of Versailles in Paris. We sloshed back to the bus.
We traveled a short way to Enoteca Quinta de Avessada and were greeted with a small taste of muscotel wine and a couple starters. This was another winery owned by a family of long standing. Two musicians entertained: an accordion player and a drummer. They had one basic tune which they played over and over. (Think player piano with one roll.). We filed into a nice dining room and were served a white wine and a red wine, starters: roasted pork pieces, cod fritters, sausage. Then we had a soup and then a stew of veal and carrots with potatoes and cabbage. Of course there was bread. There was a dessert buffet with creme brûlée, pears poached in port, chocolate something (was gone by the time I got there), cheese and fruit, layered cake. This was followed by grappa and coffee. The young man who started this usually introduced each course with some commentary. I think he loved entertaining and really wanted to be a stand-up comic. Eventually we trooped back to the bus and napped on the way to the ship as Maria guided the bus back pass the thousands of acres of grapevines and olive trees.
From PinHao, we drove the back roads UP the mountains and winding around. There were very sharp drop-offs on the right side (of 1,000 to 1,500 feet), no guard rails, and steep vineyard terraces on either side. If you were prone to car sickness, it was not a good day —enough said. We eventually reached Mateus Palace. It is the beautiful palace pictured on the Mateus wine bottle. (If you came of drinking age in the 60’s or 70’s, you know the bottle. It was shaped like a canteen and deep maroon color.) Mateus was never made there - only pictured on the bottle. We toured part of the Palace. The family still lives in part of it. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens modeled after the gardens of Versailles in Paris. We sloshed back to the bus.
We traveled a short way to Enoteca Quinta de Avessada and were greeted with a small taste of muscotel wine and a couple starters. This was another winery owned by a family of long standing. Two musicians entertained: an accordion player and a drummer. They had one basic tune which they played over and over. (Think player piano with one roll.). We filed into a nice dining room and were served a white wine and a red wine, starters: roasted pork pieces, cod fritters, sausage. Then we had a soup and then a stew of veal and carrots with potatoes and cabbage. Of course there was bread. There was a dessert buffet with creme brûlée, pears poached in port, chocolate something (was gone by the time I got there), cheese and fruit, layered cake. This was followed by grappa and coffee. The young man who started this usually introduced each course with some commentary. I think he loved entertaining and really wanted to be a stand-up comic. Eventually we trooped back to the bus and napped on the way to the ship as Maria guided the bus back pass the thousands of acres of grapevines and olive trees.
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