A special trip

The River Douro still calm and there!
With lots of things to share...
Grapes and olives going away,
Lovely sunny days...

The rocks with colourful grey,
The vineyards and olive trees are great,
The light cork in pure state,
I don sleep I'm awake...

The great walls that you don't find anywhere,
True people with love and sincere care!
Real wine and soft passion in mind,
Come to Douro, come to paradise...

It was these words which intrigued Gaston. They were written by Victor Marques who owns a vineyard near the town of Fafe, some 60km north east of Porto.
Port wine country. Gaston did like his Port, he had to admit. The French with their their great wine producing tradition simply do not produce anything remotely resembling a port wine. He also recalled a wine tasting evening he had several years ago. All the wines had come from Portugal. It was a revelation, not only in the wide range and depth of quality but also the facts about the wine making tradition. A small jewel tucked away in the south western corner of Europe.

Gaston knew he had arrived at Fafe when he saw the numerous wind turbines dotted on the hills above the town. The weather was unexpectedly cool. It was drizzling slightly from the grey, overcast sky. But tomorrow would be a nice sunny and warm day.

Fafe was not quite what he expected. The main town square was actually quite modern. But then there were architectural gems like the theatre and cinema with it's vividly decorated front. There were a number of individualistic designed houses. But the strangest he had seen was the house built between two gigantic rocks.

What Gaston liked about Victor's approach was the being proud of his wines, the quality of his produce and while being connected to nature and being so passionate about it all. This was a different way to what Philippe was doing.

“I wonder what Victor's hallmark is?” he mused.


The poem at the top was reprinted with kind permission by Victor Marques. Please view his profile here on Ecademy. His website is http://www.vitoriakoi.pt/pt/