September is, par excellence, the month of the grape harvest in Portugal. It is during this period that, across the country, the grape harvest comes to life and often turns into a leisurely opportunity for discovery for those who want to learn more about this age-old tradition.
A practice that, in recent years, has been affected by the consequences of climate change. According to Frederico Falcão, president of ViniPortugal, the Interprofessional Organisation of Portuguese Wine, speaking to the Lusa news agency, the “greater frequency of periods of intense heat” has brought the harvest forward in several regions of the country, due to the faster ripening of the grapes.
And that is precisely what happened this year in the Douro, whose wines are recognised worldwide. The region has even won the title of “International Wine Region of the Year” in 2025, in the latest edition of the Wine Star Awards, organised by the prestigious trade publication “Wine Enthusiast”.
In 2026, the grape harvest in the Douro began between one and two weeks earlier, Frederico Falcão told Lusa, but despite that, everything suggests that wine production in the region will be higher than in the previous campaign. The latest estimates from the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho (IVV) point to a 25% increase on last season, with a final balance of 1.4 million hectolitres of wine from this renowned region.
There is therefore no shortage of reasons to visit the Douro, discover its traditions and understand the importance that the grape harvest holds for the region and its inhabitants. In this article, Euronews lists a few suggestions so you can make the most of harvest season.
The grape-harvest “festival” by rail
“To celebrate the grape harvest, there is nothing better than getting to know all the traditions and taking part in the wine production process in the Douro region.” So says CP – Comboios de Portugal, the Portuguese state-owned rail operator, which this year is reviving an initiative that had already taken shape in previous years.
It is a one-day programme, with departure from and return to Campanhã station in the city of Porto, on a “special train with bar service” that sets off shortly after 8 a.m. For now, there are two dates available: 19 and 26 September (Saturdays).
The first stop is in Pinhão, from where participants will then be taken by coach to Quinta da Avessada, a wine estate in the village of Favaios, which is also known for its wine tourism experiences.
After the “tasting of some regional specialities”, such as the “traditional bread” and meat-filled savoury loaf, visitors will be invited to join the harvest itself. At that point, they will be “given buckets, clippers and straw hats and told about the grape varieties, the history of the region and some of the traditions associated” with this practice.
This is followed by a “regional lunch”, with several classic local dishes on offer to those joining this journey, and afterwards a visit to the lagares at Quinta da Avessada, where they will take part in the traditional lagarada, that is, the age-old method of grape treading. Finally, in the estate’s wine bar, there will be a “guided tasting of fortified wines”.
The return journey by train to the city of Porto takes place at the end of the day from Régua station. Prices vary depending on age group and whether or not the trip is made as part of a group. However, for adults, the base price is 93 euros in first class and 86 euros in second class.
A cruise through tradition
But the breathtaking landscapes along the banks of the Douro River also lend themselves to other kinds of experiences, in which the views over the terraced vineyards of this wine region are among the main attractions.
For almost the entire year, many tour operators organise cruises that travel along much of what is Portugal’s second-longest river. However, some take advantage of harvest season to offer programmes aimed at those who want to experience the grape harvest and wine production first-hand.
There are, in particular, programmes lasting one or two days in September, during which participants, in addition to getting to know Pinhão and its surroundings better on a cruise, also have the opportunity to visit a local wine estate, where they can enjoy various themed activities. These include wine tastings and joining in the cutting of the grapes, their transport to the lagares and the treading of the fruit, to the sound of traditional Douro songs.
And in the case of the two-day package, accommodation in a boutique hotel is included, in this area where the production of Port wine is one of the key activities.
For those seeking a fully immersive experience, there is a longer, three or five-day option on board the Douro Serenity river-cruise hotel. This programme offers participants, as in the previous suggestions, a visit to Quinta da Avessada.
From “picking the grapes, bucket and clippers in hand, to the folk music played among the vines, the Port wine tasting in the cellar and the regional dinner”, a wide range of activities is included. Some are optional and involve an additional charge, such as a visit to the Raposeira cellars, known for their sparkling wines, the Penascosa Rock Art Centre and the Museum of Foz Côa, as well as the village of Castelo Rodrigo, with a tasting in a local winery.
The base price per adult ranges from 495 to 800 euros, depending on the length of the trip. This month there are still two dates available: 10 and 11 September, for the five-day and three-day programmes respectively.
Diverse experiences for wine lovers
From north to south of the country, numerous estates and farmers open their doors in September to celebrate harvest season with those who are passionate about the world of wine.
One example in the Douro is the Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta, which has 29 rooms spread across seven different buildings on the property, one of the largest and oldest in the region. There, visitors can spend the night inside a former wine storage vat or in an old barn, both of which have been converted into leisure and relaxation spaces for guests. Prices range from 180 to 2,950 euros per night, depending on the season and the type of accommodation chosen.
Throughout the year, this estate, located in Ervedosa do Douro, also offers a range of activities linked to the world of wine and vineyards, both for those who choose to stay overnight and for visitors with other plans. In the latter case, there is the so-called “Visit to the Place of Pleasures”, a multisensory experience centred on the Douro Valley that includes a guided tour of the estate’s main hub, revealing some of its history and how it operates, followed by a tasting of wines produced at the quinta.
The Torel Quinta da Vacaria, a five-star boutique hotel in Peso da Régua, also offers a wide range of wine tourism experiences, such as wine tastings or vinotherapy treatments, which use wine and grape-based products to rejuvenate skin and body. There is also the chance to discover Schistó, a Michelin-starred restaurant that is likewise part of this property, whose history dates back to 1616.
For harvest season, however, Torel Quinta da Vacaria has devised a programme which, for 180 euros per person in September and October, gives participants access to the estate’s winery to learn about the winemaking process and taste several of the wines produced there. This is followed by dinner at the winery’s restaurant, Fumus, with a menu inspired by harvest traditions, after which there will still be time for grape treading to the sound of traditional music.
At the Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo in Covas do Douro, wine and vineyards also take centre stage. In this luxury hotel, which is part of the prestigious hospitality association Relais & Châteaux, visitors can, all year round, take part in activities where the art of harvesting, wine tasting and local cuisine are among the main highlights.
But, as has already been the case on previous days, on Thursday 10 September the estate invites visitors to join in the cutting of the grapes alongside the roga, the group responsible for this work, followed by two tastings of different styles of wine. The experience ends with lunch at the Terraçu’s restaurant, which is also part of Quinta Nova, at a total cost of 290 euros per person.
