Quinta da Tôr – “A great couple of hours in a wonderful location”
Following the success of the club visit to Cabrita Winery in May 2023, CASA Social Club decided to hold another tasting at a different winery. After considerable research and investigation, May 20 saw CASA members assemble at the Quinta da Tôr Winery for a wine-tasting.
The facilities were somewhat more extensive than we had realised, with a large patio with tables and even a swimming pool, all perched on a north-facing hillside with a great view of the village of Tôr opposite us, a couple of kilometers away. A delightful location to spend a lazy afternoon with a glass of wine and some nibbles.
The weather was absolutely perfect for the occasion as we sat outside under the shade of an ancient olive tree for our introduction to the winery and its recent history, and of course the wines and range of grape varieties grown.
We then walked a couple of hundred metres to the building where the fermentation is carried out. A huge array of stainless-steel vats of several types and capacities was on display, and at the rear of the building stacks of oak barrels where the ‘reserva’ wines are aged for up to seven years.
An easy amble back to our shady tables where plates of charcuterie had been set out during our absence and the wines were presented to us by a charming lady who seemed to know every possible detail of every wine. A very pleasant white, a rosé and then two red ‘reservas’, the second of these being especially remarkable.
All were somewhat higher in alcohol content than are regularly found in the supermarket! Perhaps this tiny fact helps explain why so many of us were so slow in leaving afterwards; it was extremely pleasant sitting in the warm sun (now being well after six o’clock) finishing off odd bits of remaining cheese and sausage.
A great couple of hours in a wonderful location. It would be very surprising if several of our members don’t head back there in the near future, especially perhaps those seen to be leaving carrying several bottles of wine! Our thanks to the various staff at Quinta da Tôr for the excellent visit.
Our next event on June 21 is fully booked; the next will be a summer evening dinner at O Tasco near Mexilhoeira Grande on July 24.
Details of this, and all our planned events, are to be found on our website at www.casasocial.club
By CASA Social Club
