Hi there!

We are visiting the Duoro Valley in September this year. Since we are traveling as a group, we'll hire a bus for the whole day from Porto. The problem with having a bus is that it seems most wineries are not easily accessible and large vehicles like buses cannot reach them. So the question is-- how difficult is it to order taxis or something like Uber when we reach the Duoro Valley? For example to have them pick us up on the main road and take us up to the wineries. We'd need like 4 or 5 cars. Is that even possible? Did anyone have any experience getting a cab in Duoro Valley?

Thank you!

Uber doesn't operate in the Douro Valley.

Most wineries are accessed by small, narrow winding roads but there are a few exceptions:
For example, Sandeman-Quinta do Seixo can handle large buses chartered by the luxury river cruise lines (Ama, Uniworld, Viking).
In fact, we parked by mistake in the large bus lot at Sandeman, and the black caped Sandeman guide asked us to move. There is a separate road for the buses to climb up to the winery.

The river cruise lines also use the Quinta da Avessada in Favaios for their visits and dinners, so it must handle these large buses, but I've never visited.
The river cruise lines use the local bus company. Douro Azul, to transport their passengers to the winery visits.

Quinta do Bomfim (Symington Estates) located right in the village of Pinhão, a 5-minute walk from the train station, does have ample parking but I can't remember if the lot is large enough for 20+-passenger buses. Tours and tastings by appointment only. You can send them an email to inquire about bus parking.
Quinta das Carvalhas-Real Companhia Velha is also within walking distance of the Pinhão train station, just across the bridge, and its web site indicates it welcomes sightseeing buses.

I've used the taxi services of Emmanuel Anselmo, Taxis Douro, in Régua. Although he's a "one man show", he might be able organize a group of taxis for you to take your group around. He does speak good English, receives solid reviews and responds quickly by email, IME.

[email protected]
Douro *Táxi - Home

Where in the Douro? And what size bus? If it is a small bus (like a 21 seater) you can get close enough to many wineries as long as you can walk a few minutes. If you are thinking of going to Pinhão there are not many taxis (like maybe three) and they get booked up. If it is a big bus for fifty people, you are probably better going off with visits to the wineries Maribel recommends. Especially if the driver does not speak English. An Uber driver would make a killing in the Douro Valley.

Another Douro winery that's bus accessible (at least for a 21-seater), without driving up narrow, winding roads, is Quinta da Pacheca in Cambres, just across the river from (Peso da) Régua.
One of the river cruise lines (Ama Waterways) uses Quinta da Pacheca for its group dinners. They can handle events, it has quite a noted restaurant and is a wine hotel with some suites in the form of wine barrels. I've tasted and dined there.

In Pinhão, you could get a small bus close enough to visit Quinta de la Rosa (not a steep road), just about 2 km. west of town on the M590. It's also a hotel and has a nice restaurant, Cozinha da Clara, the great river views.

The taxi driver I've dealt with in small Pinhão is Manuel Anselmo, but he's another "one man show". As Rialtogrl says, there aren't many taxi drivers in this small town.
Taxi Pinhao - Manuel Anselmo

Dear Rialtogrl and Maribel, thank you for your invaluable advice! I will keep in mind the taxi drivers' info. Thank you!

I've been looking at many of the Quintas that have great reviews (Quinta do Crasto, Quinta do Nova, Quinta do Popa, Quinta das Carvalhas-Real Companhia Velha and Quinta Bomfim). Facing a few problems. 1. some of these are really difficult to access and definitely not possible with a bus. 2. because of the size of our group, we are limited to what the wineries can offer. 3. to my dismay, Crasto and Nova are already solidly booked for our dates.

ideally I wanted a smaller and less frequented by large groups quinta. But looks like that'd be difficult to do. So I checked again Quinta do Seixo. And looks like that's going to be our best option. In fact, this winery actually offers picnic lunches and that was something I wanted to arrange.

If anyone has visited Quinta do Seixo and had a tour with a picnic, I would love to hear your thoughts!

I have done it several times. The tour is a bit cheesy but you will get the gist of port production. The picnics I have done there are a lunch done by a local caterer and the food is very good. They have a fantastic picnic area in the vineyards with incredible views, but you have to walk down a path (and some steps) to get there. If you have the picnic in this area, it is very memorable.

The last two times I went it rained (June 2018 and just a couple of weeks ago) and they move it inside, so the setting is not as great but the food is the same. Wines are plentiful, they are inexpensive wines but fine with the food.

If you want a more rustic experience, you can consider Quinta do Infantado. Two cousins run the winery and if you do a meal there one of them usually is doing the cooking. They don't have a tour with a guide wearing a cape and hat, but you will probably learn more. You cannot get to this winery in a bus, but you can have the bus take you to Chanceleiros and from there it is a 10 minute walk to the winery and anyone who cannot do that can be transported by car the rest of the way. It is a completely different experience than Quinta do Seixo. There is not much to this website, but you can write to Alvaro (one of the cousins) using the email address if you are interested. They do a more plant based menu which can be a refreshing change.
http://www.quintadoinfantado.com/

You can do the lunch at one and still tour the other but both should be reserved as soon as possible for a lunch.

glad to hear positive reviews of the picnic, as this is basically what I most interested in. We are not serious drinkers. We are there more for visual and scenic experience and, more importantly, getting closer to nature. Al fresco dining is not something easily done in Tokyo, so we always look for opportunities when traveling. Really hope the weather cooperates. I would not want to be stuck in a room with a selfservice buffet.

That sounds interesting. I'll get in touch with Quinta do Infantado. I am debating whether I should do both lunch and an early dinner in the valley before returning to Porto. We did a (very very) long day in the vineyard region of Georgia but that was at the end of the trip and we were over jet-leg by then. This time, it's on only our second day in Portugal, but then again, we would have dinner upon return to Porto anyways. So, for now, I am hoping to find a real working winery/farm with family-style dinner/lunch... you know when you feel like you are part of the family or good friends visiting not just paying clients. Have a nice family meal with wine, and sleep all way to Porto.

i'm attaching a collage of some of the "family style dining

" we did before. these were a lot of fun and were the biggest highlight of the trips. So I want to recreate that again. Maybe Quinta do Infantado OR Quinta de Marrocos OR Quinta de Santa Eufémia could be a good choice for that? Quinta de Marrocos' location might be more favorable logistically as it's on the way from Pinhao to Porto. any thoughts on that?