Grape stomping in Portugal: Quinta da Pacheca harvest experience & wine dinner

After my trip to Portugal in the spring, I was scrolling through social media and saw a group of people stomping grapes in a concrete vat. I immediately sent it to my friend group, and within two days, we had settled on dates for a trip for the upcoming fall harvest season and booked the experience.

Germany doesn’t allow grape stomping for commercial production, and in Italy, it's typically done only in small tubs. In Portugal, however, wineries like Quinta da Pacheca—and a few other smaller producers—still craft their port exclusively with grapes crushed by foot.

The most common question: Is it hygienic?

We were told yes. Before bottling, the grapes are rinsed with a citric acid solution, then filtered after crushing, and clarified before they’re bottled.

The Experience

We booked a wine tasting, stomp, and dinner afterwards in the barrel room. These spots book up quickly (there were limited options when we booked months in advance), so if you are interested in doing one, make sure to book your desired date and time slot early on their website.

We arrived thirty minutes before our check-in time and enjoyed taking photos on the grounds and walking around. If I were to do it again, I might arrive an hour early to enjoy a glass of wine outdoors before the tasting, as the views were stunning. When we checked in, we were provided shirts to wear during the stomping portion and waited for the rest of the group to finish checking in. Soon after, we were led to the tasting room to start the tasting portion of the evening.

History

During the tasting, we learned about the winery's history. Its origins date back to the sixteenth century when the vines belonged to the Monasteries of Salzedas and St. João de Tarouca. The name “Pacheca” was first mentioned in 1738 and changed to this feminine form by Da. Marinana Pacheco Pereira, a feisty woman who managed the property by herself.

In 2001, the 75 hectares of vineyards were classified as a Humanity World Heritage by UNESCO. Quinta de Pacheca’s focus has always been on the production of quality Douro DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) and Port wines, and subsequently, was the first in the region to bottle DOC wines under its own brand. DOC is a quality control system, and wines must come from the officially recognized Douro region. It applies to both port wines and the other reds and whites produced in the area.

We sampled four wines: a white wine, a red wine, and two ports. I am not a port drinker, so I didn’t enjoy them that much, but the white and red were lovely. The port drinkers in the room raved about them, so take their word for it! After the tasting, we moved into the vat (I made up that word, but it seems fitting) room where the stomping would begin.

Grape Stomp

After a quick change into the provided t-shirt and shorts, we were escorted to our giant concrete vat of grapes. A quick rinse of the feet as we stepped over the edge, and we were in. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but when you first get in, it’s chunky and cold, ha! Ladies, be warned that if you have shaved your legs that day, it might sting a bit at first.

After we acclimated to the grapes and began to move around, it was a lot of fun. The people who stomp the grapes for the wine production are usually in there for several hours at an even pace. We were in there for a good time, not a long time. We danced, accidentally threw some grapes out of the vat with our kicking line, and made the most out of our thirty minutes in the grapes.

Dinner and Final Thoughts

After our time in the grapes came to an end, we rinsed off our legs and removed the excess grapes that crept up north into our shorts. We were escorted through the stunning old barrel room and into the newer barrel room, where we would have our wine pairing dinner.

Dinner was a buffet assortment offering both meat and vegetarian options, along with your choice of red or white wine to pair. Dessert was served with port pairings.

From start to finish, the entire experience was fantastic and unforgettable. If you have ever dreamed about stomping grapes in a GIANT tub, this is your sign to book your trip to Portugal during harvest season- you will not regret it!

Where to Stay Nearby:

Mid-Range: Imago Houses, 5 minute drive to Quinta da Pacheca or 20 minute walk.

Splurge: Stay in the wine barrels at Quinta da Pacheca

*Some links may be affiliate links. Should you make a booking using them, I may receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting my blog!

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