Opened in 2020, World of Wine – generally known as WOW – has develop into a must-visit attraction for vacationers in Porto, town on the coronary heart of Portugal’s Douro wine area. The brand new cultural district remodeled Vila Nova de Gaia, on the south financial institution of the Douro river, an space beforehand occupied by Port lodges.
The thought was conceived by The Fladgate Partnership as early as 1986, when rules across the export of the Douro’s fortified Port wines modified. Beforehand all Port needed to be shipped from Vila Nova de Gaia. This meant that enormous Port corporations corresponding to Fladgate – which encompasses the labels Taylor’s, Fonseca, Croft and Krohn – owned substantial warehouses within the historic district.
Transformation begins
When it was not essential to function these Port lodges, there was a possibility for redevelopment. The transformation started in 2010 with the opening of The Yeatman, a luxurious lodge for wine vacationers.
A panoramic view of Porto from the Yeatman’s terrace, with its decanter-shaped pool
‘Porto has this unbelievable historical past. It’s bought wonderful structure. It’s bought fantastic individuals, and it’s bought beautiful traditions of meals. It’s clearly bought a wine custom – it’s one of many few locations on the planet that has a wine named after it. And but, it by no means actually had a lodge to do it justice. And that was what The Yeatman was about,’ explains Adrian Bridge, CEO of The Fladgate Partnership since 2000.
However a lodge was only the start. ‘The newest reorganisation is to maneuver the corporate out of the historic centre of Porto over the course of many years – that challenge began about 2010 – in order that we are able to convert that metropolis centre to content material that enriches your entire vacationer provide of town, and northern Portugal and Portugal itself,’ says Bridge, explaining the ethos behind WOW.
Cultural district
Greater than only a wine museum, WOW is a whole cultural district. Masking 55,000m2 of regenerated Port lodges, the challenge price €105m. The location has house for non permanent artwork exhibitions and runs a vibrant number of cultural and music occasions all year long. It’s price checking the occasions schedule to see what’s on throughout your go to.
Star attraction is The Wine Expertise (see under). However the advanced additionally contains interactive points of interest Planet Cork and the Pink Palace, exploring rosé wines around the globe, and The Bridge Assortment of consuming vessels from antiquity to the trendy day.
Eager to show your love of wine into {qualifications}? There’s additionally a WSET accredited wine college onsite, the place you possibly can research Stage 1 in a day-course (€45), or Ranges 2 and three on residential programs. Different choices embrace a Portuguese Specialist course and a number of shorter periods on Demystifying Wine (€35).
Study chocolate at The Chocolate Story
Elsewhere The Chocolate Story attraction explores the fascinating historical past of chocolate manufacturing and features a working chocolate manufacturing facility – with tasting samples, whereas Porto Area Throughout the Ages is an area historical past museum that uncovers the distinctive heritage of town and its individuals.
Tickets could be bought individually for every museum, or you’ve gotten the choice to go to two museums (€34 for adults, €15 kids), three (€45 for adults, €18 kids) or 5 (€65 for adults, €27 kids). Two-museum tickets are legitimate for a month, three- or five- for 3 months. Soccer followers can add in a tour of FC Porto to the two-museum ticket for an extra €5 per particular person.
The location additionally boasts 9 eating places and bars. These embrace 1828 steakhouse, the place younger, fruity classic Ports could be paired steak. In the meantime the Golden Catch fish and seafood restaurant provides dishes corresponding to octopus carpaccio, sole with truffled mash and decadent seafood platters.
The Wine Expertise
Discover out the place on the planet wine is made at The Wine Expertise
The primary cease at WOW for any wine lover needs to be The Wine Expertise. Making intelligent use of AV know-how, this extremely interactive, immersive exhibition is enjoyable no matter your degree of wine data. Particular person tickets price €13 for adults and €5.40 for youngsters, or €45 for a household ticket (two adults and two kids).
Shows and actions discover how wine is created from winery to glass. Uncover which wine type is best for you, take a look at your data of wine areas and sniff out the totally different aromas in wine. You may even take a tour of Portugal’s principal wine areas, visiting a typical home from every space. Excursions embrace a tasting of purple, white and Port wines, with knowledgeable steerage on learn how to style and consider wines.
Pink Palace
Dive into the ball pool on the Pink Palace
Delightfully kitsch, the Pink Palace is ideal to your Instagram-worthy vacation snaps. Dive into the intense pink ball pool, pose in a classic Cadillac (pink after all) or pop your self out of a glowing rosé bottle. However there’s additionally lots to be taught at this shrine to rosé wine.
Learn how rosés are made and discover signature kinds from around the globe, together with Provence and pink Port. Your ticket value of €13 contains tastings of 5 totally different rosé wines, together with Portugal’s iconic Mateus Rosé – whose numerous fan base included Jimi Hendrix and Steve Jobs.
The Bridge Assortment
Historical past buffs will likely be of their ingredient at this archaeological museum of consuming rituals. It’s a non-public assortment that incorporates over 2,000 consuming vessels and glasses, spanning over 9,000 years of historical past. The oldest artefact in The Bridge Assortment dates again to 7000 BCE.
From rock crystal rhytons to black determine pottery and Venetian glassware, there’s an enormous number of eye-catching displays right here. The rigorously curated choice explores our relationship with consuming via the ages, from spiritual rituals to enjoyable consuming video games, by way of occasions of historic and cultural significance. Particular person tickets price €20 for adults and €9 for youngsters.
For extra info go to WOW.
