I SWIRL the golden liquid in my glass and take a big sip of what experts call a long-finish wine.
It’s Alvarinho — and Angel’s Share rooftop bar in Porto, in the north-west of Portugal, is the perfect place to try it, with stunning views of the Douro River below.
The colourful coastal city, with the Bishop’s Palace dominating its centre, is a haven for wine lovers.
There are excellent reds and whites in all the bars that line the cobbled alleyways, but it’s port wines that are the real treats here.
I kicked off my grape-themed adventure at the immersive World Of Wine cultural centre which contains a multitude of museums dedicated to the trade.
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There, you’ll learn about the history of port wine and its popularity in the 17th Century.
But pride of place is given to elegant wine glasses which the country’s Prime Minister used to toast victory when the Duke of Wellington liberated Porto from Napoleon’s army.
I felt that I shared his joy every time I raised my elbow throughout my trip.
I was staying nearby at the wine-themed 5H Yeatman Hotel in the Gaia area.
With rooms inspired by well-known labels, it boasts award-winning cellars crammed with more than 30,000 bottles, 96 per cent of which are grown from local grapes.
My room was huge, with a luxury sunken bath facing the window and offering views of the historic buildings cascading down to the river.
When you’re not sampling tipples from the hotel’s impressive cellar, The Wine Experience is great for delving into the country’s proud history of winemaking.
Each room inside the museum tells the story behind the art of viniculture as well as the differences between each wine-producing area.
Make sure to pick up a souvenir round the corner at Planet Cork when you’ve finished — the gift shop is packed full of goodies, including cork yoga mats for £50.
There are plenty more museums to visit if you’re keen to really delve into the history of Porto’s most-loved tipple, including at the nearby Cultural District where there are seven experiences on offer.
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But for something less serious, the Pink Palace, dedicated entirely to rosé wine, is bursting with fun.
There’s an original pink Cadillac in one room, a giant pink champagne bottle you can climb into in another, and a room with an upside-down picnic hamper with tables and chairs hanging from the ceiling.
It’s a great place for Instagram snaps and you can also sample five wines during a tasting session — make sure to try the Croft Pink, a personal favourite.
When you’ve had enough of the wine (if that’s possible), you can get more flavour of the city at the chocolate museum, which has a choccie factory operating in it.
You’ll learn how the Portuguese exported cacao trees from South America to Africa and largely controlled the global production of chocolate. But it’s the tasting sessions that most people visit for.
I was instructed to pinch my nose while I popped small pieces of chocolate into my mouth.
This allows the tongue to better detect the taste. Releasing the pinch then lets you fully savour the flavour.
The trick definitely worked. I was able to detect the rich, bitter tones from the 90-per-cent dark nibbles and the smoother silky flavours in the 35 per cent milk and white pieces.
For proper grub, head to the colonial-styled 1828 restaurant which commemorates Porto’s civil war.
The waiters are all dressed in historical uniforms from the period.
But for a gastronomical experience, visit T&C restaurant.
To my amazement, I was seated inside a huge wooden port vat that sat eight around a circular table.
A special bottle of Krohn Colheita 2003 Tawny port was poured which had a nutty flavour to perfectly complement my salmon risotto.
As I raised my glass, I thought of the Prime Minister toasting Napoleon’s defeat.
I was not drinking from the same special glass he slurped from, but it’s the stuff inside it that’s the real treat.
