Quinta da Santa Julia - Hands on Cooking Class

Rafale, our guide, was excellent and very knowledgeable. 

 

Mike is standing in front of a magnolia tree estimated to be 300 years old.

This is the private chapel for the owners. There is a story about the brother of Julia. He had traveled to Spain to do some trading or business and saw a statue of a girl named Julia. He purchased it as his young sister was very sick and could not walk. He brought it back home with him and the family prayed along with the entire village. Instead of naming the property after a sir name, it was named after Julia. She became well and lived until she was 90 years old. 

Our guide asked us if we could guess why this marker might be placed here. Lynn guessed that it was Julia's grave site! She was not correct. This is the #3 marker: The granite markers defining the original boundary of the Douro Valley are called Marcos de Feitoria (Feitoria markers). Installed between 1757 and 1761 by the Marquis of Pombal, these historic 3-meter-tall stone posts established the first legally protected and demarcated wine region in the world to guarantee Port wine authenticity. (Gemini)

The land, vineyards, home and buildings have been in this family since 1596

Our vegetable was sauteed cabbage with lots of garlic & olive oil.

We made a chicken meat ball and stuffed a small piece of cheese inside.

The meatball, fried, with a port wine glaze.

Douro Valley

Lemon Cups, using real lemons

The lemon dessert was HEAVY whipping cream, sugar, lemon juice, water and gelatin topped with mint leaves.

Mike dips into the charcuterie board. He had to wear a hat because we were LATE for our tour start time. We thought we needed to be in the lobby @ 11, but the actual time was 10. Oops! Jet lag!

The chef used a wood fired cook stove & oven. It was pretty hot behind the counter!

We purchased some wine & port!