1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

liAGAEIEOS EEEOSING.

V. A Toub to some Famous Quintas on the Douro ane THE Kio Torto—The Cachao da Valleira. From Celleirds to the Costa do Roncao—A party of Lagariros taking their jlepose The Qaintas of Roncao, Dona Rosa,Jordan,Romaneira, Serrao, Liceiras,and Malheiros—Other Quintas higher up the Douro—The Quinta do Roriz and its originalPlantation by an enthusiastic,Sootch Sportsman— Roeda,theso-called Diamond of thePortWineCountry—The Quintareno vated and extended bytheBaraodaRoeda—Itissuccessively Devastated by the Oidium and thePhylloxera—Efforts of the Barao da Roedato arrestthe ravages of the latter—The Quintas of Carvalhas and VentozeUo—Excur sion to the principal Quintasofthe Rio Torto—Priests acting as Overseers in many Alto Douro Quintas—We meet troops of Donkeys carrying Skins of Wine—Reach a barren Plateau, and sight Sao Joao da Pesqueira Its antique palatial-looking edifices, and their huge escutcheons We visit the Quinta do Sidrd—Vines 1,000 feet above the level of the Douro— Ascend the craggy height of Sao Salvador do Mundo with little Chapels perched up its side—View from here of the dreaded Cachao da Valleira— The Douro Boatmen bare their heads and pray as they approach the perilous gorge—The Quinta do Vesuvio,the largest of the Douro Vine yards—Its Plantations of Oranges, Olives, and Almonds, as well as of Mulherry-trees for Silkworms—Other Quintas in the neighbourhood—We ride hack and are ferried over to Pinliao.