Bairrada (Coimbra) april 13-17

[Rummy]

Dear members,

My colleagues and I (a group of 16) will be visiting the University of Coimbra as part of an educational field trip. While the flights are currently being arranged, I expect we will have one or two days of leisure time during our stay.

I was wondering whether any members could recommend worthwhile (wine related?) places to visit in or around Coimbra.

Our group consists of agricultural teachers with a focus on livestock farming, trips to livestock farms however are covered.

Any input is welcome, thank you in advance!

[Alex Bridgeman]

Apart from the obvious short rail journey to Vila Nova de Gaia, there’s nothing that occurs to me.

But, having said that, there are a fair number of farmers in the Douro who are trying to follow the principals of regenerative farming.

You might be able to tie up a loose study / fun visit to talk to someone like Oscar about his use of sheep to graze the weeds between vines and horses to plough the vineyards while also adding to the complex microbiology of the soils he farms.