Porto is in the south west of Portugal, it’s a very special place and it’s also really pretty. People are truly kind and welcoming, if you don’t speak Portuguese they will try to communicate by other means like French or English or even with their hands. Porto is also the capital of Port Wine, in fact the city gave its name to this famous drink.
I went to Portugal in the aim to do an internship for Porto Cruz, in their Centro Multimedia, at Vila Nova de Gaia, near Porto and during two months. That experience was incredible, my manager was really kind, like all the staff, she gave me the opportunity to evolve in the company and allowed me to meet many professionals of the company and other people of the wine sector.
For example, I met the owner of Gran Cruz, he’s a very nice and interesting person. During a professional tasting I met as well the director of Challenge and Nantes Prestige Magazine.
The internship was very informative, the sommelier was the one who taught me the most. He was very funny but netherless very professional. Actually, it’s him who made me like the port wine and all its characteristics.
Maybe you don’t know but Porto Cruz is a part of La Martiniquaise which is the second French firm specialised in spirits after Pernot Ricard.
About Porto, if you don’t like to walk you are mistaken because it’s an up and down city. At the end of the first day, I can promise you will sleep very well ! For girls forget high heels you will thank me.
Life in Porto is really cool, they make good but greasy food and have many nice wines, like the Cistus Reserva 2011 of Quinta Do Vale Da Perdiz, from the Douro Valley. Futhermore it’s less expensive than French wines which allows you to make a lot of crazy things even if you are a student.
Between the Porto Cruz roof top with its 360° terrace lounge, the Galerias de Paris street, the Palacio de Bolsa, walking around the Garden of Crystal Palace or exploring the old jail restructured to the photography museum, you cannot get bored here.
Moreover, the place is good for business, I met people from all around the world such as Australians, Argentinians or Italians, and so on for making contacts.
Ines Coullon
