From the Douro to Oxted - A Tasing of Portugal with Sofia Alonso - OXTED - 24 September 2026

This September, we're heading to Portugal – without leaving Oxted!
 
Join us for a special evening with Sofia Alonso of Carlos Alonso Douro Wine Company, who will be joining us personally to guide us through the wines and Ports of her family's Douro estate.
 
Sofia will take us beyond what’s in the glass, sharing the story of the Carlos Alonso Douro Wine Company and exploring how the Douro’s traditional grape varieties and dramatic landscape shape the estate’s still wines and Ports. This is a fantastic opportunity to taste with someone who knows someone who knows the wines and the estate inside out.
 
And this isn’t just about Port. The Douro is producing some seriously exciting still wines, so throughout the evening we’ll explore three still wines alongside three Ports, discovering the grapes, styles and stories that make this remarkable region so distinctive.
 
To accompany the tasting, we'll also be serving a selection of cheeses and charcuterie, making this the perfect relaxed evening of great wine, great food and a little Portuguese discovery.
  
The Wines
 
Piano Reserva Branco 2023
A serious Douro white made from traditional Portuguese varieties, combining ripe fruit, freshness and complexity. The Piano Reserva Branco has an impressive track record, including Gold at the Berliner Wine Trophy 2024.
 
Piano Douro Colheita Tinto 2024
A brilliant introduction to modern Douro red – generous, fruit-driven and full of character. Made from the region's traditional Portuguese varieties, it's a great example of the approachable side of the Douro before we step up to Touriga Nacional.
 
Piano Reserva Touriga Nacional 2022
A chance to discover one of Portugal's great indigenous grapes on its own. Rich, structured and unmistakably Douro, showcasing the depth and character that Touriga Nacional can achieve.
 
Then... the Ports
After exploring the still wines, we'll move on to what the Douro is perhaps most famous for.
 
Piano White Port NV
Fresh, aromatic and wonderfully versatile. If you think you know Port but haven't explored White Port, this might just change your mind.
 
Piano Ruby Port NV
Rich, youthful and bursting with ripe dark fruit – a classic expression of Ruby Port and a great contrast to the White.
 
Piano 10 Year Old Tawny Port
And we'll finish the evening with something rather special. A beautifully matured Tawny, where ageing brings layers of dried fruit, nuts, spice and complexity – the perfect finale to our journey through the Douro.
 
The wider Piano range has collected more than 50 international awards, earning recognition at major international wine competitions.
 
Whether you're already a Portuguese wine lover or normally head straight for France, Italy or Spain, this is a chance to discover just how much the Douro has to offer.
 
Your ticket includes:
Six wines and Ports to taste
A selection of cheese and charcuterie
A guided tasting with Sofia Alonso
 
Thursday 24 September
6:30pm–8:00pm
The Secret Cellar, Oxted
£40 per person
 
Limited to just 28 guests – booking essential
 
Six wines. One incredible region. One evening in the Douro. Right here in Oxted.

The Secret Cellar Team