Alvarinho and Douro wine routes
6-day tour departing from Porto
Our journey through the north of Portugal will surprise travellers with the richness of its heritage, the beauty of its landscapes and the variety of its wines – from the fresh and fruity Alvarinho, to fine Ports to Douro’s elegant reds.
Program
Our first stop is the town of Valença, poised above the river Minho, and displaying extraordinary might in its 16th-century walls. In the exceptional terroir along the verdant banks of this river grow Alvarinho grapes, famous for producing fresh, bright and fruity wines.
As we take a trip through a very beautiful vine-laden landscape, we will meet a variety of producers and, at the end, come upon a magnificent palace sunk into an unexpected, delightful garden. The day finishes at a dream-like location, the Pousada de Santa Marinha da Costa, set on a hill at the edge of Guimarães. The next day will be devoted to exploring this beautiful medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site that can trace its origins back to the founding of Portugal itself.
Next stop will be Palácio de Mateus, where art and wine create a perfect synthesis in a baroque atmosphere complemented by restful gardens. Our hotel for the night is a 18th-century manor house with marvelous views over the river and its valley. In this ideal setting, we commence our discovery of the wines of the Douro – the first region in the world demarcated as Controlled Origin Denomination (DOC).
The following day, we will visit wine-estates or quintas and vineyards: we will hear tales of its terroir, of tradition and episodes full of drama – and today of success – all of them reflected in the wines. A short boat trip – on a traditional rabelo – will grant us an unimpeded view of the steep edges of the valley, surrounding us with unique, outstanding beauty. In the evening, a friendly family will receive us for dinner in a typical regional quinta.
At last, the city of Porto! From the cellars and warehouses of Gaia, built for wine storage in the 17th and 18th centuries on the river`s south bank, we will travel to explore the city’s historical center, also a World Heritage site and rich with monuments dating from Middle Ages to baroque. Our hotel is situated in Ribeira, heart of the old town, where the river is always near. A medium-sized city, Porto nevertheless has a healthy appetite for the contemporary and the cosmopolitan, evident in buildings by internationally renowned architects and the programmes of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Serralves and the Casa da Música.
Our first stop is the town of Valença, poised above the river Minho, and displaying extraordinary might in its 16th-century walls. In the exceptional terroir along the verdant banks of this river grow Alvarinho grapes, famous for producing fresh, bright and fruity wines.
As we take a trip through a very beautiful vine-laden landscape, we will meet a variety of producers and, at the end, come upon a magnificent palace sunk into an unexpected, delightful garden. The day finishes at a dream-like location, the Pousada de Santa Marinha da Costa, set on a hill at the edge of Guimarães. The next day will be devoted to exploring this beautiful medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site that can trace its origins back to the founding of Portugal itself.
Next stop will be Palácio de Mateus, where art and wine create a perfect synthesis in a baroque atmosphere complemented by restful gardens. Our hotel for the night is a 18th-century manor house with marvelous views over the river and its valley. In this ideal setting, we commence our discovery of the wines of the Douro – the first region in the world demarcated as Controlled Origin Denomination (DOC).
The following day, we will visit wine-estates or quintas and vineyards: we will hear tales of its terroir, of tradition and episodes full of drama – and today of success – all of them reflected in the wines. A short boat trip – on a traditional rabelo – will grant us an unimpeded view of the steep edges of the valley, surrounding us with unique, outstanding beauty. In the evening, a friendly family will receive us for dinner in a typical regional quinta.
At last, the city of Porto! From the cellars and warehouses of Gaia, built for wine storage in the 17th and 18th centuries on the river`s south bank, we will travel to explore the city’s historical center, also a World Heritage site and rich with monuments dating from Middle Ages to baroque. Our hotel is situated in Ribeira, heart of the old town, where the river is always near. A medium-sized city, Porto nevertheless has a healthy appetite for the contemporary and the cosmopolitan, evident in buildings by internationally renowned architects and the programmes of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Serralves and the Casa da Música.
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Prices
- 6-day tour departing from Porto
- Price per person from €1.566 Group of 8 people
- Single supplement of € 335
The Tour includes
- 5 nights; 3 at Historic Pousadas & 2 at Pestana Porto Hotel
- Breakfast daily, 2 lunches & 4 dinners (water,wine and coffee included)
- Private transportation
- Boat trip
- Full accompaniment by tour leader
- All entrance fees
- Guided wine tastings
The Tour does NOT include
- Air travel tickets
- Beverages not included in the meals
- Meals not shown in the price panel for each tour
- Items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls, laundry, etc)
- Gratuities to guides and drivers
- Personal travel insurance
- Visa cost where applicable
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