Port : the journey of a famous wine
6-day tour departing from Porto
Our tour will take us down a path travelled for centuries by Port wine, from the inland slopes of the Douro Valley to the cellars of Gaia.
We will discover the complex process that lies behind each bottle of Port – from the delicate growing of the grapes to their maturing in vast cellars. We will also find time to discover the finest examples of the baroque architecture so characteristic of this region.
Programme
Our journey starts at the gate to Douro Valley, in a UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape. Our hotel is an 18th-century manor house that is a model of baroque exuberance. The Solar da Rede, surrounded by vineyards, and with its glorious gardens and sublime views of the river, will welcome us with a special wine tasting of its own to whet our appetites for the flavours to come.
On the second day, an impressive landscape awaits us. The long story hidden behind the label of every bottle of Port or Douro wine starts in these vines. We will learn how the schist soil, the angle of the slopes and the wide climatic variations are very special aspects of this terroir – the first region in the world to be granted a Controlled Denomination Origin (DOC) label.
Douro`s landscapes and its history are two parts of a whole. Our journey of discovery continues by boat – in a traditional rabelo – that will slowly make its way up river to take us to the region’s most beautiful hillsides and famous wine-estates or quintas. Here, we will be invited to dinner by a friendly family who own one of the estates, followed by a presentation of house wines by a local expert.
On the third day, in the unique surroundings of another traditional quinta, we will go a step further and learn to differentiate between a Ruby and a Tawny port, to identify a Late Bottled Vintage and distinguish a Vintage. Then, completing our visit to the countryside, we will visit Mateus Palace. This magnificent baroque manor house has long been immortalised on the labels of its famous rosé wine. However, this rosé no longer resides in the palace cellars, having been replaced by the elegant, exquisite wines of Feitoria.
Day number four finds us accompanying our wine to its last stage: the cellars of Gaia, on Porto’s south bank. Here we will discover a fascinating collection of warehouses built during the course of the 17th and 18th centuries in an area with a climate perfect for the maturation of wine. Visiting these cellars is truly an experience for the senses.
Our last two days are dedicated to Porto, very much a city of art and culture. We will stay in Ribeira, a typically picturesque neighbourhood by the river whose old stones have been beautifully restored to their former glory. From here we will venture out to explore not only the city’s baroque churches decorated in woodcarvings and tiles, but also the striking contemporary creations of Porto’s world-famous architects.
Our journey starts at the gate to Douro Valley, in a UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape. Our hotel is an 18th-century manor house that is a model of baroque exuberance. The Solar da Rede, surrounded by vineyards, and with its glorious gardens and sublime views of the river, will welcome us with a special wine tasting of its own to whet our appetites for the flavours to come.
On the second day, an impressive landscape awaits us. The long story hidden behind the label of every bottle of Port or Douro wine starts in these vines. We will learn how the schist soil, the angle of the slopes and the wide climatic variations are very special aspects of this terroir – the first region in the world to be granted a Controlled Denomination Origin (DOC) label.
Douro`s landscapes and its history are two parts of a whole. Our journey of discovery continues by boat – in a traditional rabelo – that will slowly make its way up river to take us to the region’s most beautiful hillsides and famous wine-estates or quintas. Here, we will be invited to dinner by a friendly family who own one of the estates, followed by a presentation of house wines by a local expert.
On the third day, in the unique surroundings of another traditional quinta, we will go a step further and learn to differentiate between a Ruby and a Tawny port, to identify a Late Bottled Vintage and distinguish a Vintage. Then, completing our visit to the countryside, we will visit Mateus Palace. This magnificent baroque manor house has long been immortalised on the labels of its famous rosé wine. However, this rosé no longer resides in the palace cellars, having been replaced by the elegant, exquisite wines of Feitoria.
Day number four finds us accompanying our wine to its last stage: the cellars of Gaia, on Porto’s south bank. Here we will discover a fascinating collection of warehouses built during the course of the 17th and 18th centuries in an area with a climate perfect for the maturation of wine. Visiting these cellars is truly an experience for the senses.
Our last two days are dedicated to Porto, very much a city of art and culture. We will stay in Ribeira, a typically picturesque neighbourhood by the river whose old stones have been beautifully restored to their former glory. From here we will venture out to explore not only the city’s baroque churches decorated in woodcarvings and tiles, but also the striking contemporary creations of Porto’s world-famous architects.
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Prices
- 6-day tour departing from Porto
- Price per person from €1.323 Group of 8 people
- Single supplement of € 309
The Tour includes
- 5 nights; 3 at Historic Pousada & 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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