One of the oldest and most traditional wine producing countries in Europe, Portugal is recently enjoying something of a rebirth, with a gang of young producers who have lived and worked abroad looking to show the world what they can do with their families’ very old vines. We have partnered with one of the country’s most respected winemakers in his new venture in the Douro, where you will have the unique opportunity to blend your own Douro red. On this 4-day excursion we will traverse this breathtakingly beautiful Douro region seeking out its authentic flavors and experiences.
Accommodations
The Torel Palace Downtown, a gem of a restored palace located on a quieter side street right in the heart of Porto, and Casa do Rio in the Upper Douro region, a tiny 8-room gem of a hotel tucked in between the organic vineyards and the Douro River.
Closest Airport: OPO
Winemaking
The Quinta de Adorigo is a brand new project sitting high above the Douro River in the UNESCO-designated heritage site of Port production, with its steep terraced vineyards that defy gravity. Here there are old, as well as some younger, vines of the traditional Port grapes, all being handcrafted into small lots of red wines by the highly skilled and acclaimed winemaker Luis Seabra. For nearly two decades, Luis has been at the center of a cultural shift in Portuguese winemaking, leading a movement of young, independent winemakers reclaiming historical vineyards, grape varieties, and techniques. His work in both projects is dedicated to proving that fresh, elegant, terroir-driven still wines can be made in this region, despite centuries of traditions favoring commodity growers, overripe fruit, and giant internationally owned wineries.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 | Arrivals in Porto. Learn all there is to know about Port wine, at an enlightening tasting at the famous Graham’s port house, and begin your Portuguese wine education with an orientation tasting back at the hotel. Rest up before dinner at a traditional local restaurant.
Day 2 | Embark upon your journey through the magical Douro region, stopping first for a tour with the world’s most important cork producer, Amorim, then enjoying a tasting and group blending session with revered winemaker Luis Seabra. Once at the hotel, you’ll be treated to a welcome cocktail followed by a feast of local ingredients.
Day 3 | Taste the delightful wines of the important Nicolau de Almeida family at Quinta do Monte Xisto, then sit down for a typical Douro lunch overlooking the river. Set off on a sunset river cruise and wine/cheese tasting, returning to the small river village for an authentic dinner at a small family-run taberna.
Day 4 | Visit the region’s famous museum for an introduction to the world’s oldest cave drawings and other ancient artifacts. Sip a glass of bubbly on the river terrace before a seasonal lunch with top Douro wines. Last but not least is a nocturnal guided visit to the cave drawings (among the world’s oldest!) and a farm-to-table dinner at a historic quinta.
Day 5 | Departures.
** Please note that this is a sample itinerary and all details, events, and timing are subject to change.
Pricing Information
Room type is only a general Vines categorization of level; each hotel has different specific room type names. Once you sign up for a trip and choose from the above levels, our team will contact you with the details about the specific room type.
This is a Vines Gold Trip. Gold trips are a slight step up in class: 4 and 5-star hotels, a bit higher level of (and even some Michelin-starred) dining, with wines to match.
The trip cost includes all accommodations, meals, wines, local transportation and group activities. Guests are responsible for their flights and airport transfers to the hotel or area.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that sometimes life requires changes or cancellations. We have created cancellation policies that take this into account while also accounting for the realities of our non-refundable event costs and prepayments. You can see our cancellation policy at www.vinesevents.com/terms