Douro Valley Wine Tours Weekend
The Douro Valley is definitively one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world and a sublime destination for a romantic wine tasting weekend. The region is characterized by the steep terraced vineyards that line the wide and winding Douro River, and the white and yellow hacienda style wineries (called “Quintas”) that punctuate the hillsides. The source of the Douro River is in Spain, 200 km from where it spills out into the Atlantic in Oporto and the most beautiful part is certainly the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal. Main wine hubs on the river are Pinhão and Peso da Régua. This is the land of Portugal’s finest wines where you will find mythical names for wine lovers like Quinta do Crasto, Barca Velha, Napoles, Bomfin, Noval, Vesuvio, Quinta de la Rosa, Roriz, and Gaviosa. The spectacular vineyard terraces climb up on either side of the river like giant steps and the landscapes are extraordinary.
We have designed this ultra luxurious Mercedes chauffeured wine weekend tour of the Douro Valley for those of you who’d like to experience the best of the region and travel in style. You’ll stay at a fabulous luxurious spa hotel located in a historic manor house in a vineyard overlooking the Douro River. Visit top wineries and enjoy VIP tours and tastings at estates like Quinta do Crasto and Quinta do Infantado. Try your hand at Portuguese cooking with the Senhora Pimentel at the Quinta da Pacheca, after visiting their pretty vineyard and Lagar. Their ports are fabulous! Enjoy a private Rabelo River Cruise, sipping white port along the way as you pass the Quinta farmhouses along the river. In Oporto´s Vila Nova de Gaia area you will also visit historic port lodges such as the upscale Rozès lodge and the fascinating Ramos Pinto lodge (with a wonderful small wine museum).
Dining is always an important aspect of our gourmet tours and you’ll try delicious Portuguese dishes like Carpaccio of presunto ham with fresh figs; Daurade with sautéed razor clams; “Sopa fria de melão com cubinhos de bacon fumado” (cold melon soup with crunchy bacon sprinkled on top); “Vieiras recheadas gratinadas com espinafres” (stuffed scallops with spinach), and “Crocante de cherne con legumes e arroz de míscaros” (crispy Sea Bass with wild mushroom rice. You’ll have tasting menus paired with wines at some of our favorite restaurants like Douro In and Foz Velha in Oporto. If you want a luxurious wine tasting break in Northern Portugal, then contact us for more info on this wine lovers tour of the Douro Valley.