7-day luxury wine tour through Northern Portugal – from Porto via Amarante and the Douro Valley to the coast
Most important features
- 7 DAYS – 6 NIGHTS
- Visited countries: Portugal
Short introduction
During this beautiful luxury wine tour through the north of Portugal you will sleep in four-star hotels and discover the famous Vinho Verde and Port wines. You will also discover beautiful mansions, castles and estates, often called quintas, which are wonderfully scattered in lush and dense wine landscapes. In addition to visits to some of the best wineries in the north of Portugal, you will also see a number of cultural monuments, contemporary witnesses of the rich history of this wine region. Last but not least, the regional cellars and restaurants serving local dishes and matching wines will make your wine tour an unforgettable experience.
This wine tour takes you first to Amarante, the beautiful city often referred to as the gateway to the Douro Valley. Afterward, you will continue to the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you will spend 2 days. then, you will travel through the Vinho Verde area, better known as the green heart of Portugal, to spend the night by the sea in Viana do Castelo. From here, you will head to Porto, the capital of Northern Portugal, a unique port wine city that has reinvented itself in recent years and has since then been voted three times the most popular urban destination in Europe.
Highlights
- Glass of wine as a welcome drink in your wine hotel with a view of the vineyards
- 4 wine tastings
- 3 nights in a wine hotel
- Discover the wine specialties of the north of Portugal, the Port wine and the Vinho Verde
- Visit the UNESCO Douro Valley
- Mini-cruise on the Douro
- Visit the beautiful city of Porto
- Visit beautiful small towns and villages such as Viana do Castelo, Guimaraes and more
- Enjoy dinners with unique views and fine Portuguese wines
Program
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL PORTO – AMARANTE (D)
Today you will arrive in Porto, the largest city of northern Portugal. Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel in Telhões. On the way you will visit the beautiful town of Amarante.
Tonight, you will spend your first night in a real wine hotel. After check-in at your hotel, you are expected at the hotel bar for a glass of Vinho Verde with a beautiful view of the surrounding winelands. Then, why not have a break at the hotel’s SPA. After this you are expected for dinner with delicious matching wines in the restaurant. A good start of your amazing wine tour through the north of Portugal.
Overnight.
DAY 2 – AMARANTE – PESO DA REGUA – SABROSA (B, L)
After breakfast, you will leave your hotel in Telhões and travel to a winery that is still the weekend residence of one of the main families of the country. This Quinta stands out for its 100-year-old magnolia trees and of course, its delicious wines. After your visit you will not only taste Alvarinho, but also an excellent red wine from the Douro. After this wine tasting, you will go to Peso da Regua and visit a second winery with a rich historical background. This winery was one of the first to market its own port wine instead of selling the grapes to the regional winegrowers’ cooperative. Here you will visit the estate and enjoy lunch.
After lunch, you will travel to another winery with a long history which is also a hotel. Their port wines, table wines and even their olive oil are known beyond national borders. Upon arrival, you will check in for two nights at this hotel and then visit the winery. During this visit you will be offered a wine tasting. The evening is at your own leisure. We recommend you to enjoy a glass of port at the hotel bar or taste some regional cuisine in their restaurant.
Overnight.
DAY 3 – SABROSA – DOURO VALLEY – PINHÃO (B, L)
Today, after breakfast, you will drive to the most beautiful part of the Douro Valley. You will go to the wine growing village of Pinhão and from here uphill through the wine terraces to a winery with an incredible view. From here you can really understand this UNESCO World Heritage landscape and understand its dimensions. The wines of this boutique winery have won many awards. Here you will have a guided walk through the vineyards. You will learn more about the uniqueness of the Portuguese grape varieties, of which there are more than 200 in total. Lunch is also served at this winery. The atmosphere and the view are just fantastic!
In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride in a traditional Rabeloboat. This private boat will pick you up at the pier located next to the winery and take you back to Pinhão.
The evening is at your free disposal. In the nearby provincial town of Vila Real there is an excellent wine bar, or you may go to Peso da Regua, where there are some very good restaurants with excellent cuisine.
Overnight.
DAY 4 – PINHÃO – GUIMARAES – VIANA DO CASTELO (B, D)
Today, after breakfast, you will travel northwest to Guimaraes, a historic town. Here the first king of Portugal D. Afonso Henriques was born and you will visit the castle of the Bragança family, an impressive medieval building in Guimaraes. Afterwards, you will have some free time to look around this almost Mediterranean city and have lunch in the picturesque main square.
Then you continue to a winery just outside Guimaraes which is known for its production of organic Vinho Verde. The winery in an impressive ancient mansion with beautiful gardens. Here you will enjoy a visit and a wine tasting with some local tapas. You will then continue your way through the Minho area and its beautiful landscapes. Mid-afternoon you will reach the harbour town of Viana do Castelo. Here you will get a guided tour with an English-speaking guide through the historic old town, full of colourful traditions and history. In the evening you check in at a historic pousada in Viana do Castelo. Since today’s hotel is located on a hill, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city during dinner.
Overnight.
DAY 5 – VIANA DO CASTELO – PINHEIROS – MELGAÇO (B, L)
After breakfast, you will visit one of the most iconic wine estates in Portugal, a beautiful palace, also a winery, which partly tells about Portuguese history. During your visit to this winery, you will first enjoy the estate’s gardens, then finish with a wine tasting of what is one of the best Vinho Verdes in Portugal.
For lunch, travel to Melgaço and enjoy delicious regional dishes, accompanied by different types of Vinho verde that go perfectly with the dishes you will try. In the afternoon you travel non-stop to Porto. Upon arrival, first check in to your hotel which is centrally located in the lower city of Porto. This 4-star design hotel is located where an old theatre once stood in the 19th century. In the evening, we recommend that you eat at one of the many street cafes and delicious restaurants in the area around the Torre dos Clerigos.
Overnight.
DAY 6 – PORTO (B, D)
After breakfast, you will take a tuk-tuk to visit the old town of Porto, a true open-air museum. Porto not only has an English flair, its history is of course also steeped in port wine! A visit to the Stock Exchange Palace is also a must see. After this you will get a tour in a port wine cellar and learn everything you have always wanted to know about Port wine! Lunch and afternoon are at your own convenience. For the last evening of your wine tour, we have reserved a table in a wine restaurant with beautiful views over the old town of Porto, delicious Douro wines and Port wine.
Overnight.
DAY 7 – PORTO – RETURN (B)
After breakfast, and depending on your flight schedule, you will get a transfer to the airport for your flight back home… or extend your wine tour to one of the other beautiful wine regions and islands of Portugal like the Alentejo or why not the Azores and Madeira. Ask us about the possibilities for a non-binding customized quote.
Included / Excluded
What’s included / not included in this wine tour ?
Included
- 4 wine tastings
- Internationale Flights
- Transfer airport – hotel – airport
- 6 nights in a standard double room in good 4-star hotels, or equivalent
- Meals where indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- Transport as described in the program in an air-conditioned minivan for groups of 3 to 8 guests or Luxury air-conditioned coach with 15 or 19 seats
- Experienced local English-speaking guide unless otherwise stated, other languages on request
Not included
- Specialized wine guide
- Single room surcharge
- Personal expenses
- Entrance fees to the listed sights
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks unless explicitly stated
- Meals other than stated in the program
- Tips
- Cancellation and travel insurance (we can arrange this for you if desired)
- Taxes to be paid locally, such as the tourist tax
- Everything that is not reported under the heading including
Request a quote for this wine tour and we can work with you to determine what will and will not be included. The choice is yours.
All flights (international and domestic), hotels and rental car are always subject to availability until the time of final booking with signing the sales file. The booking is made and recorded after receipt of the deposit on our bank account.
Prices are always subject to change and are signed up to the sales file without prior notice and / or evidence. The reasons, which are not exhaustive, can be seasonality and availability.
