PREMIUM PORTO & DOURO VALLEY
Porto, although a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is a city of contrasts where monuments, palaces and historic churches coexist in perfect harmony with small and quaint houses and traditional stores and the beautiful river Douro to tie it all together in harmony.
5-DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY
Day One: PORTO ARRIVAL
Arrive at Porto International Airport, meet your private chauffeur outside customs and departure towards The Yeatman hotel , a luxury haven for wine lovers with the best views of Porto from every hotel room.
A tasting menu with wines will be served at the One Michelin Star awarded Yeatman’s Restaurant by Ricardo Costa. The Restaurant, offers imaginative cuisine in which the traditional flavours of Portugal are interpreted and presented with contemporary flair. It showcases Portugal's huge range of fish and other fresh produce as well as its diversity of regional specialties.
Day Four: DOURO
Start your day with a private visit and premium wine tasting at the most important property of the prestigious brand Fonseca(Part of the Taylor’s Group), Quinta do Panascal . Since the emergence of Vintage Port as a great classic wine in the first half of the 19th century, Fonseca has been one of its most admired and consistent producers. The release of the legendary 1840, the first Vintage Port sold under the Fonseca name, marked the start of a steady stream of magnificent vintages which continues to this day.
Lunch will be served at one of the major historic Port houses, renowned for its great Vintage Ports, its fine old Tawnies and since 2006 for its Douro wines, Quinta do Noval. Their handcrafted Ports are made in the traditional way, first picked by hand the grapes are then trodden in lagares, allowing us to create authentic Port wines made to our exacting standards. Famous for the unique Nacional Vintage Port coming from ungrafted vines above the main house, Quinta do Noval produces a world class range of Port wines. Private visit and premium wine tasting included.
Enjoy a one hour private rabelo boat cruise with a group on the Douro River. The Rabelo boat is a traditional Portuguese cargo boat that for centuries was used to transport people and goods (wine barrels)alongthe DouroRiver. (Thiscruiseis conditionedt oweatherconditions).
Day Two: OLD TOWN PORTO
Visit small restaurants, cafes, the most famous monuments and sights and the oldest speciality stores and grocery stores in the city. At the end of this food and culture tour you will have learned the origin of the produce and dishes that make the daily eating habits of the Porto inhabitants. You will have immersed yourself in the culture of the city and you will have tasted the most typical “petiscos” (delicacies and small dishes) such as salted cod, cheeses and charcuterie products, portuguese draft beer and portuguese wine. (4 hours)
With so many delicacies during your morning tour you will not need lunch, but you will have some free time to relax and if you wish have something for lunch.
During afternoon you will visit two of our favourite Port Lodges in town, Grahams with spectacular views of Porto’s historic city centre and the iconic two-tier bridge that connects the two cities of Oporto and Gaia. The entire Lodge has been recently renovated by the Symington family and all its original features restored. You will be able to experience the best of three centuries of craftsmanship and heritage and taste some of their best wines; and Kopke , located at the heart of the riverside of the Gaia city, the Kopke House is a three storey space where Port wine is king. You can enjoy high-quality Ports in a cozy and familiar environment, being that you also have old exclusive wines at your disposal.
Day Five: RETURN HOME
Depending on your flight schedule, your private driver will take you to Porto International Airport for your flight back home
Day Three: QUINTAS
Your experience will start with a private visit at Gaivosa Winery , one of the six Douro properties owned by the Alves de Sousa family. Along with their other estates further along the valley, the family is one of the larger independent producers in the Douro.
Lunch will be served at Castas e Pratos , located an old wooden warehouse that once belonged to the local railway station. In the completely remodelled interior, enjoy pleasantly updated traditional cuisine accompanied by an excellent wine list presented to guests on an iPad.
After lunch, a short ride will take you the next winery, Quinta do Vallado . Established in 1716, is one of the oldest and most famous "Quintas" in the Douro Valley. It once belonged to the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, and still belongs to her descendents. For almost 200 years, Quinta do Vallado ́s main activity was the production of Porto wines, that were commercialized by the Ferreira Port House (belonging to the Ferreira family). Enjoy a private visit to their cellars followed by a premium wine tasting at their tasting room.
Check in at the amazing Six Senses Douro Valley, a superbly renovated 19th-century manor house set high on a hill overlooking the vine covered rolling hills of the Douro Valley and the river below.