Grape Treading in the Douro Valley

Unforgettable Grape Treading Experience

Grape-harvest-Grape-Escapes

At a glance

Region:Porto and the Douro Valley
Type of Tour:
Duration:3/4 Days
Guide Price:From £664 to £1454 per person
Number of Meals:2 breakfasts + 1 lunch + 1 dinner (3 days)
3 breakfasts, 2 lunch + 1 dinner (4 days)

Number of Winery Visits:1 winery for a full day harvest and grape treading experience (3 days)
1 winery for a full day harvest and grape treading experience, private cruise with a winery visit and lunch (4 days)
Number of Wines Tasted:Approximately 12 (3 days)
Approximately 20 (4 days)
Tour Transport:Transfers from Régua station + all activities will then take place on-site. Transfer to Porto on departure day (3 days)
Transfers from Régua station + all activities will then take place on-site. Private boat tour. Transfer to Porto on departure day (4 days)


Dates / Availability:Available from late August to late September.

Trip Summary

For many wine lovers, seeing the process first-hand and tasting the end product just isn’t enough. And we completely agree with that sentiment! This exciting package gives you the unique opportunity to experience the real life of a wine-maker and take part in the fascinating and enchanting harvest. As one of the only wine regions in the world to continue to practice the grade trading tradition, you will also have the unique opportunity to get both your hands and your feet dirty, and make your own mark on this year’s vintage!

For those arriving in the Douro Valley by train, we will arrange for a driver to pick you up from Régua station and after checking in to your preferred room at the 4* Quinta da Pacheca wine hotel, the afternoon will be free to relax and enjoy your pleasant surroundings. In the evening, a four course welcome dinner with wines from the estate will be served in the on-site restaurant.

Douro valley in fall
Bunch of grapes Douro Valley

On the morning of day two, your guide will introduce themselves and provide you with the traditional harvester’s attire; a straw hat, tobacconist’s scarf, secateurs and a bucket. The harvest should never be undertaken on an empty stomach, and so the first part of the morning will be spent delighting in the traditional Mata-bicho, a meal of onion soup and grilled sardines with corn bread and olive oil. This will also provide the opportunity to get to know your fellow harvesters over a first glass of wine.

You will then head off to the vineyards, where you will pick the grapes alongside the rest of the harvesting team. Here, you will gain a deep understanding of the work which goes on in the vineyards throughout the year, and the various wine-growing techniques employed by the estate. A fun and convivial harvest lunch with more wine will then be served. The afternoon will be spent enjoying a tour of the winery (with further tastings!), concluding with the magical opportunity to tread the harvested grapes in the traditional Lagares. Grapes are traditionally trodden to music, with linked arms, tuneful comradeship and glasses of Port.

Grape collection Douro Valley
Treading the grapes in Douro Valley

For those opting for the four-day break, you will be taken on an amazing eight hour private cruise along the stunning Douro river. The Douro region is a classified UNESCO World Heritage site, a well deserved recognition of its traditions and its exceptional wine producing heritage. You will have the opportunity to admire the breathtaking landscape and the iconic, unique steep terraces covered in vines. We have included return private transfers between the hotel and the boat which will be waiting for you in the Douro Valley. You will stop at one Quinta and enjoy a tasting of their wines. A traditional lunch will be served at the estate. At the end of the experience you’ll be taken back to your hotel and enjoy a leisurely evening.

Douro wine tour
Douro wine tour

Outline Itinerary

Day One of your Grape Treading Experience

  • Upon arrival at Régua train station, a transfer will be arranged to the 4* Quinta da Pacheca wine hotel.
  • Here, check into your preferred room and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
  • In the evening, a four-course welcome dinner with wines will be served in the hotel’s on-site restaurant.
  • Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca.

Day Two of your Grape Treading Experience

  • Your harvest tour day will comprise of:
  • A traditional Mata-bicho breakfast and glass of wine with your fellow harvesters.
  • Time spent in the vineyards with your bucket and secateurs, picking the grapes with the harvest team.
  • A convivial harvesters’ lunch with wines from the estate.
  • A tour and tasting at the winery.
  • Time spent in the traditional Lagares treading the grapes.
  • Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca.
Douro wine tour. Grape treading. Harvest
Quinta da Pacheca

Day Three (Optional)

  • After breakfast you will be met at your hotel by a private driver who will take you to your boat in the Douro Valley.
  • You will be taken on a private cruise and you will stop at an emblematic Douro winery for a tour and tasting of their wines. Lunch will be served at the estate.
  • You will be driven back to your hotel at the end of the day.
  • The evening will be free for you to do as you please.
  • Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca.

Final Day of your Grape Treading Experience

  • After a leisurely breakfast and check out, you will be taken back to Porto.

Important information: Please note that the definitive date of the Douro harvest  is entirely dependent on the weather. Harvest in the Douro Valley usually takes place in September, and the provisional dates are determined in June. However, in the case of extreme weather, the harvest dates can change (sometimes with just a few days’ notice).  If this is the case, the winery will propose some alternative hands-on activities which will be equally enjoyable.

Accommodation

Wow what an experience! All perfect from start to finish!

Michael- Devon, UK

Package Prices

  • These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
  • These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
  • Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
  • Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
  • Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.
Hotel NameRoom GradeStar RatingDurationPrice Per Person
Quinta da PachecaStandard Room4*3 Days£664Book Now
Quinta da PachecaBarrel Room4*3 Days£726Book Now
Quinta da PachecaStandard Room4*4 Days£1379Book Now
Quinta da PachecaBarrel Room4*4 Days£1454Book Now
douro wine tour- Credits Douro Wine Tourism

Enhance your Experience/Tour Upgrades

If you would like to make your Grape Escapes holiday even more special, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange for you. To complement the experience, these could be arranged to fit in/around your current itinerary or we can arrange additional nights and room upgrades at your hotel, as well as your travel arrangements, a stop-over en route and even a visit to another part of the country! See below for some of the most popular upgrades.

  • Stay longer! Just let us know your preferred hotel and room grade, and we will provide you with the relevant supplement for extra nights with breakfast.
  • Additional tours and activities! We would be delighted to provide inspiration for more wine tours and cultural activities. The possibilities are endless!
  • Experience the region’s gastronomy. The wine regions are brimming with unique gastronomic dining opportunities and what better way to enjoy a glass than with a mouth-watering meal? We offer a variety of menus to suit every budget. Contact us for prices.
  • Tailor-made tour extensions. The team at Grape Escapes have travelled extensively in Europe, not just in the wine regions and can therefore recommend and arrange tailor-made tour extensions to other regions and cities, for example Paris in France or Bilbao in Spain.

Further Information

Travel to your Grape Treading Experience

Given the wide range of travel options, the package prices do not include travel to the Douro Valley. Please see our travel page for further information.

About Essential Breaks

For more information on our Essential tours please see our Essential Tours page.

Further Information / To Book

To secure your booking, a 20% per person deposit  is required. Your remaining balance will then be due 60 days before you travel. Please call us on +44 (0) 1920 46 86 66 or e-mail info@grapeescapes.net to request a booking form.

Douro Valley - Testimonials

"Really great trip with good vineyard choices and interesting wines."

Sarah- Cumbria, UK

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