- Wine Tour Destinations
| Region: | Porto and the Douro Valley |
|---|---|
| Type of Tour: | Essential |
| 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. |
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.
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.
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.
Day One of your Grape Treading Experience
Day Two of your Grape Treading Experience
Day Three (Optional)
Final Day of your Grape Treading Experience
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.
Wow what an experience! All perfect from start to finish!
Michael- Devon, UK
| Hotel Name | Room Grade | Star Rating | Duration | Price Per Person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinta da Pacheca | Standard Room | 4* | 3 Days | £664 | Book Now |
| Quinta da Pacheca | Barrel Room | 4* | 3 Days | £900 | Book Now |
| Quinta da Pacheca | Standard Room | 4* | 4 Days | £1379 | Book Now |
| Quinta da Pacheca | Barrel Room | 4* | 4 Days | £1454 | Book Now |
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.
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.
For more information on our Essential tours please see our Essential Tours page.
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.
"Really great trip with good vineyard choices and interesting wines."
Sarah- Cumbria, UK
What to buy for the wine lover who has everything? We offer a variety of gift options, and vouchers are valid for two years.
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