Private Wine Tour in the Algarve
This private six-day Algarve food and wine journey combines an oceanfront stay on the Albufeira coast with private winery visits, Faro, Ria Formosa and a day in Southern Alentejo. Darling fishing villages abound with narrow cobblestoned streets, whitewashed houses adorned in purple and fuchsia bougainvillea, and quaint terracotta rooftops. But apart from these sublime attractions, the Algarve is also a lesser-known haven for high-end food and wine lovers.
Your luxury accommodation for this adventure will be the Vila Joya, a secluded oceanfront retreat on the Albufeira coast. Surrounded by lush gardens, access to a tranquil cove, a relaxing spa, and breathtaking ocean vistas, it boasts a Michelin-starred dining experience on a terrace that overlooks the vast sea.
As is our signature, you’ll gain exclusive access to exceptional wine estates, stepping behind the scenes for private VIP tours. Rub shoulders with the visionaries and vintners as they introduce you to their prized ‘Vinho.’ Delve into the charm of Morgado do Quintão, a boutique gem nestled in the DOC Lagoa appellation part of the up-and-coming Algarve Wine Region. Unleash your inner oenologist as you blend your unique wine at Quinta dos Vales. And visit the award-winning Cortes de Cima in the heart of southern Alentejo. A memorable expedition awaits.
You will explore vibrant food markets alongside a seasoned chef. Discover the secrets of crafting an authentic cataplana lunch in an intimate cooking session. Savor the rich flavors of exquisite seafood, from the delicate ameijoas clams and sun-dried, salt-soaked bacalhau to the tantalizing choquinhos and sumptuous carabineiros prawns, each meticulously grilled to perfection with olive oil, flor de sal, and a hint of lemon. Elevate your gastronomic experience with dining at Michelin-starred establishments, relishing farm-to-table delights at a winery, and indulging in a serene island luncheon.
You will embark on a private catamaran cruise, enjoying a sumptuous lunch on an island followed by an oyster tasting. This unique experience promises to be both delightful and unforgettable.
If you are a couple or a small group of friends, this carefully curated vacation offers a blend of luxury, relaxation, gourmet dining, and unique wine experiences. Contact us today, and let’s start planning your next bespoke journey.
As featured in
Signature journey
Highlights include include a farmhouse wine lunch at Morgado do Quintão, private wine blending at Quinta dos Vales, a hands-on cataplana class, a private Ria Formosa catamaran cruise, and wine tasting in Southern Alentejo.
Day 1Faro airport - Albufeira Coast
Gourmet dining at Vila Joya
Your driver will meet you this morning at Faro Airport (Lisbon airport is also viable), and your short but unforgettable gourmet wine tour begins! But, first, you will head straight to your villa-style luxury hotel to settle in. This small, elegant Moorish-style palace is perched right over the ocean with lush gardens and palm trees, making this quiet and private address feel like an oasis.
After freshening up in your room or their fabulous spa, prepare for an incredible, two Michelin-starred, wine-soaked lunch on the terrace with sea views. Austrian chef Dieter Koschina has been working at Vila Joya for almost three decades, having secured his first star in ’95 and the second star in ’99 (indeed, he was the first chef in Portugal to get 2 Michelin stars). Sit back, let him tickle your taste buds, and enjoy this experience to the max!
The afternoon then is yours to catch up on jet lag, relax, swim at the pool or the beach, and enjoy the hotel facilities. Welcome to the Algarve!
Day 2Albufeira Coast - Lagoa - Estômbar - Silves - Albufeira Coast
Quinta dos Vales
Today will be a fascinating introduction to the wines of the Algarve. Your driver will pick you up in the late morning (giving you a chance to sleep in and enjoy an excellent breakfast), and you will head first to Morgado do Quintão, a boutique wine estate dating back to the early 1810s and is today still run by the same family four generations later. The winery also cultivates olive groves and almonds.
After a private tour, sit at a pleasant farmhouse table next to their Negramole-planted vineyard under a 2000-year-old tree. You will savor a traditional three-course Algarvian lunch paired with their estate wines. Sunshine, birds singing, vineyard views, delicious food, and wine- bliss!
After lunch, the wine fun continues at the next estate, Quinta dos Vales, where you will create your wine blend with the winemaker! This premium wine estate is known for its wines and beautiful property, home to an impressive art and sculpture collection. You can admire the multitude of sculptures in their extensive gardens. In addition, we have something very entertaining planned for you- a private bottle-blending workshop. The winemaker will guide you through the basics, from choosing grape varietals to what you need to look for in a wine blend and executing the assemblage.
You have the unique opportunity today to tailor a wine to your preferences, bottle it yourself, label it with your custom-designed label, and seal it with a cork. This is a neat and creative experience; you will leave the Algarve with your handmade wine!
Before returning to your luxury sanctuary this afternoon, stretch your legs and get some fresh air in nearby Silves. This fortified Moorish hamlet is one of the prettiest villages in the Algarve and the perfect place to enjoy a stroll after a beautiful day of wine tasting. You will have free time to explore the cafe-lined cobblestoned streets, the Gothic cathedral, the ancient walls, and the medieval castle. Then, before dinner tonight, you will have time to freshen up and relax at the resort.
You can dress up tonight (formal dress is optional) for a fancy, glamorous dinner at Two Michelin-starred Ocean, aptly named for its mesmerizing ocean view.A VIP table will be reserved for you to enjoy Ocean’s current seasonal tasting menu with wine pairings. This is the good life! Your driver will take you back after dinner.
Day 3Albufeira Coast - Faro - Estoi - Albufeira Coast
Vila Joya, terrace with a view
Thanks to the astonishingly good weather, the ample coastline, and the varying landscapes, the Algarve has some of the freshest, naturally organic fruit and vegetables and the most abundant seafood in Europe. And the raw materials are a pleasure to shop for and cook with. Today, your driver will take you to Faro, a vibrant, modern city with a pristine old town, where you will meet your private chef host for the morning.
The first stop is the colorful market, with a spectacular seafood selection. Your private chef will lead you on a market tour, selecting fresh ingredients for your cooking class today. You will cook with a Cataplana, a copper, clam-shaped cooking vessel used frequently in the Algarvian kitchen. You can make a fish-based one, free-range chicken, or octopus and sweet potato, another classic flavor combo. After you have completed your ingredients shopping and market tour, it will be time for a pre-class aperitif in the old town called the Vila-Adentro. Your private class will then take place in a professional chef’s studio, and you can sip zippy wine while you cook. After an engaging hands-on class, sit down to the fruit of your efforts for lunch paired with delicious local wines.
After lunch, you will have some free time to check out the rest of Faro’s old town, enjoy a stroll or a coffee, check out the storks in the cathedral bell tower, and, if you can stomach the macabre, visit the Capela dos Ossos chapel behind the gorgeous Igreja do Carmo church. This chapel houses the ghoulish skulls and bones of over 1,200 Carmelite friars and is a creepy but very intriguing visit.
On the way back to Vila Joya, stop in the pretty village of Estoi for an end-of-afternoon cocktail at the Palácio do Visconde de Estoi. This historic pink palace, now a Portuguese Pousada, has beautiful gardens you can visit before heading back to Vila Joya.
Freshen up, go for a swim, or have a massage. Your driver will then collect you for dinner at Bon Bon in Sesmarias de Carvoeiro. Executive Chef José Lopes leads the Michelin-starred kitchen, with a seasonal tasting menu rooted in Algarve flavours and wine pairings available. Your driver will take you back to Vila Joya after dinner.
Day 4Albufeira Coast - Ria Formosa - Albufeira Coast
Private catamaran boat
Fresh air, exquisite coastal scenery, and seafood are all on the menu today. Remember the camera! Your driver will take you back east, stopping at the Ria Formosa pier. This is the gateway to the natural park of Ria Formosa, an unspoiled and protected coastal lagoon rich with birdlife (including flamingos, our fave), seafood nurseries, and incredible beaches. The park extends for around 60 km along the Algarve coast, between Garrão and Manta Rota, and is one of Portugal’s seven natural wonders; this area is truly paradise! You will meet your captain at the pier and spend a thoroughly relaxing morning on a private catamaran cruise. The boat has snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, wine, and snacks, and you will have a private skipper and hostess. Spend a few hours enjoying the boat, views, and the water.
Stop for lunch on a secluded island! Dine at an eco-conscious, solar-powered restaurant, the lone structure on this pristine desert isle, nestled amid turquoise waters, white dunes, and a vast azure sky. Relax at a casual, nautical-themed table, taking in the views. Enjoy dishes like charcoal-grilled fish, octopus salad, oven-roasted sheep’s cheese, and rice with razor clams- served with excellent Portuguese wine.
After lunch, your catamaran cruise will continue with stops at more secret beaches and an oyster tasting with wine before finally bringing you back to the pier to meet your driver. What a day!
Free evening back at the resort to dine in or head out. We highly recommend Al Quimia (25 min taxi) and Henrique Leis in Almancil (half-hour taxi). You could also enjoy a private dinner in Vila Joya’s wine cellar!
Day 5Albufeira Coast - Albernoa - Vidigueira - Albufeira Coast
Herdade da Malhadinha winery
Explore a bit further afield today and head to the Southern Alentejo region. This dreamy region, north of the Algarve, is known for its cork forests, beautiful medieval villages, and timeless “out of Africa” landscapes. It is also home to some of Portugal’s best wines, many of which you will savor this morning and afternoon.
Your first visit is at the whimsical Herdade da Malhadinha Nova estate, comprised of a luxury hotel, winery, and gastronomic restaurant. After a private tour, taste their range of Arinto, Malhadinha White, Aragonez, Malhadinha Red, and late-harvest wines.
Next, enjoy lunch at Malhadinha’s restaurant, where Executive Chef Joachim Koerper leads a kitchen rooted in Alentejo flavours and built largely around organic produce from the estate. The restaurant has renewed its Michelin Green Star for its commitment to sustainability. Your tasting menu will be paired with the estate wines, such as their delicious Monte da Peceguina Rosé and Verdelho.
After lunch, drive north to the Vidigueira area, to one of the country’s most celebrated wineries- Cortes de Cima. This sub-region has 3,000 hours of annual sunshine and benefits from cooling Atlantic breezes, resulting in perfect winemaking conditions. This wine estate was established in the late ’80s by a Danish-American couple and has become one of the most highly respected, award-winning properties in the Alentejo in a few short decades.
Your hosts will lead you on an educational and relaxing wine lovers’ tour of their property, culminating in an al fresco private tasting of 6 of their best wines overlooking the vines.
You might enjoy a “sesta” (nap) returning to the coast this afternoon. The evening is free to rest, pack, and get a late swim or spa treatment.
Day 6Albufeira Coast - Faro or Lisbon airport
Bon voyage!
After breakfast, your chauffeur will transfer you by comfortable Mercedes to Faro or Lisbon airport for your outbound flight. If you would like to extend this trip to discover the gems of Northern Portugal, contact us for more information! Thank you for choosing us, and we hope you had a fantastic time on this luxury food and wine adventure in the Algarve. Safe travels, and we look forward to hosting you again!
Genevieve has spent more than 20 years creating private food and wine journeys across Spain, Portugal and France. She regularly visits the regions featured in these collections, meeting winery, hotel, local guides, and restaurant partners, exploring new experiences, and reviewing feedback from Cellar Tours guests. Her role is to help travelers choose the wine region, itinerary style, and pace that best match their interests—not simply the destination with the most famous name.
Our custom itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, private winery appointments & tastings, restaurant planning, and support before and during your travel.
International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, optional spa treatments, gratuities and meals or tastings not listed in your itinerary are usually not included unless specifically stated.
All wine visits and tastings are private and pre-arranged for your party.
Yes, 100%. Share mobility considerations, allergies, dietary preferences, and pacing needs early so we can adapt hotels, transport, restaurants, and visits wherever possible.
