Explore the Douro Valley, one of the worlds most beautiful wine regions.
The Douro Valley is definitively one of the most alluring wine regions in the world and a sublime destination for a romantic short break. The region is characterized by the steeply terraced vineyards that line the wide and winding Douro River, and the white and yellow hacienda-style wineries (called “Quintas”) that punctuate the hillsides. The source of the Douro River is in Spain, 200 km from where it spills out into the Atlantic in Porto, and the most beautiful part is undoubtedly the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal. The main wine hubs on the river are Pinhão and Peso da Régua. This is the land of Portugal’s finest wines where you will find mythical names for wine lovers like Quinta do Crasto, Quinta Nova, Napoles, Bomfin, Noval, Vesuvio, Quinta de la Rosa, and Pacheca. The landscapes are extraordinary; spectacular vineyard terraces climb up on either side of the river like giant steps.
We have designed this ultra-luxurious Mercedes chauffeured wine tour of the Douro Valley for those of you who would like to experience the best of the region while traveling in style. You will stay at a fabulous luxurious spa hotel located in a historic manor house in a vineyard overlooking the Douro River, and the prestigious, Yeatman in Vila Nova de Gaia. Visit top wineries and enjoy VIP tours and tastings at estates like Quinta do Crasto and Quinta do Noval. Try your hand at Portuguese cooking with the Coelho family at Quinta de Tourais, after visiting their boutique winery. Enjoy a private luxury River Cruise, sipping white port as you pass the Quinta farmhouses along the river. In Porto’s Vila Nova de Gaia area, you will also visit historic port lodges such as the upscale Taylor’s lodge and the charming Graham’s lodge, both of which boast fantastic views.
Dining is always an important aspect of our gourmet tours ,and you will try delicious Portuguese dishes from authentic, homestyle recipes to sophisticated Michelin starred interpretations. You will have tasting menus paired with wines at some of our favorite restaurants like DOC in the Douro and The Gastronomic at the Yeatman in Porto. All of our trips are tailormade and customized to your taste and desires, so if you are looking for a luxurious wine tasting break in Northern Portugal, then contact us for more information on this wine lovers tour of the Douro Valley.
Douro Valley Wine Tours Highlights:
- VIP Wine Tastings in the Douro Valley
- Visit Port Wine lodges
- Superb Portuguese cuisine
- Luxurious Chauffeured Mercedes
Below is a suggested Itinerary for your private Douro Valley Wine Tours
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Porto - Douro Valley
From Porto to the Douro Valley
Douro Valley vineyards - 5* Luxury Hotel, with balcony views
- Home cooked lunch at Quinta with wine pairings
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
Arrive at Porto airport, and your elegant chauffeured Mercedes will be waiting for you. Transfer straight to the wine country! It is about a 2-hour drive to the Douro valley, one of the most stunning wine regions in the world. Your welcome lunch is at the charming Quinta do Noval, perched high above the village of Pinhão. On arrival you will be welcomed with a refreshing Port Tonic served under the shade of the beautiful Cedar tree, accompanied by the estates own grown almonds, lightly toasted to perfection. Your bubbly host will passionately share Quinta do Noval’s most audacious moments in history; including declaring vintage in 1931 and their renowned “Nacional Vintage” which produces minimal quantities of very unique port wine, from a small plot of ungrafted vines in the heart of the Quinta (which were incredible, untouched by phylloxera). Your delicious home-cooked lunch is likely to include a selection of local cheeses, slow-roasted veal with fresh vegetables from the garden followed by creamy chocolate mousse, served with Cedro do Noval, Quinta do Noval DOC and finishing with Vintage Quinta do Noval – welcome to the Douro Valley!
After lunch it’s a 10-minute drive down the hill to Quinta do Bomfim, this historic Quinta is owned by the Symington family who has been here for five generations. You will enjoy a wine tasting aperitif in the vines, before concluding your visit with a tasting under the wisteria overlooking the river. It is then just a 2-minute drive to the Vintage House Hotel, which will be your darling riverside abode for the next two nights. Settle in and enjoy your exclusive surroundings, dinner this evening could be on site, or you might like to check out nearby restaurant A Cozinha de Clara at Quinta de la Rosa.
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Douro Valley
Private Luxury River Cruise
Douro Valley Boat Cruise - 5* Luxury Hotel, with balcony views
- Full breakfast, tasting menu lunch with wines
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning you will board your private luxury yacht from the dock just outside your hotel. You will initially head upriver towards Tua, where the cliffs look all the more dramatic from the water. You can sit back, relax, and watch the magical scenery go by as you sip on a glass of perfectly chilled wine. Your cruise ends in Folgosa at the spectacular semi-circular boat dock, which doubles up as the outdoor dining terrace to Rui Paula’s DOC restaurant. A tantalizing lunch awaits of traditional Portuguese cuisine with an artistic flair. Such delicacies might include; Egg cooked at low temperature with Portuguese sausage “Alheira,” Lobster and seafood rice, Maronesa sirloin veal with amaranth and cauliflower purée and Orange creme brulée with orange blossom ice cream or chocolate and coffee pie with hazelnut and crispy caramel.
After lunch, your driver will transfer you back to your hotel. You can make the most of some free time to enjoy the pool and gardens and take a stroll to the Pinhão train station to see the fabulous original tiled walls.
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Douro Valley
Boutique Winery Experience and Quinta da Pacheca
Quinta Pacheca - 5* Luxury Hotel, with balcony views
- Full breakfast, cooking class lunch with wines
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning you are in for a fantastic unique experience, spending time in the winery, kitchen, and home of the delightful Coelho family at Quinta de Tourais. Start with a tour of the boutique winery; now in the hands of the 4th generation of this family business, however, it was only relatively recently in 1999 that they started bottling their brand. From 20 hectares home to over 30 varieties, Fernando meticulously selects the best fruit, producing, on average, 15.000 bottles. Taste the incredible tawny port straight from the barrel. Then on to the herb garden to collect fresh herbs used to wrap local artisan cheeses before baking them, while this delicious aperitif is in the oven, Liliana will talk you through the preparations of the rest of the dishes. This is such a fun and relaxed way to learn more about the local cuisine, and enjoy the fruits of your labor accompanied by the Tourais finest; Muria, Furia, and Tourónio.
Then a 2-minute drive to neighboring Quinta da Pacheca. One of the Douros oldest Quintas. Enjoy a tour of the winery and grounds, taking a peek at their latest experience “sleeping a barrel” 10 luxury suites so you really can “eat, drink and sleep wine.” Next in the garden overlooking the vines, for a private tasting of both dry DOC Pacheca wines and their outstanding ports. Your chauffeur will then transfer you a few more miles up the road to the beautiful Six Senses resort. This luxurious hotel is a real treat; the grounds are stunning, surrounding the entirely renovated 19th century Manor house – ideal for relaxing and unwinding.
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Douro Valley
Top Douro Estates
Quinta do Crasto - 5* Luxury Hotel, with balcony views
- Full breakfast, Home cooked lunch at Quinta with wine pairings
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
Today is a full wine tasting immersion in the Douro Valley at two captivating Quintas. Begin with a morning vineyard tour and wine tasting at Quinta Nova, where the first thing that strikes you are the breathtaking views. Then after a visit of the estate, you will be further blown away by their exquisite multi-award winning wines from Grainha Branco, their perfectly structured Reserva white to Mirabilis Grand Reserva Red from old vines.
It is just a 15-minute drive along the valley to the magnificent Quinta do Crasto. This dynamic family-run estate has been in the Roquette family for over a century, but the Crasto history dates back considerably. Since the mid-1990s, they have focused on Douro DOC wines as well as Port and have received some notable press due to their success. Your visit here concludes on the terrace with the most sensational view. A home-cooked lunch will be served with more fine examples from their range. Then mid-afternoon, you will return to your luxury abode for a free evening to dine on-site and make the most of the splendid spa.
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Douro to Porto
Discover Porto, Taylor’s and Blowout Farewell Dinner
Picturesque Porto - 5* Luxury Hotel, with balcony views
- Full Breakfast, Michelin Starred Dinner with wine pairings
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
After a few beautiful days in the Douro, you will travel back into Porto today to visit the city, see the historic Port Wine Lodges and enjoy a stellar farewell dinner at the Michelin starred Gastronomic restaurant at the Yeatman. Begin your day with a scenic drive back to Porto, arriving at the central S. Bento Train station, where your friendly local guide will meet you and take you for a private guided walking tour of Porto. Have a look at the stunning Arab room of the Stock Exchange, the whimsical Lello bookshop, and the many churches and blue & white tilework in the old town. You will then have some free time for lunch with our suggestions, of course, we recommend keeping it light as this evening you have a topnotch meal at the Yeatman.
Then transfer back to your hotel, freshen up and get ready for your early evening private tasting at Taylor’s. This makes for a fascinating visit, with such an interesting history and their iconic ports never fail to impress. You will sample various Tawny of 10, 20, 30, and 40 years, a select Single Harvest, and Vintage Port. Then back to the Yeatman for your farewell dinner, this is a real treat; unbeatable views across the river to colorful Porto combined with enticing 2 Michelin starred cuisine by Chef Ricardo Costa perfectly paired with choice wines. An absolutely superb way to end your wine tasting in the Douro Valley & Porto!
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Porto
Depart Porto
Boa Viagem! - None
- Full Breakfast
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning or afternoon at your preferred time, your driver will take you to the Porto airport for your outbound flight. And this concludes your fabulous tour in the Douro valley. We look forward to seeing you again!
