Douro Valley Private Wine Tour

When you arrive at the airport, a sleek, chauffeured Mercedes will be ready to greet you. Without delay, you’ll be whisked away to the heart of wine country! It is about a 2-hour drive from Porto to the Douro Valley, one of the world’s most stunning wine regions. Your welcome lunch is at the charming Quinta do Noval, perched high above the village of Pinhão.

When you arrive at Quinta do Noval, you will be welcomed with a refreshing Port Tonic served in the shade of a beautiful Cedar tree, accompanied by the estate’s almonds, lightly toasted to perfection. Next, your 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 unique port wine from a small plot of ungrafted vines in the heart of the Quinta (which were incredible, untouched by phylloxera).

Finally, your delicious home-cooked lunch will likely include a selection of local cheeses and 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 scenic 10-minute drive down the hill to Quinta do Bomfim; the Symington family has owned this historic Quinta for five generations. 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, 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 can check out nearby restaurant Cozinha de Clara at Quinta de la Rosa.

You will board your private luxury yacht this morning from the dock just outside your hotel. You will first head upriver toward Tua, where the cliffs look even more dramatic from the water. Then, 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: traditional Portuguese cuisine with an artistic flair. On a tasting menu specially prepared for you, you will find delicacies that 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. Then, you can make the most of some free time to enjoy the pool and gardens and stroll to the Pinhão train station to see the fabulous original tiled walls.

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, they only began bottling their brand relatively recently, in 1999. From 20 hectares to over 30 varieties, Fernando meticulously selects the best fruit, producing an average of 15,000 bottles. Next, taste the incredible tawny port straight from the barrel.

Then, head 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 rest of the dishes. This is a fun, relaxed way to learn more about the local cuisine and enjoy the fruits of your labor, accompanied by the Tourais finest: Miura, Fúria and Tourónio.

Then, a 2-minute drive to neighboring Quinta da Pacheca. One of the Douro’s oldest Quintas. Enjoy a tour of the winery and grounds, taking a peek at their distinctive Wine Barrel suites, so you really can “eat, drink and sleep wine.” Next, in the garden overlooking the vines, for a private tasting of dry Pacheca wines and their outstanding ports.

Your chauffeur will transfer you a few more miles to the beautiful Six Senses resort. This luxurious hotel is a real treat; the grounds surround the entirely renovated 19th-century Manor house – ideal for relaxing and unwinding.

The rest of the day is free to enjoy Six Senses Douro Valley. The spa includes an indoor pool with underwater sound therapy, color therapy and massage jets, as well as a range of sauna, steam and wellness facilities.

Dinner this evening can be at Vale de Abraão, where the Open Kitchen uses a wood-fired oven and Josper grill, or on the terrace overlooking the vineyards.

Today is a complete wine-tasting immersion in the Douro Valley at two captivating Quintas. Begin with a morning vineyard tour of Quinta Nova, where the first thing that strikes you is the breathtaking views. Then, after a visit to 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 a 15-minute scenic 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 Crasto’s history dates back much further. Since the mid-1990s, they have focused on Douro DOC wines and Port and have received notable press for their success.

Your visit here concludes with a private lunch, paired with a selection of Quinta do Crasto wines. Depending on the day’s setting, lunch may be served on the terrace or in one of the estate’s dining rooms.

Then, in the late afternoon, you will return to your luxury abode for a free evening to dine on-site at the Quinta bar and lounge and enjoy the splendid spa.

After a few beautiful days in the Douro, you will travel back to Porto today to visit the city, see the historic Port Wine Lodges, and enjoy a stellar farewell dinner at The Yeatman Gastronomic Restaurant. After breakfast, your chauffeur will drive you back to Porto. After you check in, your local guide will meet you for a private walking tour. See the stunning Arab Room of the Stock Exchange, the whimsical Lello bookshop, and the many churches and blue-and-white tilework in the old town. Then you’ll have free time for lunch with our suggestions; we recommend keeping it light, as you’ll have a top-notch meal at The Yeatman this evening.

Later, 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 Ports of 10, 20, 30 and 40 years, a select Single Harvest and Vintage Port.

Then head back to The Yeatman for your farewell dinner; it is a real treat: unbeatable views across the river to colorful Porto, paired with enticing two-Michelin-starred cuisine by Chef Ricardo Costa and choice wines. An absolutely superb way to end your wine tasting in the Douro Valley and Porto!

This morning or this afternoon, at your preferred time, your driver will take you to Porto Airport for your outbound flight. This concludes your fabulous Douro Valley tour. We look forward to seeing you again!