An enchanting journey through history and the vines
Portugal is a fabulous destination for food and wine lovers, offering a varied range of captivating landscapes (from cork forests to wild coastline to steeply terraced vineyards); stunning historic villages like Évora, Sintra, and Cascais; and world-class wineries. This Portuguese Wine Odyssey vacation brings you to the fine wine regions of the Alentejo and the Douro Valley, with additional wine tasting in the historic port wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia and a Portuguese Wine Masterclass with a top sommelier in Lisbon. Some highlights of the tour include a romantic river cruise along the Douro River, 4X4 tours through the vineyards, tasting rare vintage Port wines in Porto, and fine dining at some of Portugal’s best restaurants, including Pedro Lemos (the first restaurant to receive a Michelin Star in Porto) and Tavares Rico (an ornate and gilded affair in Lisbon, dating back to the 1700s).
The tour begins in the atmospheric city of Porto, visiting the famed lodges of Churchill’s and Graham’s before continuing along the Douro valley. You will be based at the Six Senses, a majestic converted manor house perched overlooking the river. Visiting boutique estates like Quinta de Tourais and more famous wineries like Quinta do Crasto and Quinta do Noval before heading south towards the Alentejo. En route, you will stop off in the university town of Coimbra, where you will spend a night at the enchanting Quinta das Lagrimas. The next leg of the trip includes a few days in Alentejo, taking in VIP visits to top estates like Esporão and emerging stars like Dona Maria and Herdade de Coelheiros (both staggeringly beautiful). Next, you will stay outside the Unesco world heritage town of Évora, in an elegantly renovated convent, now a splendid spa hotel, and then in a luxuriously converted farm estate. For the last few days, you will be based in the opulent seaside town of Estoril, just a 30-minute drive from Lisbon. From here, you will visit a Disney-esque castle and fascinating monastery in Sintra, Cascais, and the vibrant capital itself, Lisbon. Your tour concludes in Lisbon with a farewell gourmet dinner at one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, Tavares Rico.
On this wine tour, you will be tasting a variety of native Portuguese grape varietals such as (red)- Aragonês (Spain’s Tempranillo grape, also called Tinta Roriz in the north), Tinto Cão (high quality red), Bastardo (humorously named grape cultivated in the Douro and other regions), Castelão Frances (also called “Tricadeira Preta” and “Periquita” in the Ribatejo), Touriga Francesa (one of the most widely grown port grapes), Touriga Nacional (one of the nation’s “Noble” grapes); and (white) Antão Vaz (zippy white used widely in the Alentejo), Alvarinho (said to be a possible cousin to Spain’s “Albariño), Esgana Cão (another humorous name, which means “Dog Strangler”!), Fernão Pires (an aromatic grape that resembles Muscat), Roupeiro (high-quality grape, also known as Codéga”), and Vioshinho (a lesser-known white grape of the Douro valley). Of course, dining is always a critical focus on our tours. You will enjoy a range of carefully selected restaurants, from cozy and authentic little winemaker’s haunts to refined and high-end establishments. This is the ultimate Portuguese wine odyssey! Contact us for more information if you want to visit Portugal’s wine country on a luxurious private tour.
Portuguese Odyssey Food & Wine Tours Highlights:
- Chauffeur Driven Private Wine Tour of Portugal
- Personalized Wine Tasting Tours of Alentejo, Lisbon, Douro and Porto
- Gastronomic Portuguese food experiences
- Sightseeing in Porto, Evora, Monsaraz, Lisbon, Sintra and more
- Private wine cruise on the Douro River
- Luxury hotels in the Portuguese wine country
Below is a suggested Itinerary for your private Portuguese Odyssey Food & Wine Tours
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Porto
Porto and Port Wine Lodges
- 5* Spa Hotel, Porto
- Lunch with wines
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
On arrival at Porto’s international airport, you will rendezvous with your charming chauffeur, who will be your private driver for the duration of this tour. Drive into Porto, crossing the river and heading into Vila Nova de Gaia, where the famous Port Wine Lodges are located. You have a fantastic day ahead, with private tours and tastings to look forward to, beginning with a visit to Graham’s lodge, one of our personal favorites. This classic Anglo-Portuguese lodge is also one of the most impressive, with extensive aging cellars and thousands of casks. On a private tour of the property, you will learn all about how Porto is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, and how the lodges functioned as storehouses (as they still do), while the wine is made in the Douro valley. Finish your visit with a tasting of Vintage Ports from single “Quintas” (the highest quality), including a very old vintage of over 35 years. Lunch is next, and you will be ready to sit down and relax over a tasting menu at Vinum, on-site at Graham’s. The atrium (for cooler days) and the terrace have the most beautiful views over the port houses, the river, and Dom Luís I Bridge. The tasting menu is paired with wines from different Symington family estates, including the superb Quinta do Vesuvio and most probably finishing with a 20-year-old Tawny port.
It is then just a couple of minutes drive down the road to Churchill’s Port Lodge, relatively new on the scene, founded in 1981 (the first Port company to be established in 50 years) by John Graham and named after his wife, Caroline Churchill. After touring the lodge, you will sit down in a homely private lounge and taste a range of their Vintage Ports, including Quinta Gricha Vintage Port – exquisite! Mid-afternoon, your driver will drop you off at your luxurious spa hotel to settle in and enjoy an evening to yourselves. The Caudalie Vinotherapy Spa is quite something or simply relax on your terrace or in the delightful grounds. For dining options this evening your hotels on site 2 Michelin Starred Restaurant is highly recommended or for a lighter option try Barão, next door at Taylor’s. Bem vindos a Portugal!
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Porto - Douro Valley
Private Tour of Porto & Gourmet Lunch
Cutting edge Portuguese cuisine - 5* Spa Hotel, Douro Valley
- Full breakfast, Lunch with wines
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
A relaxing start to the day this morning, maybe to catch up from the jet lag or enjoy the hotel’s gym and spa. In the late morning, your chauffeur will meet you in the lobby, and you will head into the historic center to explore this ancient city. Meet you’re knowledgeable, local guide at the São Bento Train Station from where your private guided walking tour will begin. Some highlights include a visit to the Lello bookshop (one of the most beautiful in Europe), the Arabian salon at the historic Stock Exchange, and the Igreja de São Francisco (a grandiose church that must not be missed).
You should have worked up an appetite by now, and lunch follows at Pedro Lemos. Slightly off the beaten track in a quiet Porto street, this Michelin Starred restaurant offers an intriguing tasting menu focusing on local, seasonal products paired with thoughtfully selected wines from their remarkable cellar. Following a long and relaxed wine lunch, you will be chauffeured to the Douro Valley, about a two-hour drive. You will be arriving in Lamego in the early evening at your Spa Hotel, which is set in a renovated 19th-century manor house. You have now reached the striking Douro Valley!
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Douro Valley
Douro Valley Wine Tour and Luxury River Cruise
Douro Valley vineyards - 5* Spa Hotel, Douro Valley
- Full breakfast, Lunch with wines
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
Today’s activities are some of the major highlights of this wine odyssey. You will discover the breathtaking Douro Valley, stopping in a boutique wine estate for a tour and tasting, and sailing down the Douro River in your private yacht while sipping on a chilled white port. Begin the day when your driver transfers just a couple of miles down the valley to family-run Quinta de Tourais. This boutique estate now in the third generation of the Coelho family have proudly placed themselves on the map since 1999 when Fernando started producing their own DOC wines, and Port opposed to selling the grapes to other producers as before. You will receive a very warm welcome from the owners themselves before being shown around. This delightful, intimate experience ends with the tasting of their internationally prized wines on the terrace of the family home.
Carry on along the river and meander up the steep road to Quinta do Noval, now this is a dramatic setting. On arrival, you will be invited for a refreshing Port tonic served under the shade of the impressive Cedar tree, before a guided tour of the estate. Learn about the distinguished “Nacional Vintage” and taste both their outstanding DOC wines and ports, before sitting down to an authentic home-cooked lunch. Lunch is accompanied, of course, by more of their excellent wines. Then your chauffeur will drive you back down the hill to Pinhão dock, where your luxurious yacht and friendly crew will be waiting to welcome you on board. Enjoy your cruise, sipping chilled wine as you watch the dramatic scenery pass by, the view from the water gives you a different perspective of this stunning place. In the late afternoon, your boat will drop you off at the dock, transfer back to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.
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Douro Valley - Coimbra
Top Douro Estates and on to Coimbra
The stunning Quinta do Crasto, Douro Valley - 4* Historic Hotel, Coimbra
- Full breakfast, Lunch with wines
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning you will visit one of the most prestigious Douro producers, Quinta do Crasto. Run by the Roquette family, this winery makes frankly fantastic wines. Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, and international wine critics like Jancis Robinson concur, and the Quinta do Crasto wines are consistent award winners. You will tour the estate and enjoy a private tasting of their flagship wines, the view from their terrace is magnificent. This is your last morning in the Douro, but before you hit the road, you will visit Quinta de la Rosa. Enjoy a private tour of this charming estate, where the Port production is carried out from start to finish on site (unusual as most Quintas age their Ports in the Port lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia). Finish with a tasting hosted by owner Sophia Bergqvist, when you will also sample the DOC range. You will make the most of views over the river from their on-site restaurant “Cozinha de Clara” named after Sophia’s grandmother. Executive chef Pedro Cardoso conjures up seasonal, modern interpretations of authentic local dishes.
It is then just over a 2-hour drive to the historic University town of Coimbra. Your hotel is set in immaculate grounds, with lovely secluded gardens, a spa, and an excellent restaurant. The evening is yours to relax.
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Coimbra- Arraiolos- Évora
Alentejo Wines and Historic Evora
- 5* Spa Hotel, Évora
- Full breakfast, Dinner with wines
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning you head south to the Alentejo wine region, one of our favorite wine regions in the world. Characterized by its cork forests, Moorish castles, and bold, “monster” wines, the Alentejo is supremely enjoyable. From Coimbra, drive to Herdade de Coelheiros near Arraiolos, the ancient carpet weaving town, stop here for a coffee and a wander around before heading to your first Alentejo winery. Tour the vast Coelheiros estate; it is truly delightful; vines, cork forest, walnut trees and acres and acres of virgin land. You will then taste the Coelheiros range, including the intense yet elegant Tapada de Coelheiros from Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet.
Then it is on to Evora, a fantastically well preserved medieval town, with an almost intact Roman Temple. The whole historic center is now protected by Unesco and designated a world heritage city. You will have some free time for lunch before meeting your local guide for a private tour of this captivating city. Take in the main sights; the 2nd-century Roman temple, the Igreja de São Francisco, and the Capela dos Ossos (beautiful 16th-century church and the later, the spooky bone chapel which makes for an unforgettable visit). Also not forgetting the courtyard at St. Michael’s Palace, one of the most emblematic buildings in the city. In the late afternoon, arrive at your luxury spa resort, just outside Évora. Relax and enjoy the facilities, dinner tonight is at the hotel’s restaurant Divinus, it’s one of the best in the region.
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Alentejo
Dona Maria Wines and Paradisiacal São Lourenço do Barrocal
Historic hilltop town, Estremoz - 5* Spa Hotel, Monsaraz
- Full breakfast, Lunch with wines
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
Your driver will arrive in the late morning today, allowing you a few hours to enjoy the spa, go for a walk, have a swim, sleep in or have a long leisurely breakfast in the incredible vaulted dining room. Then it’s about a half an hour drive to Estremoz, where you will have some free time to explore on your own, and we highly suggest you have a coffee in the graceful Pousada. Next up is an extraordinary treat, a tour, tasting, and lunch at Dona Maria. This distinguished estate is owned and run by husband and wife team; Julio, the winemaker, and Isabel, the convivial hostess. After tasting the range (it’s hard to find a favorite here, as everything Julio produces is top-notch, although the Amantes Reserva, from 100% Viognier is quite unusual), Isabel will lead you through the stylish grounds, ending in the dining room of the enchanting palace residence. Impeccably restored tilework tells a story and sets the scene for the authentic home-cooked lunch that follows.
This afternoon you will drive a little under an hour south, further into the depths of the Alentejo to São Lourenço do Barrocal. Here is your idyllic retreat set in an ancient farming village. The entire estate is over 7 million square meters with 16 neolithic dolmens on-site, dating back over 7000 years. Vines, olive groves, the vegetable garden, cattle, horses, and an incredibly diverse range of bird species help you “tune in” to nature. This afternoon you can go on a megalithic tour, go horseback riding, take a hot air balloon ride, take a bike ride to nearby Monsaraz or simply relax. The spa also comes highly recommended, using Susanne, Kaufmann organic products. The wine production volume is minimal here, with only 2 hectares of vines, but the quality is optimum. Visit the vineyards and sample the wines before selecting your favorite to accompany dinner tonight.
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Monsaraz - Lisbon
Visit Esporão winery and on to Estoril
Esporão winery, Alentejo - 5* Historic Hotel, Estoril
- Full breakfast, Lunch with wines
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
Today is your last winery visit in the Alentejo, and you will visit the pioneering Esporão, one of Portugal’s most exceptional and most innovative wine companies. The property is stunningly beautiful and driving up to the cellars; you will pass by hundreds of olive groves (Esporão are one of the best olive oil producers in the country as well). Australian flying winemaker David Baverstock has been the head winemaker here for years and was one of the first to recognize the potential for single-varietal wines made with native Portuguese grapes. Esporão makes different ranges of wine, including the Monte Velho wines at the lower end and the Esporão Private Selection Garrafeira range at the highest end. You will get the chance to try five of their best wines, along with their olive oils.
You have a fabulous tasting menu lunch to look forward to next, paired with various estate wines. The food here is excellent, and the views are reminiscent of the African Savannah, quite romantic. After lunch, pop into the charming village of Monsaraz for a digestive walk. Monsaraz is one of the most photographed villages of the Alentejo and known for its whitewashed houses, darling narrow lanes, and great views. Transfer then to your hotel the Palacio in Estoril. This emblematic hotel steeped with history was a popular destination for the Royals and aristocrats from the 1930s. It is also famed for being where Flemming wrote Casino Royale. Top 5* service awaits you in this glamorous setting, the perfect base for your Portuguese Odyssey finale.
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Lisbon - Estoril
Private Guided Tour of Lisbon and Gourmet Wine Picnic
Saint Jeronimo Monastery - 5* Historic Hotel, Estori
- Full breakfast, Gourmet Wine Picnic
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
Sleep in or enjoy a late breakfast and at mid-morning, your chauffeur will drive you to Lisbon to meet your sommelier host who will lead you through a fun, information-packed wine masterclass. This is a fantastic way to discover some of the other wine regions that you haven’t visited on the tour. You will then walk to a nearby convent in Principe Real with the prettiest of gardens, here you will be served a gourmet picnic of organic foods and wine.
Then it’s time to give your taste buds a rest and get a few steps in. Your guide will meet you near to Rossio Square for a walking tour of this entrancing capital. Admire Lisbon’s red-roofed palaces with the Tagus river in the background, meander through the narrow streets and steep staircases and soak up the vibrant city life. Finish up in Commerce Square where your chauffeur will be waiting to take you and your guide for a panoramic tour of more of Lisbon’s best sights. Begin with a drive down to the captivating Belem Tower followed with a short tour of the Saint Jeronimo Monastery (breathtaking). The rest of the afternoon is yours at leisure, you may wish to hit the shops or return back to your hotel to relax. For something fun this evening, you could take in a Fado show, or dine in one of the exceptional Casino restaurants.
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Lisbon-Sintra-Cascais-Estoril
Sintra, Cascais and Farewell Dinner
Pena Palace, Sintra - 5* Historic Hotel, Estoril
- Full breakfast, Farewell dinner with wines
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning you will head to Sintra for a tour of some of its most cherished heritage. Home to Lord Byron, who famously called it “Paradise on Earth,” Sintra is a wealthy town in the lush hills northwest of Lisbon. It is undoubtedly one of Portugal’s loveliest towns, full of villas and palaces, ancient “Azulejos” (blue and white tilework), and some fantastic attractions like the Pena Palace (an Alice in Wonderland whimsical castle) and the dramatic ruins of the Moorish castle. Begin your visit with a private guided tour of the Pálacio do Pena gardens, what a fascinating place! Drive on to Montserrate Palace next, a romantic expression of gothic and Indian influences with Moorish touches, the gardens are heavenly with so many exotic plants to admire.
Lunch follows down the hill on the coast. A scrumptious seafood Cataplana served with crisp Alentejo white savored while looking out over the dramatic Atlantic ocean. After lunch, enjoy some free time in Sintra to go shopping (there are some excellent ceramic shops here). Later your guide will lead you on a fun and intriguing tour of the Capuchos monastery – it’s unlike any other monastery you’ll have visited before. On your way back to Estoril you will stop in Cascais, once a sleepy fishing village, it was transformed when the royals and nobles chose it as their vacation destination. Brimming with architectural gems and pretty townhouses, not to mention the views over the handsome bay, Cascais makes for a lovely walking tour. In the late afternoon, your driver will take you back to Estoril. Tonight, dress to impress as your farewell dinner is at one of Lisbon’s swankiest and most elegant restaurants. Arrive at Tavares Rico, a Lisbon institution, and enjoy the chef’s tasting menu paired with great wines. This is an extraordinary place to conclude your Portuguese wine odyssey tour.
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Lisbon
Depart Lisbon
Boa Viagem! - None
- Full breakfast
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning at your preferred time, your driver will take you to Lisbon’s international airport. We hope you have had a superb time on tour with us in Portugal, and we very much look forward to seeing you again.
