Detailed itinerary

with Richard Hewitt, Sommelier and PVCC professor.

Saturday. September 24th:

Departure from Lisbon by microbus 9-10 AM. Enjoy 1 hour ride through beautiful countryside to arrive at Quinta Dos Loridos also known as the Buddha Eden. Loridos itself is a winery while the Buddha Eden is a creation of Jose Berardo in reaction to the Taliban bombing of Buddha statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan in 2001. Berardo was so angered by the destruction of ancient art that he created a huge sculpture park on the grounds of Loridos, containing more than 10,000 Buddha statues of various sizes along with some of his modern art collection. It’s an amazing sight set among cork trees, terra cotta warriors, a huge duck pond and contemporary sculpture among the vines. If you don’t want to walk, there’s a small train!

After visiting the Buddhas we will sample Lorido’s wines and have an inspired lunch at Mae D’Agua, a nearby restaurant.

After another short drive we arrive at the world famous village of Obidos. The quintessential walled/ fortified medieval hamlet of Obidos is everyone’s dream of what an ancient town should be. Almost 2,000 years old, this small, charming, white-washed settlement has seen it all. You’ll be free to wander the narrow, cobbled streets lined with shops selling local crafts and products. Don’t miss the chocolate or ginja—a sugary spirit distilled from local cherries, often served in a chocolate cup!

Shortly after we arrive at Luso and the Serra di Bucaco. This area has been a retreat from the world for over 2,000 years. Luso itself is an old fashioned, mineral-spring spa town, but the Bucaco National Forest is the real treat here. Featuring over 700 plant varieties established by monks over the centuries, Bucaco’s crowning glory is the over the top, wedding- cake Palace

Hotel where we will spend the night. Always wanted to stay in a castle? Here it is with suits of armor, azulejos (portuguese tiles), turrets, spires, rose gardens and gargoyles. After arrival roam at your leisure then meet for dinner in the palace’s dining room. Did we mention they make their own wine here and have for over 100 years?

Sunday  September 25th:

We sadly leave the enchanted forest of Bucaco behind and after a short journey arrive at Portugal’s second city (O)Porto. Now the party capital of Europe, The Unesco World Heritage site of Porto sits on two sides of the Douro (Door-ou) river. Today we begin our exploration on the south side of the river at Vila Nova de Gaia, joined to Porto by a series (7) of astonishing bridges. Vila Nova de Gaia is where the majority of Port Lodges are situated, next to the river where they used to unload casks of wine off of ‘barcas rabelos’, the traditional boats used to float wine down the Douro river.

We stop at Ferreira Port Lodge for a VIP tour where we learn all about the Port making process, visit the cellars, then have an expanded port tasting.

For lunch we hit one of Portugal’s hottest restaurants, DOP, run by chef Rui Paulo. After lunch we enjoy a tour of Porto’s historic and artistic treasures with a private guide. Prepare to be amazed by the architecture, both modern and ancient, and the abundant azulejos that adorn many of Porto’s public spaces.

We next check into the 5 star Palacio do Freixo, an 18th palace of distinguished architecture quite different from Busaco’s. Designed by famous Italian  architect Nicolau Nasoni, the palace is a baroque gem recently converted into a Pousada (similar to Spain’s Paradors)

Dinner this evening will be in Freixo’s elegant restaurant.

Monday September 26th:

This morning we head to Vila Nova de Gaia and Cockburn’s Port Lodge. Here we continue our Port education then head up the Douro River valley for a short run to Quinta de Vallado, our winery/hotel for the next 3 nights. We will lunch in Vallado’s courtyard. At 5 PM we walk up to Vallado’s winery and have a tour and tasting. Later we motor into Peso de Regua to feast at Castas e Pratos, a recently restored, timbered, railroad warehouse—the ultimate in cool!

Tuesday September 27th:

This morning we ride 5 minutes into Peso de Regua to visit the Museu do Douro—Douro Museum, a gorgeous converted warehouse on the river with a tremendous collection of Douro/Port related memorabilia. Great gift shop as well!

Around noon we head for the river and board a restored slip for our journey upstream to Quinta do Crasto, one of the top producers of Douro table wines. At Quay Ferrao we hop on a 1959 Bedford truck for the ride through the terraces. On arrival we’ll get a VIP tour arranged by Bartholomew Broadbent who is Crasto’s US importer. After the tour we then enjoy appetizers and a wine tasting by the pool. We enjoy lunch on Crasto’s spectacular terrace.

This evening, Quinta Vallado prepares a special dinner for us.

Tuesday September 28th:

After breakfast, we’re in the river valley again and head to Quinta das Carvalhas, an emblematic property established in 1759 with over 1,000 acres of terraced vintages and an amazing vantage point overlooking the river. Here we will tour, taste and photograph.

Around noon we set out for the French/American owned Quinta do Tedo, situated in an amazing confluence of the Tedo and Douro rivers. Impressively restored by Vincent Bouchard (of Burgundy fame) and his American wife, Kay, we will have a brief tour then an elegant tapas lunch in Tedo’s dining room.

After lunch we leave the valley behind and climb over the mountains to visit the Palacio de Mateus. We’re sure the palace will seem familiar as it graced the label of those lovely bottles of Rose wine we all consumed when we were underage. HOWEVER, leave your misconceptions behind! Mateus produces several serious table wines. The Palace itself is one of Portugal’s great baroque masterpieces with an Alice in Wonderland style garden with boxwood hedges, statuary and a cypress tunnel. Inside you’ll find holy fingernails and eyeballs, relics of the true cross and one of the first editions of Camoes (Portugal’s National Poet) epic poem, the ‘Lusiadas’. We will taste everything but the Mateus Rose….unless you insist!

Dinner this evening is at DOC, the signature restaurant of the Douro area perched right over the river!

Thursday September 29th:

Today we sadly begin our return to the South, however there are still a few surprises in store! After breakfast  at Vallado we pack our bags then take a ride to Lamego to view one of Portugal’s most famous pilgrimage sites– The Church of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies, more or less).

The church however is quite overshadowed by the rococo, monumental, zig-zag staircase that climbs 600 plus steps up to it. Full of fountains, azulejos and statues, the staircase’s action gets heady in the late summer as pilgrims arrive and ascend in search of miracles. If you’re feeling trim today, you too can climb the stairway and hope for a remedy. Otherwise we’ll bus up thanks!

A couple of hours down the road we stop at an amazing place, both a museum and a winery! Alianca Underground Museum and Winery is a wonder of the world. Here you can see how sparkling wine (and a great brandy!) is made, taste Alianca’s production wines and tour the cellar museum whose collection includes sculpture, minerals, tins, ceramics and Portuguese tiles.

After our tour we will head to Aliancas private dining room where they will will prepare a typical regional lunch for us. We’re at Hotel Corpo Santo for our last night, enjoying a sumptuous dinner tonight at Segundo Muelle- a Peruvian restaurant. 

Friday September 30th:

We say sad goodbyes to new and old friends, cherishing the memories of this extraordinary Douro trip! Hopefully you will stay on for a few days in amazing Lisbon or have already experienced the city before our trip. To one and all, Muito Obrigado and see you in October for our Alentejo Tour!

COST: $3,395. per person ($495 single supplement) all inclusive–transport, guide service, entry fees, all meals and lodging!