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Discover the intimate and unexplored locations in Portugal where the Wine Production is omnipresent. This self-drive tour allows you to stay in very charming Portuguese genuine accommodations, including (wine) activities.
This will give you the chance to deeply discover how and who produces the Portuguese wine. In order to broad your knowledge, we've selected two wonderful regions of important wine production (Alentejo and Douro).
At the end of the tour, you'll pass one night in Porto, where the world well known wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia awaits your visit and finally Lisbon, to finish the tour in a memorable way, accommodated in the most luxurious hotel of the city: the Pestana
Palace (also a national monument).
Day 1 & 2 - Monsaraz (Alentejo)
Pick-up your rented car in Lisbon and depart to Reguengos de Monsaraz in Alentejo (180km route; around 2h30m). Here you'll find Hotel Província as your home for two days.
The surrounding nature of this location and the experience of this hotel will give you the perfect combination for relax and enjoy the pleasure of life. You'll have the chance to know the gastronomy from Alentejo and its Wine production. Also, you'll be very
close to one of the most interesting medieval villages of Portugal: Monsaraz. Simply wonderful!
On these 2 days at Hotel Província, you'll have included on the program:
- Welcome Drink (Esporao Liquor)
- VIP Treatment on your room
- Light Meal at the hotel bar on first day
- Visit to Wine Cellar of Esporão and Carmim
Hotel Província
"The Hotel Província is located at the entrace to the town of Reguengos de Monsaraz. The style is typically Alentejanan and almost hidden among its surroundings, blending into the landscape but easily accessible to anyone looking to enjoy the varied pleasures on offer in the Alentejo. When you arrive
you will immediatly feel at home in the warm and friendly atmosphere.
At the Hotel Província every attention has been paid to detail and we have designed an elegant setting within a framework of the architecture typical to this region. Combined with this setting is a high standard of quality and a wide range of services. This
hotel has been planned with your well-being in mind and with a level of personal service not found in chain hotels.
We have made sure that all modern conviniences have been thought of but integrated in such a way as to coordinate perfectly with the style of the building and surroundings. This is a real Alentejo transposed into the XXIst century and we look forward to
welcoming you. Only with such spirit and dedication has it been possible to create this unique and exceptional environment in the sun soaked plains of southern Portugal."
Day 3, 4, 5 - Pinhão (Douro)
On Day 3, you should drive directly to the Douro Region, since this is a somewhat long route: 506km - around 6 hours driving, but through very scenic roads, which makes it a pleasant journey.
The hotel we've selected to you in Pinhão is the first Wine Hotel in Portugal, so nothing better and best suited for this thematic self-drive tour...
While you'll be at the Hotel Quinta Nova in Quinta Nova da Nossa Senhora do Carmo (please read the details about this hotel below), you'll have the following schedule included on this program (except on harvest time - October – inform about replacement of this
program):
Day 3 Portonic Welcome
Gourmet dinner menu for the day (drinks not included)
Day 4 Breakfast
11.45h - Wine Tour (vineyards, cellars, bottle and cask cellar and tasting room)
. Tasting DOC Douro
. Walking trail on estate
. Tasting Ruby Port
. Gourmet dinner menu for the day (drinks not included)
Day 5 Breakfast
11.00h - Tour of rivers Douro and Távora in an inflatable boat
. Lunch at a restaurant in Foz do Tua (drinks not included) 17.00h - Return to Hotel
19.30h - Tasting cocktails made with Port wine
. Gourmet dinner menu for the day (drinks not included)
Day 6 Breakfast
11.30h - Blind tasting of some wines
. Check Out
. Gourmet lunch of day (drinks not included)
Observations:
- Confirmation is required prior to embarking on the boat trip, which also depends on the weather and the number of passengers. The Hotel provides transport to the embarkation quay.
- The picnic for one of the orchards on the Estate is collected from reception on deposit of 25€/person, reimbursed once the thermal picnic bag and other picnic material is returned.
- If the weather is unsuitable for a picnic, the Hotel provides the Gourmet Menu for the Day, including drinks (1 bottle of QN DOC Douro per 4 guests, or water or cold beverages per adult/child.
Hotel Quinta Nova (Pinhão - Douro Region)
"Quinta Nova Rural Hotel is the first wine hotel in the Douro Demarcated Region, connected to a Porto wine producing company – J.W. Burmester – with over 250 years of history and tradition. The Hotel is established in Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, a viticultural property with unique patrimonial
and landscape value, located on the North bank of River Douro, close to Pinhão. On this farm one of the oldest traditions - grape treading by foot in traditional granite tanks - has been preserved since 1764. It was on this Estate that in June 2005 the new Hotel Quinta Nova opened – a charming hotel
built in typical Douro architecture. It was an old manor house that was rehabilitated and fully equipped in comfort and refinement, offering its guests delightful living-rooms with warm fireplaces, dining rooms where they may relish typical regional dishes, 11 bedrooms exquisitely decorated in 18th
century style, and 6 suites with panoramic viewsto the old vineyards. Quinta Nova Hotel has at your disposal several facilities for all kinds of leisure activities: the wine cellar, an underground cask storage built in slate, the wine tasting rooms, the water-mill that accommodates the olive oil museum,
the porch, as well as hideaways of surpassing beauty where one may have a picnic. On a hot day you may go for a swim in the refreshing pool located inside the schist walls of the old vineyard."
Day 6 & 7- Porto
After concluding your lunch at Hotel Burmester, as stated on the previous schedule, you'll leave Pinhão and drive to Porto. You'll have two alternatives: drive directly to Vila Real (where you can visit the Casa de Mateus, famous due to the label of "Mateus Rosé" Wine) and, then, proceed to Porto (a
small stop in the scenic little town of Amarante is advisable); the second alternative is to drive along the Douro river, which will take longer, but where you can enjoy the river and the scenic landscape.
Pinhão is 150km away from Porto and through the first option, it'll take around 2 hours for a direct driving. For the second option, along the river, estimate around 4 hours.
Porto is obviously included on this program, since its a city historical bonded to the Port wine (which is produced in Douro and aging in the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia). You'll have the opportunity to visit these wine cellars on your own (they're open
to the public and they offer free guided tours in the cellars) and taste some Port wines.
Then, take your time to visit the Porto city that deserves a slow-pace exploration. The hotel included in Porto is the:
Hotel Pestana Porto
"Situated in the Praça da Ribeira, heart of the historical centre of Porto and constructed on part of the mediaeval city wall, the Pestana Porto Hotel forms part of a block of town houses dating from the XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries.
This beautiful adjoining group of buildings was classified by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage site which extends along the Douro River enjoying a magnificent view and unique atmosphere. In the heart of Porto, only 20 minutes from the International Airport
"Francisco Sá Carneiro" and 10 minutes from "São Bento Railway Station, the Pestana Porto Hotel, with all charm of the Ribeira riverside area, in buildings of an original design classified as world heritage, stands proudly on the bank of the Douro River.
In the bustle of the city, after taking a boat ride on the river, exploring streets and alleys, admiring the architecture, seeing the sights, visiting the wonderful port lodges, discovering markets, cafés, museums and enticing shops...it's good to have
somewhere to come home to. The Pestana Porto Hotel is one of those places in the world where "receiving visitors" means "offering them the best of everything". "
Day 8 - Lisboa
On this day, it's time to go south, to Lisbon. It's a 300km route by highway, which will take around 3 hours driving. When you'll arrive in Lisbon, you'll have time to rest at the wonderful Pestana Palace hotel. It deserves a day stay there for sure.
It's not everyday that you can be accommodated on a restored Palace and National Monument... Of course that if you're more like an explorer type of person, take some hours and visit Lisbon city with one of our tours.
Hotel Pestana Palace
"Located in Lisbon city but only a short drive from the Estoril Coast and its beaches, the hotel incorporates a nineteenth century palace, now fully restored to its former glory and
classified as a National Monument. The Pestana Palace looks over an inner private park lush with many subtropical trees and plants and enjoys panoramic views over the Tagus River."
End of Self-Drive Tour
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