Port Lodges of Villa Nova de Gaia from Oporto

Arab Room in Palacio da Bolsa

Treading the grapes at Grahams

The Sunday Times Wine Club Port Festival

1 - 3 May 2009

Join Club Secretary John Kemp for this wonderful Festival in Oporto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Discover the diversity of Portuguese wines and the full range of Port Styles!

On our first evening, there is the option to join a privileged invitation to dine at the Factory House, the private club where the British Port Shippers meet on Wednesday lunchtime. We have been invited by the current President of the Association, Paul Symington, whose family own Graham, Dow, Smith-Woodhouse and Warre.

We will head east out of the city on the “Great Railway Journey“ (as featured years ago by Michael Palin) up the Douro to Pinhao to the heart of the port vineyards. It is a British tradition to toast the Douro at first sight of it so we’ll ensure that we go along adequately prepared!

Once the train leaves Oporto, it winds its way through rugged countryside and unspoilt traditional villages then the majestic Douro suddenly appears and for the final part of the journey the train follows the banks of the river. The deep still waters harbour perfect reflections of the terraced vineyards. Once we arrive at Pinhão, we will visit one of the nearby Quintas where the grapes are both grown and vinified for a tasting of a generous range of their ports from the unassuming ruby through LBV, single Quinta, elegant Tawnies and Vintage.

Next morning there is the opportunity to visit one of the Port Lodges where the ageing and storing takes place in Vila Nova da Gaia, the town on the opposite banks of the river to Oporto, where the banks of the river are lined shoulder to shoulder with all the great names in Port.

Oporto, our base, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has a reserved air of faded grandeur. There is much to see including the Cathedral and the beautiful views from its terrace, the iron work Don Luis Bridge constructed by one of Eiffel’s pupils, the beautiful blue and white ceramic tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history in the main São Bento train station and the maze of winding streets that all seem to lead down eventually to the Douro.

The Grande Finale and one of the main highlights of the weekend will be our private Wine Festival held in the magnificent Palacio da Bolsa, the former Stock Exchange. The Sunday Times Wine Club will be inviting all their Portuguese suppliers to share with you the full range of their wines from North to South of the country. Portugal is one of the buzzwords in the wine world at the moment. The wealth of young, talented wine makers determined to make world-class wines from traditional grape varieties has captured the imagination of wine writers and wine drinkers world wide. Today, you will have the chance to discover the range of wines that Portugal has to offer, and meet the charming producers in a convivial setting along with your fellow Club members.

We hope you can join us for this celebration of Portuguese wines & ports and discover the warmth and friendliness of the Portuguese people in three fabulous settings.