Wine, Port & Spa Corporate Hospitality or Incentive Trip

Wine, Port and Spa Corporate Hospitality or Incentive Reward trip to the Douro Valley, Portugal

The grapes for the unctuous Port wines are grown in stunning vertiginous vineyards high up in the Douro Valley a couple of hours inland from Oporto (which of course just means “ the port, “o” being the definite article in Portuguese), but the base wines, once they have completed fermentation are transported down the valley to the lodges (armazens) in Vila Nova da Gaia, Oporto’s twin city on the opposite side of the river bank. Here in the dusky corridors of the merchants warehouses they spend years being transformed into the full array of port styles, from the nutty, approachable Tawnies, to the affordable ruby red “Late Bottled Harvest”, to the ultimate of all, the luscious vintages that linger deliciously on your palette and make the perfect, sublime ending to a superb dinner party.

In addition to Port, most of the port lodges now also make an excellent range of non-fortified wines, and you will taste the wines from the Douro Valley and elsewhere in Oporto over the included meals. If your knowledge/experience of Portuguese table wines is just of rose – then you will be absolutely delighted to discover that there are fantastic, powerful reds made in the modern wine making style as well as good white wines to be enjoyed.

Oporto itself is a busy hard working city with lots of architectural interest over and above just the lure of Port! A pupil of Eiffel built the main bridge that links Oporto with Vila Nova. The imposing cathedral, which towers above the bridge, is worth the climb up to, for the view alone and just strolling around the city yields views of twisting streets on steep hills which tumble down to the river, tile clad buildings (from churches to apartments) and glimpses every so often of the river below.

We start this tour with a visit to the Graham’s port lodge in Oporto, followed by lunch in what is widely considered to be the best restaurant in town. We them make our way up the Douro (about a two hour drive) to our luxury spa hotel in a stunning setting overlooking the Douro Valley.

Brief Outline Itinerary

Day One

Morning Flight arrival in Oporto (call for details and a quote, or book your own)

On arrival in Oporto you will be met by Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours bi-lingual Tour Manager.

We drive the short distance into the centre of Oporto, and to the opposite bank of the river Vila Nova da Gaia for a visit and tasting at the fascinating port lodge of Graham’s.
Lunch is at Oporto’s top restaurant – Dom Tonho, situated in a modern glass building alongside the river.
After lunch we make our way up the Douro by coach to arrive at your luxury spa hotel in a stunning setting overlooking the Douro Valley.

We can book everyone in for a relaxing massage on arrival (staggered timings of course!)

Dinner is at the hotel’s restaurant, with wines from the Douro Valley (non-fortified top quality table wines).

Day Two

Morning to relax (you can arrange further spa treatments this morning if you wish) or have a business meeting.

Lunch will be at the Graham’s Quinta do Bomfim, that we will arrive at by coach. This is where the grapes are first bought to for vinifiying and processing.

After a relaxed lunch as private guests at the Quinta (this is not a restaurant, but a private invitation to experience a living-working Quinta as VIP guests. A Quinta is just the Portuguese word for farm/farm-house).

After lunch we return to the hotel via the attractive town of Lamego where you can stop off for a stroll and a coffee.

Dinner at the hotel this evening, with a selection of table wines from around the rest of Portugal.

Day Three

Late morning departure (so some time to relax or perhaps have another spa treatment).

Lunch at the Relais & Chateau Vintage House (jackets required) before returning to the airport for an evening flight.

Cost estimate for the package based on 24 participants: £24,000
This tour can be arranged for smaller or larger parties. The per person cost on a smaller party would be higher.

Price includes:

Two nights 4* boutique spa hotel
Wine Notes and Maps
A complimentary massage for all participants
Two dinners and two lunches with wines, water, coffee and port
A visit to a famous Port lodge in Vila Nova da Gaia
A visit to a famous Port Quinta in the Douro Valley
Transport throughout for the itinerary
A bi-lingual tour manager

Prices, Quotes… Contact us!

Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours Ltd,

Cedar Court, 5 College Street, Petersfield, Hants GU31 4AE. UK

Click here to e-mail us – tours@winetours.co.uk

Tel: 01730 263111 Fax: 01730 711295