Port Harvest

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Port Harvest

Treading the grapes at the Port Harvest

Port Harvest

Picking the grapes

Port Harvest

28 - 30 September 2007, 26 - 28 September 2008

Witness, and even take part in the Port harvest on this great value tour offering the unique opportunity to experience treading the grapes!

We meet up in Oporto then visit the lodge of Grahams Port for a tasting of these famously lush and juicy ports, followed by a private invitation to dine at their lodge.

Next day we go up to the beautiful Douro vineyards by train on the journey made famous by Michael Palin. Several of us in the office have done this journey many times, and the first sight of the Douro is just as exciting every time we see it. Here we visit two of the cutting edge Douro wine and Port producers. Both are members of the informal association of about 5 small rising star producers known as ‘the Douro boys’.

First we go to the Dutch owned Niepoort, perhaps the ultimate craft Port lodge, then continue to Quinta do Passadouro for a harvest lunch. Both these two quintas crush their entire harvest by foot, and if you wish, you too can join in the treading - just be sure that you never want to wear these clothes again, and that you don’t mind having dark red legs for a few days!

Niepoort are long renowned for their Tawny and Vintage Ports and for rare styles such as Colheita and Garrafeira. They also produce a range of superb Douro table wines. Passadouro which used to be commercialised as a ‘single quinta’ (single estate port) by Niepoort, don’t make any tawny, only LBV and vintage, plus a stunning red table wine. So, on this trip you will also taste several excellent tables wines, not just Port.

The last day in Oporto is unescorted, but you can join in on a special tasting at Calem Port over the river in Vila Nova de Gaia where the Port lodges are based.

We stay in a good 3* hotel in the centre of Oporto, within easy walking distance of the river front with its many restaurants. This is a very unusual and special weekend, so why not get a party together to enjoy it with your friends?