Douro, Bairrada & Dão: The Wines of Northern Portugal Trip

From Lisbon to Porto and the Douro, uncover the magnificent food and wine of Portugal

A food and wine trip that immerses you in the great cities of Lisbon and Porto, and in the heart of the Bairrada, Dão and Douro River wine regions of Portugal. The Bairrada and Dão wine regions are little known but coming onto the radar due to young innovative winemakers making wines with the native grapes and in many cases from old vines. One thing we love about the region is that you feel like you’re in on a secret, early. Then it’s on to the Douro Valley whose stunning visitas and historic quintas–family wineries–bring visitors from across the globe. You’ll see why, once you see the Douro River views from your quinta hotel. In the Douro and in Porto you will taste Porto’s namesake wine–port–at wineries and in historic port lodges. Fantastic food throughout and boutique and/or luxury hotels on this private trip. Suitable for couples, families and groups of friends.

Trip At A Glance

10 Days / 9 Nights

Days 1 - 2 in Lisbon

Your days in Lisbon include a private food and cultural tour which becomes dinner and free time for exploring the City on Seven Hills. We’ll take care of your restaurant reservations at some of the great eateries in Lisbon.

Days 3 - 4 in the Bairrada and Dão Wine Regions

Travel north to two under-the-radar wine regions famous for bold reds, complex whites and sparkling wine which traditionally accompanies roast suckling pig. Once you try it you’re a convert (unless of course you’re a vegetarian)!

Days 5 - 7 in the Douro River Valley

Stay at a boutique winery hotel directly on the Douro River. Your Douro immersion will include visits and tastings at family-owned wineries and your dinners will include river views.

Days 8 - 10 in Porto

Dive into Porto’s food culture with a walking food tour with enough Portuguese tastes to do you for the day. Visit the fish market in Matosinhos–oceanside Porto–and take your fish to a local fisherman’s restaurant where they’ll prepare you lunch. By this time you’ll have experienced the (huge) portions at restaurants, and your dinner at slightly upscale traditional Abadia do Porto Restaurant will likely be one for the record books! Be careful what you order. Dine in what is often called the restaurant with the most exquisite setting in Portugal– Casa de Chá da Boa Nova–set on the rocks overlooking the Atlantic. After dinner they often open up the floor to ceiling windows where you can sit and watch the sunset, glass of Portuguese wine in hand.

Douro, Bairrada & Dão: The Wines of Northern Portugal Trip

Day 1: Lisbon’s Cuisines

Arrive in Lisbon
Private food tour in the evening
Overnight Lisbon

Portugal

Portugal is a nation shaped by the Atlantic. The beaches of the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto’s proximity to the sea and history of trade, wine regions from Setúbal to Vinho Verde, the sea is there. Perhaps the openness of a seafaring nation is what makes Portugal such a great place to visit. Traditions are alive here, and people will be happy to show them to you with pride. The rarified exists as well, but even there chefs are never too busy to talk and winemakers will invite you to eat with the family. Snobbishness is a rarity; the opposite is much more common. Maybe that’s why it’s taken so long for the rest of the world to discover Portugal: they were too humble to tell everyone what amazing treasures they had. Lisbon is a true jewel, with its hills overlooking a sea of red roofs bathed by Atlantic freshness. Porto feels frozen in time, until you see the amazing new hotels, restaurants, and port lodges. And the wine, where to start? If you want to taste some of the best-kept secrets in Europe made from grapes you can neither place nor pronounce, there’s no better place.

Lisbon

Portugal’s capital is impossibly scenic: hilltop viewpoints overlooking red-roofed buildings, pastel-colored walls, and the Tejo River estuary that blends into the Atlantic. This was an imperial capital in the days of the Portuguese Empire which lisboetas so love to recall, and at times you can still feel that weight and grace that only the world’s great cities possess. Lisbon feels friendly and accessible, which makes it a great city to visit. The old blends seamlessly with the new, from the winding fado-filled streets of the Alfama to the futuristic Parque das Naçôes. You can taste the contrast from the deeply traditional restaurants where three can comfortably share an entree to innovative Portuguese chefs who reinvent and reinterpret dishes from all over the country and even beyond. It’s an exciting city that will leave you wanting to come back and explore deeper, a place that calls to you even from across the Atlantic.

Lisbon Food Tour

This two-in-one experience starts with a food & cultural walk in the evening and ends up with a Portuguese small-plates dinner. Along the stroll, we'll show you the exciting contrast between the trendy and sophisticated Chiado neighborhood and the reborn Cais do Sodré, an old and dark fisherman district now transformed into a new food and drinks hub in Lisbon. You will visit a renovated and vibrant food market, a canned fish store, and a Portuguese custard tart bakery, and taste delicious Portuguese cheeses, charcuterie, canned fishes, custard tart, Vinho Verde, red wine and coffee. The walk will end up at a casual and cozy restaurant in the heart of the Bica neighborhood for a relaxing Portuguese dinner.

Day 2: Exploring Lisbon

Free day in Lisbon
Lunch options in Lisbon
Overnight Lisbon

On Your Own in Lisbon

Viúva Lamego

Tile workshop where artists produce hand-painted tiles for sites throughout Lisbon.

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Collection includes Egyptian art, Greco-Roman art, Mesopotamia, the Islamic Orient, Armenia, the Far East and, where Western art is concerned, sculpture, the art of the book, painting, eighteenth-century French decorative arts, and works by René Lalique, as well as large collection of modern Portuguese art in the world.

National Tile Museum

Centuries of Portuguese tile art on display

Lunch Options

A Cevicheria

At A Cevicheria, Chef Kiko Martins combines Portuguese products with international influences from his travels around the world. As the name indicates, the speciality is ceviche, served in a modern bar in Lisbon’s upscale Principe Real district. Inside, with a stuffed octopus hanging from the ceiling, enjoy exquisitely prepared ceviche accompanied by pisco sours, a classic drink from Peru. For a unique fusion, try the cod ceviche, made using the national fish of Portugal with ceviche techniques. NOTE: A Cevicheria does not take reservations. They are open from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

Solar dos Presuntos

Solar dos Presuntos is as classic a Lisbon restaurant as you could hope for. The entrance to the restaurant is dominated by a lobster tank and top-quality Portuguese presunto hams. Tables topped with white tablecloths fill winding dining rooms wallpapered with photos of famous patrons of the restaurant. Old-school waiters efficiently serve up delicacies like grilled lobster, fresh-caught fish baked in salt, seafood rices, hearty meat dishes, and Portuguese essentials like cod and açordas. This is a place to celebrate and enjoy yourself untroubled by modernity. Don’t miss the extensive wine list with great representation of regions across the country.

Day 3: Lisbon - Bairrada - Dão

Transfer from Lisbon to Coimbra
Coimbra tour
Transfer to the Bairrada wine region
Luis Pato wine-pairing lunch
Transfer to the Dão wine region
Dinner at Casa da Ínsua
Overnight Casa da Ínsua, Dão

Coimbra Visit

Explore the riverfront city of Coimbra, one of the most beautiful in Portugal. The old town’s atmospheric streets are enchanting, and the city’s hilltop location offers views of the river and surrounding countryside. Coimbra is home to Portugal’s oldest and most storied university, the University of Coimbra. You’ll visit the campus, including the incredible Baroque library.

Bairrada Wine Region

Spread along the Atlantic coast between Lisbon and Porto, Bairrada is known for two things: leitão (roast suckling pig) and great wine. Bairrada reds are almost always made from Baga, a local grape that can yield some of Portugal’s longest-aging dry wines. New producers have tamed Baga, and their reds are wonderful in their youth as well. Fresh, mineral whites made from indigenous Bical and Maria Gomes grapes have captured attention in recent years. Many Portuguese also know Bairrada for having the best quality sparkling wines in Portugal. This is an exciting region that is establishing itself as one of the most interesting in the country.

The Wines of Bairrada

The wines of Bairrada are dominated by Baga, a local red grape that is typically made into varietal wines. The classic style of Baga is a wine with potent tannins and equal acidity, challenging in its youth but infinitely rewarding after decades. In 2003, much to the chagrin of some producers, foreign grapes like Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon were allowed into Bairrada. Those who disagreed formed Baga Friends, a group of producers focused on preserving and refining the grape. Luis Pato could be said to be the godfather of modern Baga. He pioneered techniques to tame the grape long before the current trend of appreciation for it. Destemming, careful plot selection and different aging vessels make today’s Bagas some of Portugal’s great wines. Douro legend Dirk Niepoort’s entry into Bairrada in 2012 only confirmed this. Both classic and more innovative Bagas can age spectacularly well, so if you have the chance to try a quality Bairrada after 20 years of aging, don’t miss it.

The main wine produced in Bairrada is not red, however. The most famous product of the region is the traditional method sparkling wine made, in many cases, from Baga itself. The traditional aging caves dug underneath cellars are still packed with bottles of what is generally considered Portugal’s best sparkling wine. There are some examples that are tasty but unremarkable, but the best producers make exceptional sparkling wines from quality vineyards and with enough aging to give them wonderful complexity.

Private Wine-Tasting Lunch at Luis Pato Winery

Enjoy a wine-pairing lunch at Luis Pato winery. On the menu, traditional Bairrada specialties including local roast suckling pig (leitão). Lunch will be paired with excellent Luis Pato wines.

Luís Pato and his terroir-driven Bairrada wines have been largely responsible for the region’s success over the last few decades. The son of the first winemaker to bottle Bairrada wines, Pato has always been forward-thinking, particularly when it comes to the Baga grape that dominates Bairrada. Today he makes a wide range of Baga-dominated reds, many of which come from single vineyards that offer the chance to contrast the clay and sandy soils that coexist in Bairrada. From delicious fruit-driven wines to brooding ageworthy Bagas in the classic style, each is unique and fascinating. You’ll also find classic sparkling wines and whites made from indigenous grape varieties among Pato’s specialties. A visit here is a masterclass in Bairrada and the best way to learn about the past, present, and thrilling future of one of Portugal’s great wine regions.

Dinner at Casa da Ínsua

Casa da Ínsua’s restaurant serves creative Portuguese cuisine using local products. Dining here is the perfect way to enjoy the atmosphere of the hotel’s history after a day of traveling. It’s also a great opportunity to taste the wines produced from the estate’s vineyards. Casa da Ínsua produces a range of Dão wines that you can enjoy at the hotel.

Day 4 - The Dão Wine Region

Julia Kemper winery visit
Quinta dos Roques winery visit
Lunch and free afternoon at Casa da Ínsua
Dinner at Mesa de Lemos (1 Michelin star)
Overnight Casa da Ínsua, Dão

Dão Wine Region

Dão is perhaps Portugal’s most exciting wine region at the moment. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and featuring granite soils, this region of northern Portugal has a long history of producing fine red wines. Its potential is only now being realized, as local producers and outside stars experiment with a range of excellent indigenous grapes and a geography of rivers and forests that creates immense variation from one vineyard to another. Red wines blending Portuguese star grape Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Jaen (Mencía in Spain) and Tinta Roriz (Spain’s Tempranillo) are among the best in Portugal, subtle and aromatic but with great aging potential. The Dão is also home to Encruzado, a white grape quickly gaining fame for its ability to produce deep, complex aged whites when matured in oak. Dão may finally be claiming its position as Portugal’s premier region for unfortified wine production.

Julia Kemper Winery Visit

In 2003, Julia Kemper, a lawyer in Lisbon, took over the family winery in the Dão. She started making biodynamic, organic, and vegan wines from the family vineyards. Today, her wines are among the most respected in the Dão. Their red wines are made from Dão emblematic grapes: Alfrocheiro, Jaen, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional. Somewhat unusually for the Dão, Kemper makes highly acclaimed white wines using Malvasia and Encruzado.

Quinta dos Roques Winery Visit

Quinta dos Roques is a family-owned winery in the heartland of the Dão region. Their wine Encruzado is regularly rated as one of the country's leading dry white wines. The winery uses Touriga Nacional (Tempranillo in Spain) and Tinta Roriz to make their highly-rated red wines. Quinta das Maias is a certified organic estate in the foothills of the Serra de Estrela mountains. They make red wines using the Jaen grape (known as Mencia in Spain) and Touriga Nacional and white wines using Gouveio (Godello in Spain), Encruzado and Malvasia. You will have an extended tasting of wines from both estates.

Lunch and Free Afternoon at Casa da Ínsua

Return to your hotel for lunch and a free afternoon to enjoy the property.

Dinner at Mesa de Lemos (1 Michelin star)

One of the latest additions to Portugal’s Michelin-star lineup, Mesa de Lemos is built atop the excellent Dão winery Quinta de Lemos. The modern building offers views over the surrounding vineyards and benefits from marvelous attention to detail in its design. Chef Diogo Rocha is a local and an advocate for local and regional products in his cuisine. You’ll find fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and other products from the estate in dishes on the menu. You’ll have the chance to pair your tasting menu with wines from Quinta de Lemos, or other Dão wines, which will make for a great introduction to the wines of the Dão. Mesa de Lemos is Portugal’s newest destination restaurant, a world away from the bustle of the city.

Day 5 - Dão to the Douro River Valley

Transfer to the Douro wine region
Visit the Baroque town of Lamego
Lunch at Castas e Pratos restaurant
Quinta do Bomfim wine tasting
Dinner at Quinta de la Rosa
Overnight Quinta de la Rosa

The Douro River Valley

The Douro is easily the most dramatic wine region in the world. And stunningly beautiful. The riverbanks, covered in near-vertical sloping vineyards that look impossible, rise thousands of feet above the Douro River. Whitewashed quintas–winery manor houses– punctuate the hilltops, offering incredible views across the valley. The roads wind their way through the hills, making even short journeys scenic and painfully slow. The Douro is where Port comes from, and Port is perhaps the greatest sweet wine ever produced. It’s also the source of Douro wines, dry wines which 30 years on have staked a claim among the most respected wines in Portugal. It’s a seemingly impossible place to grow grapes and make wine, but today, as in centuries past, the quality of the Douro terroir seems to justify the effort.

Port and Douro Wines

The Douro is the source for Portugal’s two most important wines. The first and by far the most storied is Port, the sweet wine that has been made from Douro grapes and aged in Porto for centuries. British wine shippers popularized the wine and named it with a shortened version of the name of the city of Porto. Today, Port remains atop the world of sweet wine, particularly vintage and tawny Ports. Vintage Port is a powerful, sweet fortified red wine that is built to age for decades in bottle before being consumed, while tawny does its aging in large barrels in the cavernous cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia and develops into a golden elixir with the years. Quality examples of both types are some of the best wines in the world and will dispel any preconceptions one might harbor about sweet wines.

Douro wines are a different beast entirely. In the 1990s, a group of producers known as the Douro Boys brought dry wines from the Douro Valley to global attention with their unique and complex bottlings. The same exceptional vineyards that produced the grapes for the best vintage Ports turned out to be exceptional for making powerful red wines that were unlike any other in the world. In the last three decades, Douro reds have become the most interesting and appreciated Portuguese wines on the market. The extreme slopes, varied soils and harsh climate of this valley combine with a wealth of local grape varieties to produce wines that range from fruity and delicious to intense and enormous. Even the whites from the region are becoming better and more diverse every year.

There’s something for everyone in the Douro, an essential stop for every wine traveler.

Visit the Baroque Town of Lamego

Visit Lamego, a beautiful historic town near the Douro Valley. Lamego is most famous for the hilltop Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, overlooking the town from the top of innumerable staircases decorated with Portuguese tile. The old town holds a wealth of historic buildings and plenty of Douro charm.

Lunch at Castas e Pratos Restaurant

The former Peso da Régua train terminal has been converted into a unique space for retail shops and bars and restaurants right next to the Douro River. Castas e Pratos is the most important occupant, a comfortable restaurant where you can dine on delicious Portuguese cuisine, carefully presented and elegantly updated. The real surprise here is the wine list, a virtual encyclopedia of the most important wines of the Douro. This makes Castas e Pratos the perfect place to discover producers you haven’t visited or double down on a wine you loved.

Quinta do Bomfim Wine Tasting

Symington is one of the oldest and proudest names in the Port business. This British-Portuguese family has built an empire of the grandest Port houses, including Graham’s, Warre’s, Cockburn’s and Dow’s. The Ports produced by Symington are among the greatest in the region. Since the 1990s, Symington has begun producing top quality Douro wines alongside their Ports. Notable projects include the powerful reds from Quinta do Vesuvio and Chryseia, a wine made in collaboration with the Prats family, former owners of famed Bordeaux winery Château Cos d’Estournel. Symington has been one of the most innovative and creative producers in the Douro despite being the largest.

Quinta do Bomfim has been the Symington family’s outpost in the Douro for over a century. With a tasting room and terrace overlooking the river, this is the perfect place to taste Symington wines. Ports from all of the Symington wineries are available alongside dry Douro wines.

Dinner at Quinta de la Rosa

Quinta de la Rosa’s restaurant, Cozinha da Clara, has made a name for itself as one of the best in the Douro. Offering a view over the section of the Douro near Pinhão, the restaurant serves updated Portuguese specialties with a light touch and impeccable service. Quinta de la Rosa’s table wines accompany the food perfectly, and some of their Port with dessert is a great way to end your meal.

Quinta de la Rosa winery is a truly spectacular estate. A short drive or walk from Pinhão, the winery is surrounded by steeply sloping terraced vineyards directly overlooking the Douro River. The Bergvist family, owners of the property for over a century, were pioneers in the production of dry Douro wines from their own vineyards at the quinta. The range of exposures and elevations in the vineyards makes for great variety in the wines. Quinta de la Rosa makes no fewer than three white wines, all made from local Douro varieties, including the aged white Tim Grande Reserva. The reds are anchored by Touriga Nacional alongside old field blends and range from the deliciously drinkable Dourosa to the immensely concentrated Vale do Inferno. You’ll find a line of boutique Port wines as well, including rare old tawnies and a top quality vintage.

Day 6 - Douro Wineries

Quinta do Noval winery visit
Wine & Soul winery visit
Lunch at a traditional Portuguese restaurant
Dinner at DOC Restaurant
Overnight Quinta de la Rosa

Quinta do Noval Winery Visit

Overlooking a tributary of the Douro far above the town of Pinhão, Quinta do Noval is a world apart. This is one of the oldest producers in the Douro, and the highest profile Port producer with purely Portuguese heritage. Today, Noval makes superb dry Douro wines while continuing to stun with all of the classic Port styles. When Quinta do Noval began making dry Douro wines, their reputation had already been cemented by centuries of elite Port production, including the Nacional Vintage Port, one of the most expensive and acclaimed Ports ever. Excellent red and white Douros based on local grapes are joined by two varietal wines from French grapes Petit Verdot and Syrah, offering a chance to taste how these global grapes perform in the Douro’s unique terroir.

Wine & Soul Winery Visit

Husband and wife team Jorge and Sandra had ample experience as winemakers when they decided to start their own project based on a tiny plot of old vines in the hills above Pinhão. This vineyard produced Wine & Soul’s first red, Pintas, a powerful, characterful red that established the seriousness of the project. Over time, Jorge and Sandra have acquired and inherited more excellent old Douro vineyards and expanded their selection of wines. Throughout all of them, you’ll find a dedication to the terroir and history of the Douro. The winemakers believe that the best vineyards for vintage Port have the potential to produce exceptional wines, and have proven it with their wines.

Dinner at DOC Restaurant

Chef Rui Paula is the star chef of northern Portugal, having garnered two Michelin stars at his restaurant outside of Porto. At DOC, he offers innovative cuisine based on regional specialties, including seafood from the coast, not traditional to the Douro but very welcome. Opt for a tasting menu or order à la carte. The wine list is one of the best in the area, offering a wide selection of Douro and other Portuguese and world wines, including hard to find rarities and ultra-premium wines if you are feeling adventurous. The outdoor terrace offers a one of a kind spot to eat overlooking the Douro River. All of this adds up to one of the Douro’s finest restaurants.

Day 7 - Boutique Douro Wineries

Quinta de São José winery visit
Quinta da Côrte winery visit and wine-tasting lunch
Private Douro River Cruise
Dinner at Quinta de la Rosa
Overnight Quinta de la Rosa

Quinta de São José Winery Visit

Up river from Pinhão, hidden away from the sights and sounds of the town, lies Quinta de São José. One of the smallest of the Douro’s fine wine producers, this beautiful little place looks out over a silent section of the Douro River. In 20 years, this family run property has quietly cemented its position as one of the top producers of dry Douro wines. Winemaker and owner João was described in Wine Advocate as “a star who doesn’t get enough attention.” The north-facing estate vineyards allow the wines to retain freshness even in the hottest years. Two whites from high-elevation vineyards are joined by several balanced, mineral reds which make great use of old vineyards planted with field blends. Quinta de São José is the perfect place to relax and learn about a different side to the superb wines of the Douro.

Quinta da Côrte Winery Visit and Lunch

The grapes from Quinta da Côrte vineyards had been sold to the best Port producers for many decades when French businessman and winery owner Phillippe Austruy discovered the quinta. After purchasing estates in Bordeaux and Provence, Austruy was looking for an exceptional property in the Douro Valley, and Quinta da

Côrte was the answer he needed. The dramatic terraced vineyards planted on schist soil and located in the best vinegrowing area of the Douro allowed Austruy to begin bottling excellent wines quickly. He rebuilt the quinta’s buildings into a beautiful series of spaces for winemaking, tasting and dining, even adding a few rooms for guests to stay in. Famed French winemaking consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt collaborates with experienced local talent to craft an impeccable line of wines and Ports.

Quinta da Côrte’s wines and Ports are made from essential Douro grape varieties like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz alongside rarer grapes like Tinto Cão and Tinta Barroca. There’s a floral, fresh white made from Viosinho, a grape traditionally used for white Port. The quinta’s two red wines are both great examples of carefully crafted Douro reds. Princesa plays the role of second wine and is dominated by Touriga Franca. The Grande Reserva uses more Touriga Nacional and more oak aging to create a luscious, long-lived wine. Quinta da Côrte’s Ports are made traditionally, including stomping grapes in granite vats after harvest. The two elegant tawny Ports are great examples of the style particularly suited to pairing with food. The Quinta da Côrte LBV is a fine and ageworthy wine in its own right, and the estate’s Vintage is a deep, complex jewel that shows clearly the incredible quality of the quinta’s old vineyards.

When you arrive at the quinta you’ll have views over the vineyards and the wider Douro Valley. You’ll have the chance to see the beautifully restored whitewashed quinta buildings where Quinta da Côrte’s wines and Ports are made. You’ll have a chance to try the estate’s wines and Ports, but the true enjoyment of these will come when you sit down on the terrace overlooking the stunning vineyards for a traditional Douro picnic-style lunch accompanied by the estate’s wines. This is the perfect way to relax in the Douro.

Private Douro River Cruise

In the village of Pinhão catch the boat for a private cruise on the Douro River. Don’t think “cruise” or “ship", however. You will be on a traditional wooden rabelo boat, formerly used to transport the port wine barrels from the vineyards to Vila Nova de Gaia for ageing in the cellars.

Dinner at Quinta de la Rosa

Day 8 - Porto: The City of Port

Transfer to Porto
Porto Walking & Driving Tour
Porto Food Tour
Dinner at Casa de Chá da Boa Nova (2 Michelin stars)
Overnight Porto

Porto

Port country is two places in one connected by the Douro River itself. The city of Porto lies where the river empties into the Atlantic. Built up the steep river banks, Portugal’s second city has a sleepy, forgotten enchantment to it that helps explain its recent renaissance.

New luxury hotels have sprung up in restored old buildings. The restaurant scene, never as dynamic as Lisbon’s, is looking formidable now. Central Porto is relaxed even in spite of the recent influx of visitors; it’s remarkably easy to lose track of time here.

When you emerge from the winding streets that lead from the river up to “downtown” Porto you can see across to Vila Nova de Gaia, ground zero for port wine. The most famous sweet wine in the world has been aged in this town for hundreds of years. The British were the shippers, lending their names to the signs that light up the night sky and the bottles that line shop windows: Sandeman, Warre’s, Taylor’s, Graham’s, whose storehouses are filled with barrels black from decades aging port. Yet if you head out of Porto looking for the vineyards, you’ll have to go way up-river before finding them, to the Douro Valley.

Porto Walking & Driving Tour

Your guide will pick you up for a tour of Porto. Visit downtown Porto, the blue and white Portuguese tile-laden São Benito train station, and the old-world streets of the city. Much of Porto is built up on the hill above the river, which will make you appreciate the driving part of this tour.

Porto Food Tasting Tour

Explore Porto with a guided gourmet walking tour. You will stop in eateries, cafés and specialty food shops to taste Portuguese cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, coffee and wine. Get acquainted with the typical products and foods and the stories behind them.

On your own in Porto

Visit the the Wines from Portugal tasting room, where for a nominal fee you can taste small amounts of wines from across Portugal. The Port Wine Institute, nearby, allows you to taste port wines in a similar manner, and is open Monday through Friday. You may want to check out the most anticipated new opening in Porto, World of Wine is a sprawling complex of former Port lodges converted into a series of museums and restaurants thanks to an enormous investment from Fladgate, owners of Taylor’s and other Port houses. Each museum focuses on a theme such as wine, cork, or chocolate. The restaurants vary from fine dining or wine and snacks to unusual themed spots like a dedicated brunch restaurant. Opened in late 2020, the World of Wine is the most substantial symbol of Porto’s growing prominence as a destination.

Casa de Chá da Boa Nova Restaurant

Meals at Casa de Chá da Boa Nova tend to last a while…usually because the desire to sit outside on their terrace after lunch or dinner, staring at the Atlantic, drinking wine, is hard to resist. Casa de Chá da Boa Nova (2 Michelin stars) is built on the rocks next to the Atlantic Ocean near the Matosinhos fishing port. With the tasting menus living up to the setting, lunch or dinner is sure to be an impressive (and lengthy) affair. Chef Rui Paula is a Porto native who combines the ingredients and flavors of his northern Portuguese heritage with creative techniques and ingredients from around the world.

Day 9 - Seafood & Port Lodges

Matosinhos seafood tour & lunch
Port Lodge visits
Dinner options in Porto
Overnight Porto

Matosinhos Seafood Tour & Lunch

Matosinhos is a small fishing town on the coast outside of Porto where the city’s chefs buy their fish. The Portuguese fish-canning industry once dominated here, but today only a few producers remain. Fresh fish is what Matosinhos is known for today. See the local fishermen’s catch at the Matosinhos fish market followed by tastings and lunch at seafood restaurants where you can try specialties like goose barnacles and grilled fish.

Port Lodge Visits

Visit and taste at two historic Port lodges in Vilanova de Gaia, across the Douro River from Porto.

For centuries, all wine destined to become Port had to age in the cellars of Port shippers in Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the Douro River from the old town of Porto. Barrels of young wine were shipped on boats down the river from the vineyards of the Douro. Today, though Port can be made in the Douro itself, most traditional Port houses maintain a lodge in Vila Nova where barrels and bottles of Port wait patiently for maturity. The lodges can feel like stepping back in time, and are an essential visit for anyone going to Porto. Most Port houses today have tasting rooms at their lodges or elsewhere in Vila Nova where you can order glasses or flights of their Port wines, so after your visits to two historic producers feel free to stick around and roam the riverfront tasting your preferred style.

Dinner in Porto

We’ve included two options for dinner. Both restaurants are traditional but with a difference. O Paparico feels like you’ve been let in on a secret that only locals know about. The food and service are impeccable and the wine list is award-worthy. To do it up right O Paparico is the place. Abadia do Porto is where the rest of the locals go when they are really hungry and want great home-style cooking with an old-world vibe. No pretension here; just great food and old-world attentive service.

O Paparico Restaurant

O Paparico is hidden away away in a nondescript building away from the busy center of Porto. When you step inside, a cozy atmospheric space awaits you, complete with comfortable waiting area and extensive bar. The food served here is the ultimate refined version of northern Portuguese cuisine. Each dish is presented impeccably and has an unforgettable concentration of flavor. To accompany your meal, there is a wine list covering nearly every Portuguese region and producer imaginable. Opt for a wine pairing if you prefer to let the skilled staff guide your experience. This is a mandatory stop in Porto.

Abadia do Porto Restaurant

Abadia do Porto serves some of the best traditional food in Porto. You’ll see wealthy and humble locals alike enjoying a varied menu of regional specialties in very substantial portions. The decor is much as it must have been when Abadia do Porto opened in 1939. The waiters are old-school and extremely attentive. This is a perfect place to relax and refuel without pretension, just good food and good wine.

Day 10 - Departure

Transfer to the Porto airport for departure.

Hotels

Lisbon Hotels - 2 nights

Casa Balthazar - This boutique hotel in central Lisbon is a true retreat. Each room is different in this historic property. We love the views from the Rossio room and the terrace, perfect for opening that bottle of wine, of the Panoramic Terrace Room.

Lisboa Carmo Hotel - Well located boutique hotel in one of Lisbon’s prettiest squares. Walking distance to bars and restaurants in the Barrio Alto, albeit uphill. Upper story rooms have views of the castle and the Tagus River.

Valverde Hotel - Discreet luxury on Lisbon’s elegant avenue, the Avenida da Liberdade, in lower Lisbon. Recommended rooms are Classic and above categories.

Bairro Alto Hotel - A boutique 5-star hotel located in Lisbon’s hilltop Bairro Alto neighborhood. The hotel is freshly restored with respect for the building’s long history as a hotel and tasteful decor. The rooms are luxurious and very comfortable. You’ll find a restaurant from star chef Nuno Mendes, a terrace with stunning views of the city, and more for dining options. This is a classic luxury option in the center of Lisbon.

Dão Hotel - 2 nights

Casa da Ínsua - 5-star hotel set in an 18th-century palace with sprawling grounds in the heart of Dão wine country. The property also produces its own Dão wine which you can taste in the hotel’s cellar or restaurant.

Douro Hotel - 3 nights

Quinta de la Rosa - Boutique winery hotel. Quinta de la Rosa is a lovely quinta overlooking the Douro River just a few minutes from Pinhão in the heart of the Douro Valley. The winery produces an acclaimed range of Douro table wines and Ports from the estate’s vineyards. The quinta now hosts a lovely boutique hotel with rooms overlooking the river. Walking around the grounds you can see the stunning terraced vineyards all around. You can stroll down to the winery’s tasting room for a visit to the winery or quick tasting during your stay. The hotel’s main restaurant, Cozinha da Clara, is one of the best in the area, offering updated dishes based on local ingredients with views over the river and an outdoor terrace to enjoy in good weather. The newest addition to the culinary options is Tim’s Terrace, a casual outdoor restaurant where you can enjoy barbecued meats in the evenings. Quinta de la Rosa is one of the Douro’s most charming and convenient accommodations.

Porto Hotels - 2 nights

Infante Sagres Hotel - The historic downtown hotel was acquired by the Yeatman Hotel and extensively renovated in 2018. The lobby and the rooms exude classic luxury while the cocktail bar and restaurant are thoroughly up to date and stylish.

Yeatman Hotel - The Yeatman is a favorite not only because of its impeccable service and classic style but due to the views of the Douro River and Porto across the river. The Yeatman has a Michelin-star restaurant and one of the best wine cellars in all of Portugal. Also nearly adjacent to Taylor’s winery and tasting room for fine old Tawnies.

Gran Cruz House - Newly renovated 7-room hotel in Porto’s Ribeira riverside district across from the port lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Classic Portugal Trip Includes

9 nights hotel, double occupancy
breakfast daily in the hotels
expert private guides
private tours and tastings at wineries
concierge custom-selected wines to taste at each winery
lunches with wine
restaurant reservations and recommendations
private transfers to Bairrada, Dão, the Douro and Porto
private transport for all wine tours
full trip planning
in-country trip assistance and on-the-ground support
Epicurean Ways expertise

Not Included

flights to/from Portugal
tips to guides and drivers (optional but appreciated)
travel insurance (recommended)
extra charges in hotels (minibar, room service, etc)

A note on winery visits, restaurant selections and hotels

All tours, experiences and hotels are subject to availability and will be confirmed upon booking the trip.

You will be accompanied by a driver-guide during your wine touring. Your visits and tastings will be private and with the winemaker, a family member or an expert who knows the winery and the wines well. We work with the wineries to make sure that you taste the best and most representative wines during each visit. It is sometimes possible to arrange extended tastings that include old vintages or rare wines. We have an extensive group of wineries whose owners we know and with whom we work regularly, so we can guarantee high-level visits even if a winery has to be substituted. If you have an interest in visiting a particular producer please let us know.

We include restaurant concierge service as part of your trip. Note that our restaurant suggestions are just that–suggestions. Places we love, places to go back to time after time. We recommend these places after years of experience eating in Spain and Portugal together with frequent research and input from our local partners. We aspire to guide your choices with information on the styles of cuisine and restaurants; the choice on where to eat is yours based on your preferences and desires.

We have extensive experience with hotels ranging from 5-star luxury properties to private boutique hotels. Let us know your preferences and we will tailor the hotel choices for you.

Trip Prices

Note that we can customize this trip for you. Add days in your arrival or departure city or in other locations or make changes to the experiences, winery visits, restaurants, or hotels included in the trip. Whatever it is, we’re here to work with you. Once you’re happy with the trip plan and have some idea of your dates we will calculate and send you the price.