- PORT WINE TOURS - - PORT WINE AND GOURMET TOUR OF PORTUGAL - - May 24 to May 31, 2010 - Porto and the Douro Valley, where port wine begins. - Day by day itinerary - Monday, May 24 - Arrival day in Porto Upon arrival in Porto, go to Hotel Vila GalÈ Porto, your hotel during your stay in Porto and the starting point of this tour. Check in, have some rest or start exploring the surroundings on your own. Hotel Vila GalÈ is located in downtown Porto. In the afternoon, prepare yourselves for our Welcome dinner at the Taylor Fladgate restaurant in Vila Nova de Gaia, overlooking the city of Porto. This great evening will start with an educational tour of their legendary cellars, a blind wine tasting of their many different types of port, followed by an elegant dinner served at their own restaurant. Tuesday, May 25 - Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning leave for a city sightseeing tour of Porto including the Aliados Avenue, Saint Francis Church- a magnificent gothic monument totally decorated with gilded wood carved panels, the Stock Exchange Palace - built in 1842 , and on along the Foz quarter back to the center for a visit to the Romano-Gothic Cathedral. Continue then across the Douro river towards Vila Nova de Gaia for a wine tasting and tour of Ferreira Port Wine Cellars. Lunch will take place at Restaurant Tromba Rija in Vila Nova de Gaia. The rest of the day is free to continue exploring these beautiful cities or just do do some shopping. Wednesday, May 26 - Porto, Braga, Guimaraes and back to Porto- Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and departure north to the Minho district heading to Braga - important archbishopric even during the roman occupation period. Visit of Braga including the pedestrian city centre with its 17th century manor houses and the Cathedral. Continue then for a visit to the Bom Jesus Sanctuary. Leave to Guimaraes, a small town considered by many historians as the cradle of Portugal , for a city tour including the medieval city centre, the Dukes of Braganca mediaeval palace, and castle. Lunch at Hotel do Elevador, situated by the Bom Jesus Sanctuary with wonderful views over the ancient town of Braga. Back to Porto in the late afternoon. Evening is free. Thursday, May, 27 - Porto, Barcelos, Douro Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and departure north to the Minho district heading to Barcelos - famous for its pottery. Leave to Penafiel for a visit to Aveleda Winery and its beautiful gardens. Wine tasting and tour of Aveleda Winery cellars and quinta, famous for their green wines. Lunch at Aveleda Cellars. Depart to Lamego, via the rich agricultural lands of the northern section of the country where port wine begins in the beautiful hills of the Douro Valley. Arrive in Lamego, considered the birthplace of port wine. Check in at Hotel Lamego. Dinner at the Hotel. Friday, May 28 - Douro Valley Breakfast at the hotel. Just after breakfast, we board our bus for our first tour of the Douro Valley region. We will see its magnitude when we drive in the middle of acres and acres of the famous port wine terraced vineyards. Our first visit however is to a Champagne house (Yes! Portugal also produces the bubbly) called Raposeira. We then go to the town of Peso da Regua for departure in a cruise on the Douro river to the town of Pinhao. Lunch on board of the ship. Free evening to explore the beautiful town of Lamego. Saturday, May 29 - Douro Valley Breakfast at the hotel. We start our full day tour of the Douro Valley by visiting one of the most technologically advanced grape processing and wine producing centres in the country. The Centro de Vinificao of Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers Vinhos SA. a conglomerate of the famous port wine companies Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca, Romariz and others. Later in the day, we will enjoy another highlight of our tour when at Quinta do Panascal, where we are greeted with another great dinner served at their terrace, overlooking the river, the vineyards and the beautiful Douro sunset. After dinner and a couple more glasses of port, we will head back to our Hotel, savouring another truly unique and unforgettable port wine experience. Sunday, May 30 - Douro Valley, Porto Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, after checking out we go to Quinta do Portal for our last wine tour in the region, at Quinta do Portal. Lunch will served at the Quinta, overlooking their beautiful vineyards. Departure back to Porto in the afternoon, back to Hotel Vila Gale Porto. Farewell dinner at the hotel. Sunday, May 31 Breakfast at the hotel. It is time to say good bye to all the new f riends you made in the Port Wine Club and make plans to join them again on the next Port Wine Club Tour. Transfer to Porto airport for your departure back home. Please check out the tour cost and reservation form by clicking here