Day 1 - José Maria da Fonseca Manor House, Azeitão. Sesimbra. Arrábida. Évora

The day starts at 9:30 am like all other days of our wine tour. 

The Setúbal Peninsula offers us a very special landscape: from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the dolphins on Sado river; from the mountain landscape to the cliffs on the beaches; the small bays with crystal clear waters, which Sesimbra and  Arrábida Hill offer us. 

Its past has strong roots in fishing and wine culture. Nowadays, visitors are delighted with the Azeitão pastry or the famous sweet fortified wine Moscatel of  Setúbal.

Once in Azeitão we'll visit José Maria da Fonseca Manor House. José Maria da Fonseca exists since 1834. 650 hectares of vineyards - distributed between the Setúbal Peninsula, Alentejo and Douro Valley - competing side by side, with international excellence.

But José Maria da Fonseca has a national taste. The true soul of portuguese lands. They know the grape varieties that stand out here, under the watchful eye of their team of winemakers.

Between the gardens and the cellars, we feel that there is a huge passion in the art of making wine. We find the result of experience accumulated over time. State-of-the-art technology that accompanies the present and good environmental practices. Above all, we found elegant and balanced flavors when tasting some of the best Portuguese wines: Piriquita, Terras Altas, João Pires, Lancers, Puro Talha, Montado, among others. As well as some generous wines: Moscatel de Setúbal; the Alambre.

An adventure of flavors on the Setúbal Peninsula. So close to Lisbon! 

The visit also has as an highlight the fishing village of Sesimbra and one of Portugal's first castles over the sea; as well as the Arrábida Natural Park - an authentic green wall over the Atlantic with small coves of white sand. 

We continue the journey to the wonderful Alentejo landscapes.

Overnight in Évora. 

Day 2 - Cartuxa winery, Évora. Santarém

Today we're starting our tour from Alentejo - considered by USA Today as the best wine region to visit. Évora is its capital and well known for its beauty, gastronomy and good wines. A UNESCO World Heritage city. 

In this city, we'll do an easy walking tour through the historic center: the houses with the typical color palette - white on the walls with blue and yellow stripes. Before reaching the 12th century Cathedral and the Roman Temple of Diana, the arcades that flank Praça do Giraldo offer the visitors several terraces. In the Cathedral, it is advisable to go up to the terraces and see the vast Alentejo plain as a whole. Its green or golden colors, depending on the time of year and the cork oaks. Yes, the famous cork trees which give the raw material to the portuguese stoppers used all over the world. There is also the Church of São Francisco and the Bone Chapel to visit if you want to. 

However, it will be Cartuxa Winery that will make you fully enjoy the lands of Alentejo - two kms from the historic center of Évora. 

The Cartuxa Convent which inspired its name, the Wine Tourism Cartuxa is located in the former refectory of the Jesuit retirement home. The Jesuits taught at the University of Évora during  sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. 

The Convent was acquired in the nineteenth century by Eugénio de Almeida family, since then the Cartuxa Cellar has undergone several renovations and expansions .

The Cartuxa Cellar - Quinta Valbom is now one of the stage centers of the wines produced by the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation wich has been creating excellent products over times.  Here we're going to have a wine tasting with several traditional and regional products.

Our visit continues further north, in Santarém.

The Portas do Sol viewpoint over the waters of the Tagus river has inspired portuguese writers in the past. 

Long before that, served also as an observation point and guard when Portugal was expanding its territory to the south.

In this capital of Gothic Art, the Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral, who reached Brazil by sea, rests. And the Relic of the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Miracle is shown to the public.

Overnight in Fátima, Batalha or Tomar.

Day 3 - Coimbra. Alto Douro Vinhateiro. Wineries and Douro Museum 

Our first stop will be Coimbra - the City of Knowledge, as it is known, since the Middle Ages.

Bathed by the Mondego river, it is famous for its Joanine University and Library; students in their black cloaks and serenades; the Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra - where the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, rests; the New Cathedral; the Old Cathedral and the historic center. 

We continue on to Alto Douro Wine Region - UNESCO World Heritage Site. Land of green landscapes in summer and golden in winter. The slopes of the Douro River will not leave anyone indifferent - a magnificent landscape, shaped by man in shale terraces. 

We will take the road that connects the city of Régua to the place of Pinhão, considered by AVIS, World Best Driving Road - the best road in the world to drive! 

On this day we will visit a winery and stop at the nineteenth century Railway Station of Pinhão - well known for its very captivating tiles alluding to the Douro lands - more than three thousand tiles.

If you want to take a scenic boat trip on the river, a train ride on the river banks or a visit to the Port Wine Museum that can be arranged too. 

The traditional Douro grape varieties produced in the most harsh conditions give to the world unique and top quality wines recognized overtime through all the prizes won. 

Overnight in Porto.

Day 4 - Porto. Porto Wine Cellars 

Last day of our four days tour. Missing it already?

In the city of Porto, we'll do a walking tour from the Aliados Square to Ribeira, in which the Cathedral cannot be missed; the Clérigos Tower; Santa Catarina Street  and its Café Majestic; the famous São Bento Station and the not less famous Bookshop Lello wich inspired Harry Potter's author. At Carmo Church we can't remain indifferent to the Lions Fountain. Next we'll cross the Luís I bridge, looking towards the bright waters of the Douro River and the tradicional Rabelo Boats.

Gaia awaits us with its magnificent Port Wine Cellars and the most appetizing Portuguese snacks called "Petiscos" at the Gastronomic Market. But it will be the riverside area of ​​the city or “the Ribeira” as they call it - in which the narrow and colorful houses descend from the top of the city, to the waters of the Douro - that will amaze you. This is the most characteristic neighborhood and the one that makes this city go around the world, in images.

Classified by UNESCO in 1996, the city of Porto and its harmonious historical set will present you with a river full of life, in its 850 kilometers of extension between Portugal and Spain and navigable, since the Roman Empire.