Portugal & Galicia Brochure 2017
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Potugal & Galicia Fine Wines & Gastronomy of Celtic Iberia June 11 -18, 2017 What to expect Highlights June is a wonderful time to enjoy dynamic contrasts of the culture, food and wine of the • Optional walking tour and tapas dinner in Celtic region of the Iberian Peninsula. Santiago de Compostela • Visits to top class wineries in Ribera Sacra, Misty valleys echo to soulful Celtic pipes and Bierzo, Valdeorras, Ribeiro and Vinho Verde coasts as dramatic as the west of Ireland have sent • Family lunch at iconic Douro winery hosts of emigrant Gallegos to the Americas. Fish, • Port and chocolate paring in one of the Douro’s beef and wine predominate. Seafood in the rias top estates (fjords) is Europe’s best and the stunning wine • Staying at historic Paradors and country houses terraces of Ribeira Sacra show winemaking at its • Family lunch with local hams and cheeses in most dramatic. Inland valleys and stone villages in Vinho Verde Bierzo tell of a history linked with the Camino of • Michelin star dinner in Porto Santiago. The stunning Valdeorras is truly a valley • Visit to one of Portugal’s finest port lodges in of gold and historic Ribeiro is one of Iberia’s oldest wine regions. Vila Nova de Gaia Northern Portugal is a throwback to days gone by, a world away from Algarve glitz and glamour in the south. Porto is a gem of a city, the clusters of atmospheric streets either side of the Douro retaining their long lived maritime soul whilst opening the door to the 21st century through fabulous restaurants and luxury hotels. Above all though, the joy is in the small villages where grapes which are unrecognisable to outsiders produce wines of huge character, quality and individuality. If you’re looking for chardonnay and merlot go elsewhere, if you want to discover the glories of Mencia, Godello, Vinhao, Merencao, Treixadura and the port grapes join the tour. Potugal & Galicia Fine Wines & Gastronomy of Celtic Iberia Trip Itinerary Day 4. We cross the border into Portugal for a morning wine visit at Marcial Dorado,Vinho Verde. Start in Santiago de Compostela. Optional walking There is a tasting with Luis Cerdeira at Quinta do tour and dinner on Saturday 10th June Soalheiro before with lunch at his sister’s nearby Day 1. Leave Santiago for visit and lunch in Ribeira farm where we enjoy locally produced hams and Sacra at Adega Algueira. Fernando Gonzalez makes a cheeses with some of the region’s best alvarinhos. range of excellent reds and whites (from local Evening dinner is at the Parador in Tu i varieties) that are highly rated by Parker. We enjoy Day 5. Morning wine visit Quinta Casal do Paço in lunch that features prime Galician beef and red Vinho Verde where we enjoy Vasco Croft’s top wine, as well as surprisingly good whites. Then we quality wines in his superbly isolated winery before enjoy a river cruise down the Sil in the late the drive to the Douro. Our first stop is at Fonseca’s afternoon that gives the best vantage point for the Quinta do Panascal near Pinhao. After a brief tour almost vertical vineyards that cascade down to the and tasting, we enjoy portonica cocktails on the river. Evening is free in Monforte de Lemos. terrace before a traditional Douro lunch with Quinta Day 2. Morning wine visit Bodegas Estefania-Tilenus do Crasto wines. Afternoon visit to one of the great producers of fine Mencia wine before visit and lunch modern quintas at Vale Dona Maria. Here Cristiano at the bodega of the Descendientes de J Palacios. Von Zeller is showing the heights that Douro wines as The new winery designed by Moneo is not yet open well as ports can achieve. Check in to the Vintage so we are delighted and honoured to be one of the House and free evening. first visitors at one of Spain’s top wine producers. Day 6. Morning visit to Quinta do Noval, a historic Dinner at the hotel in Monforte. port shipper since 1715, it remains a great Day 3. We drive towards the coast to the historic traditional port name and an innovative developer of white wine region of Ribeiro.This was Spain’s most very fine red wines. From here it’s downstream to famous white wine region in centuries past (and Quinta do Crasto. One of the cutting edge group of even during Franco’s time). Traditionally, the wines new winemakers in the Douro (the Douro boys), do here are blended from local varieties and go well Crasto is set in stunning surroundings (above). We with seafood. We have a tasting at the beautfully visit the quinta and taste a selection of their located Gomariz before lunch at Vina Mein. Mein is excellent wines and have lunch overlooking the river. at the forefront of creating more modern upscale Free afternoon before dinner is at the DOC wines here. Free evening in the Parador at Tui restaurant in Folgosa, overlooking the Douro. Chef Rui Paula is one of Portugal’s best. Day 7. After check out we make the short journey to the iconic Quinta do Seixo, home to the Sandeman brand. Brief visit and tasting with some port paired with chocolates before setting off back to Porto.The afternoon is free before evening visit to Taylors, one of the great names of Port wines. We try a selection of the finest tawnies and vintage ports. We walk just across the road for a Michelin dinner the Yeatman, with stunning views over the city of Porto. Day 8. End of tour. Potugal & Galicia Fine Wines & Gastronomy of Celtic Iberia $3750 per person double occupancy $500 single supplement $500 deposit per person Optional day in Santiago $375pp sharing ($100 single supplement) Limited to 20 guests Included • 1 night Parador Monforte de Lemos Not included • 1 night Parador Villafranca del Beirzo Airfare; meals not mentioned above; travel insurance; gratuities for guides • 2 nights Pazo do Castro, Valdeorras • 2 nights Parador Tui • 1 night Eurostars Hotel, Porto Cotact us to sign up fo this tip • Private transport by luxury coach • Tour manager Iberian Wine Tours • Breakfast daily; 6 lunches/ 4 dinners +44 7873263809 • Visits and activities as specified [email protected] www.iberianwinetours.com .