Southern Portugal Wine Tour

£1,350.00

Sorry, this tour is now fully booked! But you can still add your name to the waitlist to be the first to know if any spaces become available.

Lisbon, Setúbal and Alentejo are perhaps not the most famous of wine regions, but Southern Portugal has much to offer the curious wine lover. Close to Lisbon, which has its own vineyards, is Setúbal, best known for its legendary fortified wines produced from Moscatel. In Alentejo there are rolling hills covered in vineyards, olive groves, cork forests, whitewashed villages, and Moorish castles. And the historic town of Evora where we will be based which is a Unesco World Heritage site. Alentejo is home to a range of indigenous grapes including Trincadeira, Alfrocheiro Preto, Arinto, Antão Vaz and Fernão Pires, and there are international varieties too. This is our first venture into these fascinating regions and a tour not to be missed.

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Itinerary
TRAVEL
ACCOMMODATION
PRICING INFORMATION
Itinerary

Southern Portugal wine tour

Day 1: Wednesday 6th September
Arrival, Welcome Lunch and Setúbal
Meet at Lisbon airport at 10.40 (to coincide with the British Airways flight from London – see Travel tab). Transfer by coach to the town of Setúbal for an early welcome group lunch at a restaurant overlooking the ocean – with a few wines! Early afternoon visit a historic producer for a tour of their castle and wine museum followed by a tasting. Continue to the town of Evora and check in at the 5-star Hotel M’AR de AR Aqueduto, our base for the next 4 nights  This evening is free to explore the town and its fine restaurants.

Day 2: Thursday 7th September
Southern Alentejo
Today head south of Evora for visits at two prestigious wineries. At the first a tour of their olive mill to sample their oil (Alentejo is a notable olive oil producer) and a wine tasting, and then… lunch in their restaurant which has 1 Michelin star! This afternoon visit a 2nd producer near the town of Vidigueira. Late afternoon head back to Evora. Free evening.

Day 3: Friday 8th September
Northern Alentejo
Today head north of Evora to a traditional winery for a tour and tasting. Continue to the historic town of Estremoz for lunch at a gastronomic restaurant who also have a wine bar and delicatessen. After lunch visit the famous tile museum which belongs to a winery. So there will be a tasting too. Some free time to wander in this fascinating town. Late afternoon return to Evora. Free evening

Day 4: Saturday 9th September
Evora Sites, A Novel Winery with Dinner
Today there will be plenty of time to explore Evora. This morning a walking tour with a private guide to see the main highlights and learn about the history of this remarkable walled city. Free lunchtime and afternoon for further exploration. Late afternoon board our tour bus and drive a few kilometres west to a winery with a difference! Visit their vine nursery and grafting facility, see their art gallery and chapel, and enjoy dinner in their restaurant with a selection of wines. Late evening return to Evora.

Day 5: Sunday 10th September
More Setúbal and Farewell
After breakfast, check-out and drive back towards Setúbal. This morning visit a family producer and taste a range of wines including luscious Moscatel dessert wines. For our final winery continue to a historic estate for lunch in their restaurant and a wine tasting. Mid-afternoon drive to Lisbon airport to arrive by 4.45 in time for the British Airways flight to London Heathrow.

END OF TOUR

Please note that some winery visits are subject to confirmation and we may need to change the order of the itinerary.

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

Flights are not included in the cost of the tour so you will need to book your own travel to/from Lisbon airport. The recommended group flights are with British Airways:

  • Wednesday 6th September BA 500 departs London Heathrow 07.30 arrives Lisbon 10.15
  • Sunday 10th September BA 503 departs Lisbon 18.45 arrives London Heathrow 21.25

Transfers by coach from/to Lisbon airport are included and will tie in with the above flights. If you make alternative travel arrangements you will need to be at Lisbon airport in time to meet the BA flight on 6th September. The tour will end at Lisbon airport around 4.45 pm on 10th September.

Travel throughout the tour in an air-conditioned minibus

ACCOMMODATION

ACCOMMODATION

For all 4 nights of the tour we will be based at the 5-star M’AR de AR Aqueduto, Evora . Located in the historic centre just inside the city walls, it was originally the 16th century Sepulvedas Palace, whose magnificent chapel and vaulted ceilings have been beautifully preserved. The renovated boutique hotel has a contemporary design, gastronomic restaurant, bar, gardens with outdoor pool, and a spa with indoor pool.

The ensuite rooms are 237ft2 have modern furniture, elegant upholstery, full LCD HD TV, work area with desk, safe, minibar, Nespresso coffee machine and free wifi access.

ROOM UPGRADE: to Palace Suite or Suite 327ft2 (two of each available and only for two people sharing a double or twin room)

IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE – at the time of publishing, Hotel Mar Aqueduto have not been able to provide as many rooms as we would like, so we have booked 3 Prestige rooms (248ft2) at Hotel Albergaria do Calvario which is 2 minutes’ walk away.  We are waitlisted for more rooms at Mar Aqueduto but if these do not become available some of the group will be in Albergaria do Calvario.

PRICING INFORMATION

PRICING INFORMATION

Price Includes:

  • £1350 per person sharing a double or twin room.
  • Ground transport throughout in an air-conditioned coach
  • Four nights’ accommodation with breakfast sharing a double or twin room with ensuite facilities.
  • 4 lunches (including one at a 1-Star Michelin restaurant) and 1 dinner with wine
  • Tours and tastings at 7 wineries
  • Walking Tour of Evora with a private guide
  • Tour of the Museo Berardo (Tile Museum) in Estremoz
  • Tour of the Palace of Bacalhoa in Setúbal
  • Services of Tour/Wine Guide from Criterion Wine Tours.

Supplements:

  • Single occupancy of a double/twin room (limited number of single rooms available): £225
  • Room Upgrade to a Palace Suite or Suite £150 per person (2 rooms of each category available and only for those sharing a twin/double room)

A non-refundable deposit of £350 per person is payable when booking. The remaining balance is due eight weeks before the start of the tour. Your money will be held in a secure Client Deposit Account and is fully protected.

06-10 September 2023