wineTouring ine is a marvelous subject to talk about and those who know and speak of it will take delight in any knowledge which adds to the pleasure of wine tasting.
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Landscape, Douro
Wine does more than create a warm bond between people.lt also creates bridges between the senses and the imagination and take us to another level of living which we call lifestyle. Pleasure, emotion, sensuality and curiosity well characterize the new ways of thinking about wine. Simply to drink the wine is no longer sufficient. It is therefore not surprising increasingly to meet those who love and are passionate about wine. When this love of wine is also accompanied by a passion for food, then inevitably there is a wish for harmony and to tie in the wine maker's creation with that of a master cook; the creation of the wine must blend with the exquisite flavors in food. If it were not possible to match food to a particular wine there would be no extreme pleasure in the world that could better describe the calling and blending of all human senses. History claims that the Romans started the production of wine over one thousand years ago, when they inhabited the Iberian Peninsula. In Portugal the first exportation of wine is attributed to King D. Fernando in 1367 to England, which today is still a major market. Portugal produces annually about 7 million hectoliters of wine. It ranks 8th in worldwide production. In 1756 Portugal became the first country in the world to create a "Regiao Demarcada" a demarcated region in which wine can be produced. The Portuguese Ambassador Wines are Madeira wine {produced in the Atlantic island of the same name) and the internationally acclaimed Port Wine from the Douro Region of northern Portugal. Today wine enthusiasts can visit the great wealth of vineyards and wineries located throughout the wine routes of Portugal. Vinho Verde Wine Tour - The Vinho Verde is a unique product with a blend of aroma and crispiness that makes for a very pleasant drink. Medium in alcohol, Vinho Verde is a highly regarded wine, especially during the summer.The reds
are full-bodied wines with an intense color and rosy or light red foam. The whites usually present a lemony or deeper yellow color. The Vinho Verde area is located in northern Portugal, outside the town of Porto in the Minho Region.There are 49 wineries that can be visited and the visitor can plan the day trip to include visits to historic towns and nature areas. Some of the wineries also offer accommodations on a B&B basis and some can also prepare lunch for you.The website www.vinhoverde.pt provides all the required information about the area, and allows tourists to plan in advance their itinerary,The site also tells the visitor what can be included in the trip in terms of historical places and nature areas. Port Wine Tour- For almost two millennia, a unique viticulture landscape rose out of the rocky hillsides along the Douro River valley and has produced an exceptional wine. More than a gift of nature. Port Wine is at heart the expression of its history, a collective cultural heritage of work and experience, know-how and art.
www.visitportugal.com • Travel Agent • December 24,2007
built up from generation to generation. Port Wine was, and is, a key product for the national economy and even more, a symbolic asset that represents Portugal throughout the world. Wine lovers should include in their travel plans a visit to this beautiful region, filled with steep terraces of vineyards on the valley of the Douro River. The Port WineTour can be enjoyed in two different ways.Visiting the Port Wine Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of the town of Porto and on the left bank of the Douro River, or by driving up the mountains to the Douro Valley to visit the local farms.There are 46 properties and wineries to be visited in this region, and it is strongly advised to stay overnight at any of the B&B's or hotels in the town of Regua, Vila Real and Pinhao. It is advised to call in advance to inform them of your arrival. At Vila Nova de Gaia just outside Porto there are 16 Port Wine Cellars to be visited.They usually open from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Visitors can stay at any hotel in Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia. Website: www.ivdp.pt.
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wineTouring located in the northern corner of the region and is comprised of 6 wineries. The historic wine route, the most popular, is located between the towns of Evora and Estremoz, where there are 22 wineries.The most impressive of them all is the winery of Esporao near the town of Reguengos de Monsaraz. South of Evora the Guadiana river wine route is also very beautiful and less explored. Alentejo wines are very popular in Portugal and are becoming increasingly noteworthy around the world. To plan a trip and choose the wineries to be visited tourists should visit www.vinhosdoalentejo.pt. Dio Region Wine Tour - Wineries of this region are located around and south of the town of Viseu in central Portugal.There are 31 wineries to be visited and it is advised to call in advance. The region is very beautiful and wines are excellent. Visitors can either stay in Viseu or on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela Mountains in the town of Seia. Thewebsitewww.cvrdao.pt will provide the information needed to plan a visit to this part of Portugal. The Oeste Wine Tour - This area is located north of Lisboa not far away from the sea and includes an area that goes from the town of Alenquer and Torres Vedras all the way to Obidos. Wines are very pleasant and since it is not far from Lisboa it is a good day trip. The area has 21 wineries that can be visited, and in general it is not necessary to call in advance but is wise to do so. Due to the size of the region, wineries are divided into three groups.
trait comprised of 12 wineries, the Torres Vedras trail comprised of four wineries and the Obidos trait is made of four wineries. Visitors can stay in Lisboa or in the town of Obidos.There are several B&B's in the countryside.The website www.rotavinhooeste.com will provide the visitor with all the information required for planning an interesting trip to this region. The Alentejo Wine Tour - The Alentejo region has a long tradition in the cultivation of vineyards going back to the Romans. Ruins and other cultural remains bear witness to this.There are a number of references to the export of Alentejo wine since the 17th century. The Alentejo region is located southeast of Lisboa. Since it is the largest region of Portugal it is advisable that tourists wishing to explore the local wineries stay in hotels and B&B's in the region. The region is divided into three wine routes.The S. Mamede wine route is
The Ribatejo Wine Tour The Ribatejo region offers wine enthusiasts an itinerary with cultural and cuisine activities, with the main attraction being the wine. Visitors have the opportunity to discover heady wines, picturesque wine cellars, old manor houses, farms and beautiful vineyards.The main town of the Ribatejo region is Santarem, an old beautiful town with a castle and scenic park on top of a hill.The region has four distinct wine tours: The Gothic Wine Tour includes six wineries all located around the town of Santarem. The Bull and Horse Wine Tour
includes wine estates also famous for raising cattle. This tour is made of three estates. The Tagus River Wine Tour is
comprised of 11 wineries located along the banks of the river. The Manuetlne Style Wine Tour includes four wineries located in the northern part of the region close to the towns ofTomarand Abrantes. It is advisable to call in
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December 24,2007 • Travel Agent • www.visitportugal.com
advance of visiting. The Ribatejo region is a one-and-an-half-hour drive from Lisboa and therefore perfect for a day trip. The region offers some very good B&B's as well as some reasonably priced hotels.To plan a wine trip to the region, visitors should obtain information through www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt. The Bairrada Wine Tour - This area is 15 miles north of the town of Coimbra and next to the Bussaco Forest and Luso and Curia Hot Springs,The region has 23 wineries divided into three different tours. The Mountain Fourfeatures inland wineries on the slopes of the mountains. The Clay Tour includes estates whose vines are planted in clay soils, and The Sand 7bur features wineries closer to the sea and whose vines are planted in sandy soils. Coimbra, as well as the town of Luso and Curia offer plenty of accommodations, with the Bussaco Palace Hotel being the best of them all. This property produces its ov^n wine which is sold only at the hotel. The Cister Wine Tour - This area is
located north of the town of Viseu and has seven wineries that can be visited. Calling in advance is strongly recommended. Wineries are divided into two wine tours.The Monastery wine tour which includes wineries located close to old monasteries (many cannot be visit-
ed), and the Wine and Chestnut Tour, which includes mainly wineries located in the scenic countryside. Lamego and Viseu as well as the S. Pedro do Sul Hot Springs are some of the closest towns offering more than one hotel accommodation. The Beira Interior Wine Tour - Is comprised of only 5 wineries located on the east side of the Serra da Estrela mountain range, in one of Portugal's most beautiful regions. The Bucelas, Carcavelos and Colares Wine Tour - this area located 30 minutes north of Lisboa is a great opportunity for those seeking to combine wine tasting with other sightseeing activities, in a day trip out of Lisboa. At the moment only four wineries can be visited and all of them are located around the town of Bucelas. Visitors are advised to call in advance and ask for directions. Costa Azul Wine Tour - Located south of Lisboa in the Setubal Peninsula this region offers very good wine tours for visitors staying in Lisboa or in the area. The wine route of Costa Azul is all wine and seaside towns.The route includes the towns of Azeitao, Palmela, Ouinta do Anjo and Pegoes.These lands are fertile and include Moscatel and Periquita varieties. The most famous wine in the
www.visitportugal.com • Travel Agent • December 24,2007
region is the Moscatel de Setubal, a fortified golden-colored wine, with a light aroma and delicate flavor, produced between SetiJbal and Palmela. Nine wineries can be visited, with the most famous being Jose Maria da Fonseca,JM Internacional and J.RVinhos all located in the town of Azeitao, a 25-minute drive south of Lisboa. More information on the area can be obtained through www. azeitao.net/vinhos/rota dos vinhos.
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