6 Days Alentejo Luxury Tour

Details

Itinerary

• Day 1 Unwind in the flatlands of Alentejo a true gem, where the countryside feel meets the modern-day luxury.

  After the airport formalities at Lisbon International Airport (LIS), you will be collected outside customs and transferred, by an English speaking chauffeur in a deluxe vehicle Mercedes.

  You will be transferred towards Montemor-o-novo, enjoy a 1 hour and a half ride, you will find a paradise, the Alentejo Region.

  Check-in at L’AND Vineyards Wine Luxury Resort. This is one of the most prestigious accommodations in the Alentejo that combines excellent gastronomy, wine, and accommodation. L’AND Vineyards is a 5 Star “Wine Resort” that offers a unique rural experience in an exclusive and contemporary ambiance. It is located in the heart of the Alentejo and extends around a central valley of vineyards, olive groves and a lake communicating with the accommodation units that born from the landscape, sorted in small clusters, recovering the typology of the traditional properties the Montes Alentejanos.

  Discover the tranquility, luxury and sophistication of the CAUDALIE SPA Wine Therapy at L’AND Vineyards SPA. You will receive an exclusive Caudalie massage.

  In the late afternoon, you will enjoy dinner at the L’and Vineyard’s Restaurant where you can feel the affirmation of a new gastronomic culture from the Chef Miguel Tapadejo. The restaurant menu is inspired by the natural environment that surrounds the hotel, presenting dishes with influences from Alentejo in a contemporary interpretation, taking visitors on a gastronomic journey.

  End of day.

• Day 2 Plunge into the stunning landscapes of golden plains and infinite sky in Alentejo, the best-kept secret of Europe.

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  The Chauffeur is waiting for you in the lobby of the hotel.

  You will discover Monte da Ravasqueira where you can find a modern wine production inspired by Napa Valley. The Vineyard is located in the municipality of Arraiolos, where you will have the opportunity to visit one of the most traditional wine-producing estates in the Alentejo region. In a private guided tour you will be able to learn more about the raw material, going through the vineyards, and the finished product, that is in the bottling line in the estate, at the end, you will visit the Carriage Driving Museum, one of the best carriage private collections in the country and enjoy a Premium wine tasting.

  After the experience, you will enjoy a short drive tour to Arraiolos Village. Arraiolos is a pleasant Alentejo town, whose foundation dates back to the second century BC. The medieval castle was built at the orders of D. Dinis (1279-1325), although the town soon spread beyond its walls. An important part of the town’s artistic heritage is the sixteenth-century Salvador church, with some extremely beautiful paintings. The name of this town is well known internationally thanks to the famous Arraiolos carpets, which are produced here by the local craftsmen and women, having been referred to in documents as long ago as the sixteenth century.

  Then, you will enjoy an Alentejo Cuisine Workshop at Convento do Espinheiro’s Tasca do Chef. It is inside the wood stove of the Conventual Kitchen, a small but precious Manueline specimen covered by a robust barrel vault that the Chef found the ideal space to share decades of experience dedicated to Alentejo gastronomy. The participants, armed with fresh ingredients, including aromatic herbs grown in the monastery garden, embark on a journey of flavors where they will make old homemade recipes under the guidance of the Chef Jorge Peças. The reward is given in the form of knowledge, which one day will allow you to “perhaps” share with your friends what you have learned about the delicious “cuisine of Ganhões”.

  After lunch, discover the Adega da Cartuxa. Located in the former refectory of the Jesuit retirement home, they taught at the University of Évora in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. With his expulsion in 1759, by order of the Marquis of Pombal, the property became part of the state, starting a few years later, in 1776, working as an important mill of wine absorbed the wine production in the region. Acquired in the nineteenth century by Eugénio de Almeida family, the Cartuxa Cellar has undergone several renovations and expansions over time, preserving the richness of its architectural and historical memory. The logo identifies wines such as Vinea, EA, Foral de Évora, Cartuxa, Scala Coeli and the legendary Pêra-Manca, as well as the olive oils Álamos, EA and Cartuxa Gourmet. You will have a private Visit of the cellar and a 4 wines tasting, selected by the customer, of the full range of Eugénio de Almeida Foundation (except Pera Manca Tinto) accompanied by sausage, cheese, jam region, and others delicacies.

  Then, you will enjoy a drive/walking tour of the city of Évora – World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Évora’s well-preserved historic center is one of the richest monuments in Portugal, worth the epithet of City-Museum. The Roman Temple of Évora, one of the most important Roman monuments in Portugal. It is located at the highest point of the city and was part of the Roman forum. It is thought to have been created around the 1st century to honor Emperor Augustus but later came to be known as the Temple of Diana. The Cathedral built between the 13th and 14th centuries in Gothic style, it is one of the most important medieval cathedrals in the country, with a plan inspired by the Romanesque Lisbon Cathedral. In the 14th century a cloister was built and the statues of the apostles of the main portal, the masterpiece of Portuguese medieval sculpture, were carved. In the 18th century, the chancel was rebuilt in an exuberant Baroque style. The Church of San Francisco it was reconstructed from the reign of D. João II and finished in the time of D. Manuel. Its architecture and decoration mix the Gothic, Mudejar and Manueline styles. The Chapel of the Bones located in the Church of San Francisco was built in the eighteenth century and is entirely lined with human bones. It is known by the famous phrase written at the entrance “We bones that here are, for yours await”.

  Dinner will be served at Degust’AR Restaurant. Located on the ground floor of the Sepúlveda Palace building, the Degust’AR restaurant has the gastronomic signature of the Chef António Nobre. The menu has as its starting point in the Alentejo cuisine, and the Chef develops his creative inspiration by exploring the Mediterranean flavors.

  Return to the Hotel.

  End of day.

• Day 3 Discover some of the secrets of the picture-perfect wine states and beyond the ordinary flavors of its food and wine surrounded by nature in its purest state.

  Breakfast at the Hotel.

  The Chauffeur is waiting for you in the lobby of the hotel.

  You will have a Drive/Walking Tour in a white and noble city, the city of Estremoz that has two separate areas that testify to its different stages of development: the group of mediaeval houses near the castle and, outside the city walls, the modern town. It has a rich cultural heritage, in which clearly the major feature is the castle with its mediaeval walls and the former thirteenth-century citadel. Estremoz became particularly famous for the quarrying and trading of its high-quality white marble. In fact, the region makes a 90% contribution towards Portugal's being the world's second largest exporter of marble.

  Lunch will be served at Vila Santa Restaurant accompanied with one of the winemakers who will share with you the secrets of the wine production.

  After the experience, we will drive you to João Portugal Ramos. The Adega Vila Santa, in Alentejo, part of the group João Portugal Ramos, invites you to enjoy the serenity of Alentejo while you taste some of the most renowned Portuguese wines. Dated of 1997, this Alentejo style Adega has about nine thousand square meters (96.875 ft²) of covered area and is equipped with the most modern vinification technology, a bottling room and cellars for the ageing of wines. In the Adega Vila Santa, modernity embraces harmoniously the centennial Portuguese wine making tradition. Some of the of grapes intended for the most sophisticated red wines, where the production follows the ancestral rules, are trodden in marble mills and partially destemmed. You will enjoy a unique Wine experience where you create your own wine and become a winemaker for a day. Learn more about different grape varieties and make your own blend. Program served with regional cheese and Alentejo bread and an Olive Oil tasting included, with Oliveira Ramos Premium.

  Then, you will find Quinta Dona Maria. The history of this property dates back to the end of the 17th century. King João IV ordered the construction of Quinta Dona Maria for a lady of his royal court. There is nothing left of those times except, perhaps, the wine Quinta do Carmo and the Herdade das Carvalhas, where the wine came from and where they are still produced today. The cellar, of attractive and modern lines, underwent considerable renovations concerning technology and wine production techniques. High quality wines, such as the famous Quinta do Carmo white and Quinta do Carmo Reserva, among others, are produced here. These wines have a huge success not only in Portugal but abroad as well. You will have a private guided visit with a premium wine tasting and the privilege of enjoying dinner accompanied with the Winery Owner, Isabel d'Andrade Bastos, who will unveil some of the reasons behind the family success.

  Drop-off at the Hotel.

  End of day.

• Day 4 Surrender to the excitement of discovering this fascinating new destination in a day that leaves no stone unturned in Alentejo.

  Breakfast at the Hotel followed by Check-out.

  The Chauffeur is waiting for you in the lobby of the hotel.

  You will visit the world-renowned Herdade do Esporão. The Herdade presents itself as an Estate steeped in history, producer of outstanding quality wines. The Esporão vines are located in the heart of Reguengos de Monsaraz, where wines are more balanced and seductive, simultaneously thriving and pleasant, luxuriant and with good aging potential. If the vines are the lung of the Herdade do Esporão, the cellar is the heart that beats to the rhythm of the harvest and as the result of the work defined by the calendar and by the enology team. You will have a private guided visit with Premium wine tasting accompanied with a cheese and sausages board.

  Lunch is waiting for you at Esporão Restaurant. The Herdade adopted a young and enthusiastic team that privileges the traditional gastronomy and the typical dishes of this region although not neglecting some contemporaneity, managing a cuisine that meets and exceeds the highest standards of quality and functionality.

  There must be 20 pottery shops in São Pedro do Corval, the best town for pottery in all of the country. The pottery is exquisite, the painting is beautiful. If you want a real souvenir from Portugal, this is the place to get it. At Olaria Patalim, each item is made and fired there and then hand painted. You will have a 15 minute workshop where you can put your hands in the clay and make a piece or paint, you can also watch the whole process as you shop. You will find the basic pottery and one-of-a-kind pieces for collectors. (The translation will be done by the driver).

  Drop off at the hotel.

  Check-in at São Lourenço do Barrocal. 200 years after its inception, Barrocal is more current than ever. The initial philosophy keeps rooted, preserving authenticity, agriculture, landscape richness, comfort and sense of belonging to Alentejo. In a 780-hectare estate, there is plenty of countryside to explore and a variety of activities, from horseback riding to spa treatments, from family picnics to bike rides, from archaeological visits to walks around the property, with birding, or pottery workshops for the little ones. There are things that don't change, and thankfully. Sleep cradled by the restfulness of the landscape and open your window to a breathtaking view of Monsaraz. The morning light will invite you to go outside, stepping into the outdoor patio. Back inside, simplicity and handmade quality of every detail will whisper you memories of another pace and time.

  Dinner will be served at São Lourenço do Barrocal Restaurant. Get a taste of the region's respect for flavour and simplicity. The farm to table restaurant brings to your plate the freshest organic produce and local delicacies. The cuisine is deeply rooted in Alentejo's tradition. Knowledgeable of its main ingredients and secrets, it adds a touch of contemporaneity to some of the dishes, never leaving to the side the authenticity that makes it so special.

  End of day.

• Day 5 Enjoy a genuine tour to Évora, a delightful and historic town where Luxury discovery and experiential travel is taken to sky level.

  Breakfast at the Hotel.

  You will visit São Lourenço do Barrocal Cellar. In the same family for over 200 years São Lourenço Barrocal has its heart in a former Alentejo hill. Under the influence of Alqueva Lake, the climate of São Lourenço do Barrocal alternates between hot, dry days and cool, damp nights. The meticulous work of the winemaker Susana Esteban with the varieties Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet results in a Reserva Tinto and others red wines, rich and mature wines, and elegant white, matching, too, foreign varieties. Learn more about the grape varieties grown in the estate and the different methods of production while tasting the wines.

  The Chauffeur is waiting for you in the lobby of the hotel.

  Lunch will be served at Malhadinha’s Restaurant – Wine & Gourmet. A signature cuisine led by Michelin Star Chief Consultant Joachim Koerper with the collaboration of the executive Chef Bruno Antunes and Vitalina Santos. A proposal of seasonal menus inspired by the local gastronomy.

  Then, by Jeep, you will discover Malhadinha Vineyards and you will have a guided visit to the Herdade da Malhadinha Cellar. The Cellar is traditional and sophisticated and brings together a unique set of characteristics favorable for the production of distinctive wines of the highest quality. Wine tasting included.

  Dinner is waiting for you at Herdade do Grous Restaurant. Runned by Chef Rui Prado, this is a unique experience and the opportunity to follow up with wines from the famous winemaker Luis Duarte. This is one of the high gastronomic moments in this Tour.

  End of day.

• Day 6 Collect all the memories, take that last insta-perfect picture. We know how hard is to say goodbye to this distinctive place.

  Breakfast at the Hotel followed by Check-out procedures.

  You will be transferred to Lisbon International Airport (LIS).

  End of the Tour.