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Portugal

Mostly Cloudy, 20C, Porto

Portuguese wine is part of the ancient traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans.

Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after a treaty in 1703.

Portugal has the oldest appellation system in the world, the Douro Valley. This region and Vinho Verde region, in the Northwest produces some of the world's finest, unique and highest value-added wines. Alentejo and Dão regions produces fruitful flavour wines, suitable for a casual wine drinker.

Portugal has two wine producing regions protected by UNESCO as World Heritage: the Douro Valley Wine Region (Douro Vinhateiro) and Pico Island Wine Region (Ilha do Pico Vinhateira).

Portugal has a large variety of native breeds (about 500), producing a very wide variety of different wines with distinctive personality. The Oxford Companion to Wine describes the country as having "a treasure trove of indigenous grape varieties." With the quality and uniqueness of its wines, the country is a sizable and growing player in wine production, being in the top 10, with 4% of the world market (2003). The country is considered a traditional wine grower with 8% of its continental land dedicated to vineyards. Only the highest mountain peaks are unable to support viticulture. Portugal produces some of the world's best wines, as reflected in its success in international competitions.


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Port Harvest

26 - 28 September 2008

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Witness, and even take part in the Port harvest on this great value tour offering the unique opportunity to experience treading the grapes! We meet up in Oporto then visit the lodge of Grahams Port for a tasting of these fam...
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Douro Vineyard Walk

11 - 17 May 2008, 6 - 13 September 2009

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This is probably our most spectacular walk. The walking is way off the beaten track and you’ll experience genuine rural Portugal seeing truly spectacular countryside. We are based in the peacefully located Quinta do Passad...
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Portugal Anniversary tour

25 May - 1 June 2008

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It is 20 years since A&C's ground breaking tour of Portugal, our first major tour, which revealed for the first time to the UK wine drinker the quality wine revolution that was going on there. (Only a few specialist merchants w...
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Duero & Douro

28 May - 3 June 2007

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This is a fascinating opportunity to follow the course of the River Duero from Spain until it becomes the Douro in Portugal and down to the river mouth at Oporto. This tour stays at luxurious accommodation, including at wine es...
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New Year in Cascais & Evora

30 December 2006 - 2 January 2007

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There will be two wine visits on this tour, and we are sure to taste many of the regions top wines at emals and tastings. For 2006/2007 we have chosen an unusual destination,with the combination of the UNESCO City of Evora in ...