Southern Spain with extension to Portugal hosted by Harmony Cellars

Day 1
Wed, May 17, 2023
Arrive Seville

Arrive at Seville airport (or train station) English-speaking drivers for individual transfers by sedan or minivan.Hotel Casa Romana or Melia Colon with breakfast and taxes included. 2 nights.Evening: Panoramic tour of the city and boat ride with a welcome drink on the Guadalquivir River. Dinner on own.

Day 2
Thu, May 18, 2023
Seville

Morning: Visit Basilippo, our favorite olive grove in the area, with olive oil education and tasting.Basilippo is a family boutique olive oil mill situated on the outskirts of Carmona, 30 minutes from Seville. The mill, which is an old “hacienda” (a traditional farmhouse), is surrounded by 6.000 olive trees of the Arbequina variety, which makes medium and delicate fruity olive oils of very high quality. Their oil has won awards throughout the world.Led by an expert or a family member, you will learn about everything that goes into making a signature and “cool extra virgin” olive oil, from the olive tree to the final product. At the end of the visit, there will be a very educational and comparative tasting of different extra virgin olive oils. The tasting will end with a creative dish in one of the private rooms of the Hacienda.Visit includes tasting of 3-4 oils pairing with ham, cheese, salmorejo (a cold tomato soup specific to southern Spain), ice cream and white wine.Afternoon: Transfer to Triana Market for private class in how to make Paella. You will then eat your creation for lunch, which also includes Salmorejo/Gazpacho and Paella Valenciana (chicken & vegetables) and olives. Sangria, wine and beer are also included.
Following lunch, you’ll have free time to explore Saville. In the evening, there will be a flamenco show with a light tapas dinner.

Day 3
Fri, May 19, 2023
Seville – Cordoba – Granada

Depart Seville on a minibus with your tour manager.Morning: Explore Cordoba with a local guide for a walking tour, including visiting a Mosque that transitioned into a Cathedral.

Lunch at our favorite local restaurant with local wines.

Afternoon: continue to Granada

Check into Parador de Granada with breakfast, dinner and taxes included. 2 nights

Dinner at the Parador with wines

Day 4
Sat, May 20, 2023
Granada

Morning: Private tour of the Alhambra palaces complex, Generalife Gardens and the fascinating Albayzin district. Learn how to tell the difference between the original Muslim houses dating from the 11th Century to the more recent Christian homes. This is a very hilly, cobblestoned area so good walking shoes are highly recommended.Tasting lunch of Granadino specialties with wines and with view of the Alhambra.Afternoon: free to explore Granada.

Dinner at the Parador with wines.

Day 5
Sun, May 21, 2023
Granada – Malaga

Depart for Malaga by minibusMorning and Afternoon: You will head to Spain’s leading grower, packer and marketer of organic premium quality fresh citrus fruits. For more than 20 years the family has been growing organically and biodynamically. They have been a pioneer in producing the best quality and taste through their processes and sustainable technologies in this biodynamic farm.After visiting the farm and picking out the best produce, you will head up to their kitchen/dining building, where you will prepare lunch using the ingredients picked during the farm tour. As a special treat, the lunch will be paired with wines from Harmony Cellars, which Chuck and Kim are bringing for this very special experience.

End of day: Transfer to hotel in Malaga

Hotel Miramar or Molina Larios for 3 nights including breakfast and taxes.

Day 6
Mon, May 22, 2023
Malaga – Caminito Del Rey Excursion

Morning: Depart by minibus for Caminito del Rey hiking excursion. This easy hike (walk) of approximately 4 hours will take you through some of southern Spain’s most spectacular scenery, including waterfalls.During the hike, you will stop for a picnic lunch, which is included. The hike is easy/moderate and is 7.7 km (4.8 miles) in total. We recommend you bring good walking shoes, and if desired, walking sticks.Evening: Return to Malaga, where you will have evening on your own.

Day 7
Tue, May 23, 2023
Malaga

Morning: Walking tour of Malaga with a top local guide, including the Old Quarter and main market.Afternoon: Free to explore Malaga, one of the most charming small cities in Spain, known for its lovely streets of shops and restaurants as well as many museums. It is Pablo Picasso’s birthplace, and has a museum to honor him. Other favorite museums include the Thyssen and Glass Museum. And of course, there is the beach.Evening: Farewell dinner with wines at a local restaurant.

Day 8
Wed, May 24, 2023
Depart

Individual drivers for airport or train station. For those continuing on to Portugal, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Porto.

Wed, May 24, 2023

Day 1 – Arrival Porto

12:35 – 3:15 pm Flight tickets to Porto (via Madrid) includes 1 piece of checked luggage.

Arrive in Porto and transfer with English speaking driver to your hotel.

HOTEL POUSADA RUA DAS FLORES OR SIMILAR, 3 nights

After arrival at your hotel: meet your local guide in the hotel lobby and depart for your walking tour and orientation of Porto. Check out the beautiful Sâo Bento Rail Station whose walls are covered with 20,000 lovely blue and white tiles depicting the history of transportation and historic battles.

Later, visit the Livraria Lello which, along with Bertrand in Lisbon, is one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal and frequently rated among the top bookstores in the world. This splendid bookshop inspired the Harry Potter’s library in Hogwarts. In fact, J.K Rowling lived in Porto teaching English in the early 1990s!

Welcome dinner of Petiscos (tapas) and wine with your guide.

Thu, May 25, 2023

Day 2 – Guimarães & Aveleda winery

Morning: depart with guide and driver for the north,  the town of Guimarães. Visit one of Portugal’s most historical cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, often referred to as the “birthplace of the Portuguese nationality” or “the cradle city” (Cidade Berço in Portuguese).

Lunch with wines at one of our favorite restaurants, Rest Cozinha da Terra, where we will meet the chef, Antonio.

Afternoon: continue to Quinta da Aveleda Winery for our private visit and tasting. Quinta da Aveleda is most famous for its award winning Vinho Verde wine. This historic and eccentric estate boasts lovely gardens.  With more than 200 hectares of vines, Aveleda uses modern bottling techniques and automation that allows them to bottle 20 million bottles per year, which translates to nearly 170,000 cases if they were based in the US.

After the visit we will have a special tasting with snacks before returning to Porto.

Fri, May 26, 2023

Day 3 – Porto

Morning: tour of Porto highlights with our guide and driver.  First you’ll visit the neoclassical Palacio da Bolsa, which that looks like a former royal palace, but in fact  is the former stock exchange, built in 1834.

The most incredible room of the Palácio da Bolsa is the Arab Room,  which was built later, between 1862 and 1880. Decorated in the Moorish revivalist style, this room was inspired by the Palace of Alhambra in Granada. You’ll be able to see the similarities, having been to the Alhambra just a few days ago!

Continue the tour to the Gothic Church of Sâo Francisco, (no longer in use for services). Originally austere, in the 17th C. the Franciscans became very powerful and rich and created this triumph of Baroque decoration.

Transfer across the river to visit one of the Port wine cellars, for visit and tasting.  And then we proceed to the brand new project of World of Wine (aka WOW), which just opened last summer and is located in Porto´s wine district with beautiful views of the city too.  We will enjoy a nice lunch with wines overlooking Porto in WOW.

After lunch we will have a brief introduction and tour of the complex, with all of its experiences (including wine, chocolate and cork production). Each person will be given your own entrance ticket so that you can enjoy WOW on your own.  There’s a lot to discover with its six museum experiences, nine restaurants, shops, a temporary exhibition space and a wine school.

Return to your hotel.  Dinner on your own

Sat, May 27, 2023

Day 4 – Porto – Lamego – Douro

Depart Porto with English speaking driver in the  late morning and travel to the charming town of Lamego for a full day of exclusive experiences,  including a cooking class, lunch and food touring.

When you arrive at the estate, you’ll meet the Viscountess and learn about the history of the estate and her family’s fascinating story.  You will learn how to cook an authentic local menu under the Viscountess’ guidance.

Lunch will be served in one of the elegant dining rooms of the estate, or al fresco on the patio, depending upon the weather, and you will enjoy the dishes you have helped prepare with our lovely hostess.

After lunch, we will check out the food and culture tour of Lamego town. Visit the church on top of the hill and the monuments in the downtown area, such as the Cathedral and the theater. Taste an array of local regional dishes, such as pastries, bôla (a meat filled bread), cured ham and or even oven roasted kid goat with roasted potatoes for those who are still hungry!

At the end of the afternoon, you’ll return to the Douro and dinner on own at the hotel.

QUINTA NOVA LUXURY WINERY HOUSE, Sabrosa 2 nights

Sun, May 28, 2023

Day 5 – Douro day

Morning: You’ll visit the winery museum and then have free time to hike in the area, do one of the activities the museum offers or rest and unpack.  This winery, formerly called Quinta Nova de Nossa Sehhora do Carmo, dates back to 1764. The Quinta is located in the heart of Douro valley and owned by Amorim family since 1999.  You’ll learn the history and see how they combine tradition with modern techniques.

Light lunch with wine pairing at hotel overlooking the river, then time to relax after lunch

Evening:  You’ll depart the hotel for a sunset cruise experience in the heart of the Douro including wines and snacks.

The cruise ends at Doc Restaurant, our favorite in the area for the best gastronomic experience and service by the river. Here you’ll enjoy a tasting dinner paired with local wines.  After dinner, your driver will return you to the hotel.

Mon, May 29, 2023

Day 6 – Douro – Porto DEPART

Your driver will transfer you to the Porto airport for departure.