August and September are grape harvest season in Portugal. For centuries, this tradition has been celebrated across all the country’s wine regions and is attracting an increasing number of curious visitors.
As a result, the number of programmes designed to make the most of this season is growing, offering visitors the opportunity to take part and discover one of the longest-standing celebrations in the country.
1. Pacheca Group
Pacheca Group enters grape harvest season from the end of August through September. This tradition, deeply rooted in the culture, history and identity of our country, takes centre stage at Quinta de São José do Barrilário and Quinta da Pacheca.
With historic vineyards framed by the mountains of the Douro Valley, Quinta da Pacheca has its own working winery, which is at the heart of the programmes created for guests, such as “A Day in the Harvest”, including a traditional meal, one hour of grape harvesting, grape treading in the lagares and a guided tour, at 150€ per person (minimum of two people) with a traditional dinner, or 49€ without.
INFO: pacheca.com
2. Valverde Santar Hotel & Spa
Valverde Santar Hotel & Spa invites guests, subject to advance booking, to experience the grape harvest season in the Dão from 11 to 13 September with the “Vineyard Programme”. This includes a stroll through the gardens of Santar Vila Jardim, a wine tasting, a picnic among the vineyards and a gift: the Memories Kit.
Guests will also be able to join the team during the grape harvest, from picking the grapes through to the winery, and enjoy dinner at a single table, a meal prepared by chef Inês Beja, accompanied by a selection of wines. This programme costs 820€ for two people.
INFO: valverdesantar.com
3. Douro Palace Hotel & Spa
Douro Palace Hotel & Spa, set on the slopes of the Douro Valley, has prepared several proposals for this season, such as the “Harvesting Through the Douro” programme, in which guests are taken by shuttle to a winery where they can experience the grape harvest, enjoy a traditional lunch, visit the winery, take part in a wine tasting and go on a boat trip on the Pisão, for 220€.
The “4 Moments in the Douro” programme combines a train journey along the Douro railway line, a regional lunch, a visit and wine tasting at Quinta do Bomfim and a boat trip, for 120€.
INFO: douropalace.com
4. Quinta da Alorna
Quinta da Alorna, in Almeirim, offers the “Harvest Experience” on weekdays in September, from 9am to 3pm, showcasing the region’s winemaking tradition and the different stages of the wine production process. A vineyard visit, participation in grape cutting, a snack, grape treading and lunch are among the activities included, at 100€ per person.
INFO: alorna.pt
5. Quinta do Sampayo
Quinta do Sampayo, in Vale da Pinta, Cartaxo, has prepared three grape harvest programmes. “Harvest & Tasting” includes a harvest kit and a trip to the vineyards, a visit to the winery and cellar and a wine tasting and tasting of regional products, from 9am to 11am, for 25€.
“Harvesting with a Winemaker” includes a traditional breakfast (mata-bicho), a tractor ride through the vineyards, foot treading at the winery, a regional lunch accompanied by a performance by a folk group, and a visit to the winery and cellar, for 80€. “Wine Until the End”, meanwhile, adds the experience of making your own wine under the guidance of a winemaker, for 150€.
INFO: quintadosampayo.pt
6. Casa Paciência
Casa Paciência, in Alpiarça, also offers three options, in this case every day, from 10am to 6pm, until 28 September: “Flash Harvest” includes a welcome drink, a harvest kit, a walk through the vineyards and participation in grape cutting, a traditional snack enjoyed on site and a tasting of freshly pressed grape must (25€).
“Barefoot Harvest”, in turn, includes a welcome drink, a guided tour of the winery, foot treading of red grapes, a tasting of grape must and a tasting of three wines, accompanied by drunkard’s jam and a selection of regional products (35€), while “Top Harvest” combines both.
INFO: casapaciencia.com
By Mariana Coelho