Wine Academy

Our goal with this academy is for our guests/visitors to get acquainted with the various types of wine, and explain why this drink is so greatly appreciated around the world. The Library Bar and the Wine Shop are the chosen settings for the wine tastings for their ambience and characters.

WINE COURSES

Course on viticulture, vinification and tasting technique, accessible to all who are interested in wine, but who have never been to wine tasting classes.

Wine Experience

€52 per Person (minimum of 6 people)
€69 per Person (minimum of 4 people)

The following aspects will be covered:

Climate and Soil
The different world wine regions
The different grape varieties
Methods of vinification: Sparkling Wines, White and Red Wines, Fortified Wines
Introduction to the Tasting Technique:
- Practical aspects about wine
- Wine Scents
- Wine Tastes

WE SUGGEST: A wine tasting lunch or dinner with a guided tour to one of the region's wine estates

Three hours course with wines specially selected for this purpose
The course can take place on any day of the week with 3 weeks notice
Certificates are awarded at the end and preferential conditions will be given at the hotel's Wine Academy
Prices with VAT included

Wine Service

€52 per Person (minimum of 6 people)
€69 per Person (minimum of 4 people)

Course on the following practical aspects about the wine service:

Temperature
Decanting
Matching wine and food
Choosing the right glass
Storing wines
Considerations to take when purchasing
Introduction to the tasting technique

WE SUGGEST: A wine tasting lunch or dinner with a guided tour to one of the region's wine estates

Three hours course with wines specially selected for this purpose
The course can take place on any day of the week with 3 weeks notice
Certificates are awarded at the end and preferential conditions will be given at the hotel's Wine Academy
Prices with VAT included

PORT EXPERIENCE

We introduce you to the various styles and types of wine, from the grape to the glass, explaining why wine is a worldwide nectar so appreciated. The Library Bar and the Wine Academy are the best and elected locals at the Hotel for a wine tasting. This experience offers an introduction to the various types of Port wine, to its history and to the differences between wine aged in casks and wine aged in bottles.

Port Introduction

€15 per Person (minimum of 6 people)

White Port
Rose Port
10 Year old Tawny Port
20 Year old Tawny Port
Late Bottled Vintage Port

Available at the Wine Academy every day, by appointment
All experiences are narrated
Prices with VAT included

Port Wine Blind Tasting - "The aroma game"

€30 per Person (maximum of 17 persons on trial)

The tasting is done in opaque black glasses and it offers a unique experience becoming a challenge to our sensibility, because some of the shown wines are easily identified and others may cause some doubts.

Old reserve White Port
Extra dry White Port
Ruby special reserve Port
Late Bottled Vintage Port
10 Year old Tawny Port
40 Year old Tawny Port

Available at the Wine Academy every day, by appointment
All experiences are narrated
Spiegelau blind tasting glasses
Short description of Douro Demarcated Region
Prices with VAT included

Specialist Port

€29 per Person

Late Bottled Vintage Port
10 Year old Tawny Port
20 Year old Tawny Port
40 Year old Tawny Port
Vintage – for groups over 6 people the bottle of vintage can be opened with Port tongs

Available at the Wine Academy every day, by appointment
All experiences are narrated
Prices with VAT included

GOURMET TASTINGS

The Gourmet Tastings offer an opportunity to try different combinations between recognized up market, refined products and some of our greatest Ports. Discover the ideal matching for the cask aged Ports (the Tawnies) or the bottle aged ports (the Vintages).

Port and Chocolate Gourmet Tasting

€26 per Person

All the wine will be tasted together with handmade chocolates, produced by our Pastry Chef. The chocolate flavours will be a precious help to find out the best characteristics of the wine. The main goal is to match both products to end up with a perfect combination of flavours.

White Port
10 Years old Tawny Port
40 Years old Tawny Port
Late Bottled Vintage Port

Available at the Wine Academy every day, by appointment
All experiences are narrated
Prices with VAT included

Port Wine and Food Tasting

€39 per Person

For this tasting we have combined different styles of Port Wine and assorted hors d’oeuvres to show how there are some ideal combinations of Port and food whilst others do not go as well together because of the different flavours.
(The described food will be served according the Chef's suggestion)

White Port, tasted whith tuna on toast
10 Years old Tawny Port, tasted with pineapple wrapped in smoked ham
40 Years old Tawny Port, tasted with prawn kebabs
Late Bottled Vintage Port, tasted with octopus
Vintage Port, tasted with a poultry pastry

Available at the Wine Academy every day, by appointment
All experiences are narrated
Prices with VAT included

Regional Products Tasting

€17 per Person

The gourmet tasting offer you the opportunity to try the combination between products of excellence. Douro Valley, is not only wine so we suggest you taste other special regional products.

Terrincho Cheese
Regional olive oil and bread
Port Wine
Toasts and jams
Traditional sausage

Available at the Wine Academy every day, by appointment
All experiences are narrated
Prices with VAT included

Wine and Cheese Tasting

€30 per Person

The gourmet tastings offer you the opportunity to try the combination between products of excellence. Douro Valley, is not only wine so we suggest you to try other special regional products. This tasting combines different types of portuguese cheese with wines of Douro region. The main goal is to discover the ideal matching for the different wine styles.

White Port Extra Dry with mixture cheese
White Wine DOC with cow cheese
Red Wine DOC with creamy sheep cheese
Reserve Red Port wine with goat cheese
Late Bottled Vintage Port with sheep goat cheese

Available at the Wine Academy every day, by appointment
All experiences are narrated
Prices with VAT included

Wine and Traditional Sausages

€30 per Person

The gourmet tastings offer you the opportunity to try the combination between products of excellence. Douro Valley, is not only wine so we suggest you to try other special regional products. This tasting will give you the option to discover the ideal combinations between different types of portuguese sausages and Douro wines.
(The sausages suggested could be changed and replaced)

Rose wine DOC with smoked Loin
White wine DOC with "salpicão" sausage
Red wine DOC with "Alheira" sausage
Reserve red wine with "Linguíça" sausage
Late bottled vintage Port with "Morcela" black pudding

Available at the Wine Academy every day, by appointment
All experiences are narrated
Prices with VAT included