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For The Love of Port

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PORTUGAL WINE TRAVEL

  

  

 

  

 

2010 PORT HARVEST TOUR

 

 

OCTOBER 3rd – 10th, 2010 - SOLD OUT

 

       Get on board for 2011, we've begun 

       taking reservations for next year! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mario Ferreira and Roy Hersh are planning an extraordinary Port Harvest Tour, celebrating their sixth consecutive year of guiding these bespoke excursions to Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia and Douro Valley.

Unlike mega-tour operators that lack flexibility, their itinerary for the upcoming Port Harvest Tour won’t be finalized until after they’ve had a chance to personally communicate with each interested party. First they determine the potential clients’ level of interest in Port wine. Once the dynamics of the group are clear, Mario and Roy personalize the tour, focusing on the specifics that their guests desire. This bespoke trip planning perspective along with an extensive network of Port industry contacts make for consistently excellent guest experiences. 

They stay focused and don’t offer wine tours all over the globe and their vast expertise in Port and Madeira is unrivaled in the tour business. The high quality of wines their guests will encounter and the trade personalities that guests get to meet along the way simply cannot be matched by any other tour company, period. Ferreira and Hersh are at your service at all times and with no more than ten guests, you are assured of the utmost attention to your every need from the moment you arrive in Oporto to your departure. 

Most importantly, they design these excursions as if they were planning their own great wine and fine dining vacation. This is what Mario and Roy call their “specialized fortification process” and their guests really seem to love it. Mario and Roy look forward to providing each guest with the most extraordinary and unique wine trip they’ll ever take! 

Tour hosts Roy Hersh and Mario Ferreira are renowned for their expertise in Port, Douro wine and Madeira. Mario spent much of his career at the Port Wine Institute as the “Ambassador to the USA” organizing elaborate, educational seminars and tastings throughout the USA for the wine and hospitality trade, as well as for consumers. Roy has been involved with Port for over 25 years and was inducted into the Port Wine Institute’s “Confraria (Brotherhood) and took an oath which led him to develop For The Love Of Port in 2004. In 2005 these two friends joined forces and started taking small groups to visit Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia and the Upper Douro River Valley during harvest time and a year later added a 2nd itinerary including the island of Madeira, which they visit every May during their well-known “Fortification Tour.” 

Together they will ensure that the 2009 Port Harvest Tour offers a fun filled and all-inclusive trip which provides unique, unsurpassed personalized experiences and first class accommodations. We’ll take part in “behind-the-scenes” tastings at some of the Douro's rising stars and legendary Port producers in the lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia and at their Quintas and homes in the Douro region. 

Surrounded by the overwhelming natural beauty and serenity of the Douro River Valley, you will savor the authentic regional cuisine which naturally is an integral part of our impassioned explorations. The diverse dining venues and menus are painstakingly selected by Roy, who began his career as a chef and worked in all facets of the restaurant industry; before later dedicating his life to family and For The Love Of Port.

You’ll experience the vast terrain of the Douro, walk through vineyards with key viticulturists, enjoy young and ancient cask samples, take part in horizontal and vertical tastings of Port and be immersed in everything from cask samples of the upcoming Vintage Ports to extraordinarily rare White Colheitas and everything in-between. After one week with Mario and Roy, you’re assured of having gained a significantly improved understanding of all the specialized categories of Port from in-depth personal tasting experiences. 

Guests on our tours truly enjoy the distinct opportunity to meet some of the most influential members of the Port trade, early and often during the course of the trip. Weather permitting we have a ton of fun foot treading just-picked-grapes and this is an experience you’ll never forget. It is yet another reason why we’ve enjoyed getting to know so many of our guests who’ve come back for a second, third and even fourth vinous vacation with us. Come join us this October and follow the grapes from the vine to the bottle, while creating memories that will last a lifetime!

 

 

 

Come experience Portugal like you’ve never seen it before!

 

 

 


The Douro Valley - Port Wine Country, Portugal

 

 

 

  

What our clients have said about their excursions with us:

 

 

“Every day was an incredible learning experience and the things I learned about Port & Madeira will never be forgotten. I have already decided to start planning to go on the trip next year.”

“I think you mention somewhere in your description that you provide an experience that could not be duplicated elsewhere and I left thinking exactly that. There was just no other way to try the wines we did in the settings we drank them, with the insights of the winemakers and/or owners right before us.”

“This was my second trip with Roy and Mario. It was every bit as great as the first and I plan to go again. This is a must do trip for anyone that likes Port and Douro wines. A truly wonderful and educational experience. Bravo!”

"Unbelievable! Much better than I ever expected. I felt like Robert Parker or James Suckling (well, BETTER than them) at every stop!"

“Roy and Mario provided us with the opportunity to meet people, see places and taste wines that independent travelers and other wine tour companies simply do not have access to. If you are passionate about Port and Madeira, put your trust in these guys to give you an experience you will never forget.”

“I learned more in one week than the last several years combined. Truly an educational experience that even a knowledgeable port drinker would love, yet perfect for a novice at the same time.”

“Expectations were exceeded across the board and the little surprises made the trip very special.”

"At each of the port houses we visited, the producers and shippers treated us as honored guests. It was a port-lover’s dream"

"How do you rate a priceless experience? … “It's like Chateau d’Yquem. You'll pay a lot, but given the quality, it's still a bargain.”

“Your generosity and the quality of care from both of you were excellent. It was obvious that you were entirely at our service, and that you had done everything in your power to provide us with peak experiences. I can’t imagine kinder and more professional tour guides.”

“I think I was one of the most inexperienced people on the trip, and everyone made me feel very comfortable and I learned a great deal. I think a lot of people might shy away from these tours if they think they are not ‘into’ port enough. I definitely found myself questioning whether I was ‘ready’ for such an immersion (literally) but in the end I am very glad I did."

 

 


 

What's Included?

This is an all-inclusive* tour from the airport upon arrival to the airport upon departure. Your trip includes:

  • Small groups – our exclusive trips range from six to ten guests, with 2 experienced guides

  • Airport Transfers – arranged for all singles/couples on an individualized basis

  • Baggage handling – exceptional service from arrival to departure

  • Meals – 3 meals per day which include Douro wines & Port of our choice, flowing freely throughout lunch and dinner

  • Options: these are offered for guests that would like to discover other cultural experiences such as golf, museums, shopping etc.

  • We reserve the right to include a couple of very pleasant surprises which are not listed in the itinerary.

  • Winery visits and all wine tastings

  • Professionally chauffeured (insured) and comfortable transportation

  • All taxes and tips throughout your stay

  • More!


We do not get involved in booking air travel for our guests. We can provide a great travel consultant who specializes in Portuguese air travel and the needs of our customers, to assist you with the most direct departures and arrivals when booking your flights.

  1. We will meet in the hotel lobby on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. to commence our explorations.
  2. We do not charge our guests a “single supplement” as we price our trips on a per room basis.
  3. To maintain a small group size, no more than 8-12 guests will accompany us. Bring 9 guests and your trip is free!
  4. NOTE: We won’t travel with less than six guests and reserve the right to cancel the trip for this reason.
  5. Roy Hersh & Mario Ferreira (tri-lingual) will personally accompany guests throughout the entire trip. We have included some free time for guests to explore and dine on their own. We can assist you with suggestions of cultural activities, shopping destinations and dining recommendations.
  6. Please advise us at the time of registration, if you or your travel companion has any dietary restrictions or preferences; allergies or medical/physical restrictions.
  7. We reserve the right to make minor modifications to the planned itinerary, based on availabilities of the wine producers, especially around the harvest time. But you can be assured we have your very best interests at heart in making these trips extraordinary! We do not finalize the itinerary until 30 days prior to the trip … but they won’t vary much. We always listen to potential client’s requests and ascertain their level of interest and experience.
  8. Payment methods to be discussed by phone, during our pre-trip consultation where Roy can personally answer all of your questions. We price our trips in Euros and use www.xe.com for conversion rates.
  9. For reservations or to request further details including trip pricing, please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Please type in: 2010 Port Harvest Tour into the subject line)
  10. Guest cancellation of the 2010 Port Harvest Tour from July 31st – August 15th will result in a 30% cancellation fee. Any cancellations from August 16th – September 6th will result in a 60% cancellation fee. Thereafter, 100% forfeiture will take place as it will be virtually impossible to find a replacement for the spot you’ve vacated.

     

    * NOTE: You only pay for gifts, shopping, bottles of Port or Douro wines that you choose to bring back home. Airfare to and from Portugal is NOT included. We can provide you with our preferred travel consultant who is familiar with our guest’s needs and specializes in Portuguese air travel and destinations. We strongly recommend that you purchase your own travel insurance!
 

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