From the Phoenicians to the Romans, from the Moors to the new

generations, Portuguese cuisine is a result of contributions by all those

who have occupied the Peninsula. The Portuguese have long been

intrepid travelers, playing a major role in the Age of Discoveries, which

began in the 15th century with the introduction of spices and

bittersweet flavors. Besides spices, a whole variety of products have

been introduced. Today products such as bean, sugar, codfish, potato,

aromatic herbs and many others are regarded as standard in the

Portuguese kitchen. Portuguese gastronomy is therefore naturally

connected to the capacity to integrate products from different parts of

the world into its Mediterranean and Atlantic flavors, witnessed by the

strong presence of fish and shellfish, bread, wine and olive oil, meats

and sausages making up the base of core products in many Portuguese

dishes.

Enjoy an 8 day program of fun activities designed for adult people with a taste for cooking, wine

tasting, language, culture and tradition. You will learn how to prepare a Portuguese traditional

breakfast meal, how to cook with Portuguese grown herbs and vegetables, preparing fish and meat

dishes the Portuguese way. This program includes also visits to wine cellars, river cruise, local

markets and vineyards. You may also be lucky and learn how to pick-up grapes at harvest time. You

will also have some free time to wonder around and explore the region and meet local people.

The Douro Valley located in the north of Portugal not far from the town of Oporto is where you will be.

You will fall in love with this region claiming to be the most beautiful wine region in the world supported

by the grandeur of its landscape and wines. Hewn from schist mountainsides like unpolished granite,

the steep-terraced vineyards rise above the majestic Douro River’s ribbon of water far below. For

centuries, its remoteness made it hard to reach. Today, it’s easy. Even so, this is a place where

neighborhood dogs sleep in the village streets and the annual cycle of the vines seems timeless. Sit

on a terrace in the evening, a glass of white Port and tonic in hand, and listen to the distant, mournful

hoot of the evening river train.

Famed for its Port wines, the Douro also offers redoubtable red table wines. Rich and powerful, they

vie with the wine world’s top selections. Still, no one goes to the Douro without tasting Port. Naturally,

every option is here, straight from the Quinta—a Port lover’s heaven. Try the late-bottled vintages

(LBVs), vintages, the tawny variations (golden-brown from aging in wood for 10–40 years) and the

rare vintage-dated harvests—there’s no experience that can compare to tasting a Port older than you

are. All the Port and table wines are products of some of Portugal’s finest native grape varieties:

Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca are among the best.

Douro´s region gastronomy is unquestionably one of its most important treasures and, regardless of

culinary tastes the typical dishes are always widely appreciated. The region is well-known for an

endless number of meat dishes, which include the famous roasted baby goat with rice and potatoes,

wild boar stew, posta mirandesa (large steak), cozido à portuguesa (boiled meat, sausages and

cabbages), partridge on a skewer, arroz de cabidela (chicken rice) and feijoada à trasmontana (bean

stew). Olive oil is used in most dishes, whether to cook the dish or as seasoning. Every dish is

seasoned with salt, even though it can be replaced by herbs, which are plentiful in the region.

Rosemary, parsley and bay leaves are some of the most commonly used herbs, mainly to cook meat.

Typical desserts will make you put any diet or doctor’s recommendations on hold. Traditional pastries

such as the peixinhos de chila (puff pastry fiilled with pumpking jam) or the biscoito da Teixeira (hard

cookies) are famous in the region. The region is also known for the delicious pão-de-ló (sponge cake)

and the bolo-rei (fruit cake), mainly eaten during local celebrations. The rice pudding and the aletria

(vermicelli with cinnamon) are also some of the region’s specialties.

Sunday, 1st September

Arrival at Oporto

Transfer to Douro Valley

Check-in to Lamego Hotel****

Free day

PROGRAM

Monday, 2nd September

08H30am - Breakfast

09H00am – Learn Portuguese

10H00am – Cooking workshop

01H00pm – Lunch

02H30pm – Outdoor educational visits

Tuesday, 3rd September

08H30am - Breakfast

09H00am – Learn Portuguese

10H00am – Cooking workshop

01H00pm – Lunch

02H30pm – Outdoor educational visits

Wednesday 4th September

08H30am - Breakfast

09H00am – Learn Portuguese

10H00am – Cooking workshop

01H00pm – Lunch

02H30pm – Outdoor educational visits

PROGRAM

Thursday, 5th September

08H30am - Breakfast

09H00am – Learn Portuguese

10H00am – Cooking workshop

01H00pm – Lunch

02H30pm – Outdoor educational visits

Friday, 6th September

08H30am - Breakfast

09H00am – Learn Portuguese

10H00am – Cooking workshop

01H00pm – Lunch

02H30pm – Outdoor educational visits

Saturday 7th September

08H30am - Breakfast

09H00am – Departure to Oporto

11H00am – Check in at Fenix Ipanema Porto Hotel****

12H00pm – Guided Tour to Port Wine Lodges and Lunch

02H00pm – Tour of Porto

09H00pm – Farewell Dinner

PROGRAM

Sunday, 8th September

07H00am – Transfer to airport and departure

1) Lamego Hotel **** (Lamego)

ACCOMMODATION

Located in a private, gated area within walking distance to the center of town. The hotel has 94

rooms. There is also a full-service spa at the Hotel Lamego, where guests can receive a number of

beauty and wellness treatments including massages, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy treatments.

You can go for a stroll in the gardens, take a tour of the vineyard, or have a picnic under the fruit trees

in the orchard. The grounds are very extensive. You may also swim in the seasonal outdoor pool or

play a game of tennis on the outdoor courts. A squash court is also available. Lamego is a beautiful

town filled with churches, old manor homes, and a castle. It is a great place to walk around in and

admire the architecture.

2) Fenix Ipanema Porto**** (Oporto)

Located in the Boavista area not far from the city center the 4-star luxury hotel Ipanema Porto has

recently been renovated and redecorated to offer a more modern, comfortable and relaxing

atmosphere. The hotel has 140 standard rooms and 10 suites (with a king-size bed), fully equipped

with double glazing, a mini-bar, satellite TV and pay-TV, direct dial telephone, individual safes at the

reception, a hairdryer, room service, air-conditioning, coffee/tea making facilities (only in the suites)

and a wireless Internet system.

1205,58€ (INCLUDES)

Net Rate Per Person Sharing a Double/Twin Bedroom inclusive of Buffet Breakfast

Accommodation during workshop week at Hotel Lamego ****

Accommodation in Porto at Fenix Ipanema Porto ****

Tranfers from airport to hotel and from hotel to airport

Transfer from Lamego to Porto on Saturday

Lunch at Port Wine Lodges on Saturday + Fairwell Dinner at Oporto Restaurant

Does not includes dinner

Full Program as presented

NET RATES FOR GROUPS ( MINIMUM 10 PAX )

Single Supplement 218,35€

Half-Board supplement at Hotel Lamego **** 124,02€ (rate per person)