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Thank you for your interest in our 2012 "Eola Hills Does Wines of World" tour. Since 2005, Eola Hills Wine Cellars has been hosting wine excursions to Tuscany, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire Valley and more. We are excited to announce that in the spring of 2012 we are doing Portugal and Spain! This information will give you a good overview of what the trip is about, and as always, if you have questions of any kind, send an email or call us at 800.291.6730 | 503.623.2405.

The Trip includes:
(There is a 5% discount for signing up before August 1st)
(Registration Form pdf)
•Ten days guided tour through major wine regions of Portugal and Spain. Includes special wine tastings, food and wine paired events, educational discussions about the wines and areas visited all led by our host and winemaker Steve Anderson
• Three Star or better Hotel Accommodations
• All transportation between locations on comfortable air condition tour buses
• Breakfast daily. Some evening meals
• Special wine maker gourmet dinners
• Walking tours, picnics, optional bike rides
• Balance between structured activities and free time for yourself.
• Optional add-ons at the beginning and end of the trip
• Optional cooking classes
• Private wine tastings with local winemakers.

Itinerary

In Porto, Portugal looking across to the Port Houses from our hotel on the Douro River

Pre-trip add-on - Itinerary April 19th – April 22nd, 2012:
This year's “pre-trip” add-on is reserved for the first 20 people who would like to join winemaker Steve Anderson for a special trip up the Douro River to visit Pinaho and the Quinta Nova winery where we will be the exclusive guests.  Not only will we get to see a working winery up close and personal, but Steve has a gourmet dinner and some other surprises up his winemaking sleeve.

Pre-trip Day One - 4/19 - USA to Porto, Portugal:
Today is our travel day. Arrive at Hotel near airport, check in, relax. 6:00 PM Welcome wine reception in hotel.

Pre-trip Day Two - 4/20 - Porto to Pinaho:
After a good night sleep and breakfast, we board the train for a beautiful two and a half hour ride up the Douro river to the heart wine country. Our destination is Pinaho where we will be the exclusive guests of the Quinta Nova winery. This will be home for the next two nights where we will explore some of Portugal's table wines.

Pre-trip Day Three - 4/21 - Pinaho:
This morning, we tour of the vineyards of the Pinaho and sample some of the local fare, but be sure to pace yourself as tonight we are in for a treat with a winemaker dinner hosted by our own Steve Anderson as he compares the different styles and approaches to winemaking in Portugal and the Willamette Valley.

Pre-trip Day Four - 4/22 - Pinaho to Porto:
Time to rise and shine say a final farewell to our gracious hosts and board the train back to Porto where we welcome the main group arriving today. This afternoon, you are free to explore the city at your leisure. We will welcome the main body of our tour group this evening at our hotel.

The Douro River looking toward Pinaho, Portugal
Price for this pre-trip add-on is $795.00 (see above) Includes all hotels, transportation to and from Pinaho, wine reception, all activities at Quinta Nova. (Airfare not included.)

Main Tour Begins - Itinerary - April 22nd – May 1st, 2012:

Our Hotel in Porto, Portugal

Day One - 4/22 - USA to Porto, Portugal:
Arrival day. Check in to the Hotel , unpack and perhaps grab a little siesta to help with the inevitable jet-lag, but don't sleep too long as we will have a welcome reception to say hello and discuss the next couple of day's activities

Day Two - 4/23 - Porto:
After a good night sleep and some breakfast, Join the crew of Eola Hills as we head for a tour of the "Instituto do Porto" for a brief overview of the history of Port wine and how it is made. As soon as we become experts on Port wines, our winemaker, Steve Anderson will lead us on a beautiful walking tour along the Douro River to some of the most famous Port Houses on the south side. After our wine tasting, the evening is free to dine along the river and watch the sun set. All within a short walk of our hotel.

Day Three - 4/24 - Porto:
Today, we board the bus for a morning ride to the cork forest and factory to discover how cork is grown, harvested and made into the finished product that has been sealing our wines for centuries. Along the way, we might just stop for an impromptu picnic Porto style. After returning to our hotel, you are invited to be our guests for a terrific fish dinner. It is all fresh, local and it's fantastic… and some of the best we've ever tasted!

Day Four - 4/25 - Porto-Cenicero:
Today we board the bus and say goodbye to Portugal as we wind our way to Spain and The Rioja. This evening we arrive in Cenicero and check into our hotel. We are free tonight to stroll the restored old town streets and select one of the many restaurants for dinner.

Looking out our hotel window in Cenicero at the local vineyards

Day Five - 4/26 - Cenicero, Spain:
This morning after breakfast, we will visit one of the best wine museums in the world. As in Porto, we will have a great opportunity to learn about the great wines of the Rioja. The afternoon is open for optional wine tasting or just exploring the town on your own.

Day Six - 4/27 - Cenicero:
Today we will make the most of our time in La Rioja with a visit to some of the best wineries in the region, but as always, we most pace ourselves as tonight we have a wonderful dinner planned at our hotel.

Day Seven - 4/28 - Cenicero to LaGuardia:
This morning, we board the bus for a short ride into Basque Country and the beautiful walled city of Laguardia. This well preserved medieval town welcomes you to stroll its cobblestoned streets, window shop, mingle with the locals. After checking into our hotel, we have the afternoon and evening to explore this wonderful city.

Strolling the streets of Laguradia, Spain

Day Eight - 4/29 - LaGuardia to Madrid: :
Today we make the last leg of our journey as we head to the capitol of Spain and our final stop. This afternoon and evening is at your disposal to perhaps do some food hopping at some of the famous tapas bars.

Day Nine - 4/30 - Madrid:
Today you are free to do some serious sight seeing, Prado, Royal castle, or perhaps El Escorial, but be sure to be back in time for our Farewell dinner as we look back on the last nine days and our time together.

Day Ten - 5/1:
Alas, all good things must come to an end. (except for drinking Eola Hills Wine!) Today we say goodbye to Spain and our friends as we wing our way back to the good old U.S.A. …. Unless of course, you want to stay just a few days longer.

Post trip Add-On - May 1st and 2nd:

Toledo , Spain

For those of us who want to extend this great trip a little longer, we have another day in Madrid to do additional sightseeing and a day trip to historic Toledo. Plus dinner on the last night in the oldest restaurant in Europe!

Price $495 (also see above):
•Trip includes two nights lodging
•Tour of Toledo
• Dinner on final night

Trips include all hotels, all tour transportation, breakfast and specified meals, guided tours, wine tastings and receptions. Does not include airfare, airport transportation, tips and unspecified meals. For additional information and/or for us to stay in touch with you, call 1-800-291-6730 or 503-623-2405, ask for Tom or Doug or email us here. Sign-up for eMail updates here.

(There is a 5% discount for signing up before August 1st)
(Registration Form pdf)

Here's what folks have said about our trips:

“The structured portion of the tour with the group was fun especially with the emphasis being on enjoying the wines and wine country of Italy. This was our best over seas trip yet. We look forward to next year’s trip to the Rhine Country in Germany.” J & N Peterson… Corvallis, Oregon

"Tom, Just wanted to tell you and Doug how much Ann and I enjoyed our trip to Tuscany. In addition to great food, local wines, beautiful scenery, and great people, we really enjoyed the history of the region, as well as the unbelievable art, sculptures, pottery, etc. Actually, there was so much to enjoy it is hard to mention it all. We look forward to more trips in the future!!" E & A Payne, North Carolina

"You guys at Eola Hills did it right! We all had a great time and would do it again in a heartbeat...(although we hold you responsible for the increase in our collective waistlines). This was a special trip and a great group of folks to travel with. Thanks for everything." D. Furlott, Portland, Oregon