October Update!
INVITATION
Hungry Hawk Vineyards in Portugal
Lisbon & Porto Tour & Douro River Cruise: July 16-27, 2024
Douro Cruise Only: July 20-27, 2024
Our 2024 Hungry Hawk Douro River Cruise and pre-cruise tour is 17 strong. There is plenty of room for more shipmates next year aboard the beautiful river ship AmaDouro. Join us! Portugal is a fascinating and historic center of wine and port production. The 7-night voyage ends in the city of Porto.
There is an optional pre-cruise tour spending 3 nights in Lisbon and 1 night in Porto city. Visit the best sights of Lisbon and see Fatima, Coimbra en route to arriving in Porto. The tour is well worth doing if this your first visit to Portugal. Spend a full day and evening in Porto at the stunning Pestana Vintage Porto, with a private vintage port tasting at Taylor-Fladgate, “Purveyors to Her Majesty the Queen.”
Travel & Leisure magazine calls Portugal “a magnet for those who want luxury without the sticker shock of Europe’s more well-trod capitals.” The wines of Portugal are marvelous, with native grape varietals like the red Touriga Franca and white Trajadura producing world class dry wines to wash down the marvelous seafood and delicious Petiscos e Doces, the Portuguese versions of tapas. Learn about port production and visit the vineyards and premises of renowned centuries-old port producers like Taylor-Fladgate, Graham, Croft, Cockburn, Sandeman and Warre.
On board the ship AmaDouro I will hold two tastings and a paired dinner, pouring my best work to date at Hungry Hawk, alongside the wines of Portugal. More importantly we’ll explore together the towns and villages along the Douro, which is arguably one of Europe’s best kept secrets and lowest traffic destinations. Portuguese wineries, called “quintas”, are excellent and fascinating, producing magnificent dry red wines. The famous port wines here captured the world’s attention long ago. Vinho Verde, the crisp dry white meant to be drunk young, will impress you. Along the way experience flamenco and fado, see extraordinary castles, palaces, iconic cathedrals and taste enough exquisite wine to last a lifetime.
Register online at:
This dedicated website displays the entire tour and cruise program, including pictures of cabins, pricing and each day’s activities. For a short time, there is a $500 per cabin ($250 p/p) discount for members of the Hungry Hawk Group on board. Book by October 31st. A deposit of $750 per person will hold space on the entire program.
NOTE: Special activities and meals are included. You must book through our tour operator, Expanding Horizons of Tustin CA, to be part of the Hungry Hawk Vineyards Douro Group.
With questions contact Georgia Shoemaker at our tour operator Expanding Horizons:
Georgia@Expanding-Horizon.com or call 1-714-975-9941
Feel free to recommend this special holiday to all your friends and relations you believe will enjoy this kind of vacation; the time of your life, shared and dedicated to culture, great food and wine.
Sincerely,
Mike Embly
Winemaker
Update May 30th!
Our Hungry Hawk Portugal Group for 2024 is already 12 strong! There’s plenty of room for some more adventurous shipmates to join us next year in Portugal. On Day 3 of the cruise, we dock at sleepy Pinhao and travel to nearby Regua, to visit iconic Mateus Palace. Later enjoy a country Portuguese luncheon at Quinta Avessada, another picturesque, family-owned Douro winery with a wonderful history. Here’s some background information about this day:
REGUA & MATEUS PALACE
On Day 3 we dock at Regua. This charming Portuguese town is renowned for its smoked ham washed down with local Espumante sparkling wine. Regua is also a major producing area for Vinho Verde, the crisp Portuguese white wine meant to be drunk young.
Nearby is Mateus Palace, that famous manor house seen once-upon-a-time on so many Mateus Rose teardrop bottles. The palace was built in the 18th Century for the Count of Vila Real. It is still regarded as one of the finest private houses in Europe. Many original furnishings from the 1700’s remain beautifully displayed. The elaborate gardens here are magically photographic and include a tunnel of cedar trees. Mateus Palace is idyllic.
PINHAO – ALTO DOURO VALLEY
Later we cruise along the winding Douro River into the Upper (or “Alto”) Douro Valley. The scenery is spectacular. Boats on the river gleam in the sun. Terraced vineyards, grand old quintas and little stone brick villages along the banks make this a magical ride.
The Alto Douro Valley is home to the oldest demarcated vineyards in the world, dating back over 2,000 years. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001. It’s a region with a Mediterranean climate, marked by hot, dry summers and cold winters. Summer weather is generally warm to hot, with temperatures in the 80’s. We’ll sample the fabulous red wines and ports produced in this region.
Pinhao town is a village of quiet cobbled streets and colorful narrow houses, situated in a perfect location at a wide bend in the river. The surrounding terraced hillsides produce the world’s best port. This is home to the great Portuguese wine estates of Sandeman, W.J. Graham, Taylor-Fladgate and other legendary port producers. Old women in doorways chat away in this proper European country town.
In Pinhao we will visit and enjoy a country lunch at Quinta da Avessada, a family-owned winery famous for its hospitality. The walk through their wine production facility is a stroll through centuries of Portuguese wine production in the Douro Valley, followed by a tasting at red wine producer Quinta do Seixo, part of the Croft Port family estates, or alternatively finishing at the Sandeman Estate. The Sandeman 40-year-old Tawny Port is extraordinary, and the reasonable price will surprise you. It’s well worth taking a bottle home.
On board the AmaDouro I will hold two tastings and a paired dinner, pouring my best work to date alongside the wines of Portugal. More importantly we’ll explore together the towns and villages along the Douro, which is arguably one of Europe’s best kept secrets and lowest traffic destinations. Portuguese wineries, called “quintas”, are excellent and fascinating, producing magnificent dry red wines. Along the way experience flamenco and fado, see extraordinary castles, palaces, iconic cathedrals and taste enough exquisite wine to last a lifetime.
You can still join us and Portugal is a bargain right now. Tell your ma, tell your pa, or a few good friends. There is an exclusive discount ($500 per cabin ($250 p/p) for members of the Hungry Hawk Group. Book by June 30th 2023! A deposit of $750 per person will hold space on the entire program. This dedicated website displays the entire tour and cruise program, including pictures of cabins, pricing and each day’s activities. For complete information and to register online, visit:
www.toursandwine.com/hawk24
NOTE: Special activities and meals are included. You must book through our tour operator, Expanding Horizons of Tustin CA, to be part of the Hungry Hawk Vineyards Douro Group.
With questions contact Georgia Shoemaker at our tour operator Expanding Horizons:
Georgia@Expanding-Horizon.com or call 1-714-975-9941
Feel free to recommend this special holiday to all your friends and relations you believe will enjoy this kind of vacation; the time of your life, shared and dedicated to culture, great food and wine.
Cheers,
Mike Embly
Winemaker
YOU’RE INVITED!
Hungry Hawk Vineyards in Portugal
Lisbon & Porto Tour & Douro River Cruise: July 16-27, 2024
Douro Cruise Only: July 20-27, 2024
Mike Embly
Winemaker