Cellar Tours has been offering wine tasting vacations since 2003, and this year they are expanding their repertoire of unusual and niche wine tours. Cellar Tours are organizing (as of February 2006) tours to the Portuguese vineyards by classic cars. VIP guests are transported from Porto to the dramatic Douro Valley wineries by such classics as Bentleys from the 1940´s, Rolls Royce, vintage Jaguars, etc.
Apart from classic car wine tours, Cellar Tours is also offering their VIPs the possibility of private Vintage Cruises. These consist of private cruises on the Douro River on historic wine boats, called "Rabelos".
The scenery is this region is stunning, and guests enjoy the thrill of riding through the hills in their vintage Bentleys, and drinking port on their own private boats. However the wine is still the focus of the tour, and as such Cellar Tours have developed many new ideas of wine activities. In the Douro Valley, one of their new concepts is a package where clients can participate in a "wine clinic". This is a master blending session of various Portuguese grape varietals such as Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. Famous Port personalities host these sessions and they take place in a beautiful venue overlooking the Douro River.
"Wine tourism is developing quickly and our clients are very sophisticated. They are savvy travellers and knowledgeable about wine and want something more complex than just a common visit to a winery. Our clients love the idea of arriving to the wineries by helicopter and by classic car. They want to meet the owners and famous wine personalities, have lunch with them, etc. Our clients have been extremely receptive to the idea of "making their own wines", and also love our harvest "stomping on the grapes" tours, " explains owner Genevieve McCarthy.
Cellar Tours is the only operator offering high-end luxury wine tours in Portugal by classic cars and helicopter. They have more ultra luxury tours planned for mid 2006.
Other VIP wine tours that Cellar Tours have added to their portfolio this season include: "flying wine tours" in Tuscany, Wine Barrique appreciation classes and tastings in Ribera del Duero; and ultra VIP wine tours from Barcelona to the Penedés wine region.
For more information, visit http://www.cellartours.com
