There are several diverse definitions of Wine Tourism. From a stricter perspective, Wine Tourism includes, essentially, visits to vineyards, wineries, and wine festivals, with or without tastings, but from a broader view we can also understand this activity as the displacement or travel to wine regions to know the production of wine in its various aspects, from grape varieties, winemaking methods, type of soil, and also to get in touch with the customs and traditions of these regions and their people.

At Quinta da Raza we are fans of this broader version. So, in 2023, we decided to reformulate and restructure our wine tourism experiences and programs, starting by dividing them into four categories - Wine Tasting, Wine Tasting + Adventure and Nature, Wine Tasting + Estate and Wine Tasting + Heritage - and presenting a set of new features that will definitely convince you to come and visit us. Shall we get to know them?

In the first category, Wine Tasting, we have added two new ones to the four previously existing tastings - Tasting of two Quinta da Raza wines, Autochthonous Basto Varieties, Tasting of Alvarinho Wines and Natural Wines - Singular W ines and Personalized Tasting. In the Singular Wines experience, we introduce you to some of our most distinctive grape varieties, such as Avesso and Gouveio, which have a strong mineral and gastronomic character, great ageing potential and reveal another side to vinho verde. In the Personalized Tasting we invite visitors to create the perfect selection by choosing three wines: one from the 'Dom Diogo' portfolio, one from the 'Quinta da Raza' range and, finally, one of our 'Natural Wines'. Can you make the perfect selection?

The rest of the tastings, although "old acquaintances", are not without their novelties! To whet your appetite, we can tell you that we've reformulated our tapas of organic Portuguese canned sardines and mackerel and enriched our cheese and regional sausage board. And why not repeat or try our Alvarinho Wine Tasting for the first time? After all, here you can taste three of our four wines that recently won awards at the famous Mundus Vini international event, including our monovarietal 'Quinta da Raza Alvarinho', which won Best of Show, the award given to the best vinho verde in the competition.

In the Wine Tasting + Adventure and Nature category, we are strengthening our synergies with regional partners by continuing to offer adrenaline-pumping activities such as rafting, canyoning and buggy tours. Come and discover some of the most beautiful landscapes and nooks and crannies of the Terras de Basto on board a boat or off-road vehicle, then relax on our panoramic terrace in the company of our wines and delicacies. If you're looking for something quieter, you could opt for our Picnic. We have new locations, among our vineyards and ramadas, where you can relax and soak up the sounds of nature, while enjoying a succulent lunch and, of course, our refreshing wines.

In the Wine Tasting + Quinta segment, we want you to get to know the vineyard, the soil, the grape varieties, in short, our terroir and everything that makes it unique. Join us on this tour of our property; we can do it on foot, in walking mode or aboard our charming jeep. We'll show you the small, thick-skinned Alvarinho bunches, the large, compact and heavy Arinto bunches and the Vinhão dyers, while sharing with you stories of the grape harvests of yesteryear. Along the way, you'll also get to know our Organic Vegetable Garden with its aromatic herbs, spinach, lettuce and chives, and the Animal Farm where the stone chickens, mute ducks and Bisaro pigs grow happily and freely. When you need to recover your energy, all you have to do is tell us where you want your tasting: in the tasting room or on the panoramic terrace; we'll take care of the rest.

If you enjoy history and culture, monuments and archaeological sites, you shouldn't miss out on one of the proposals in the Wine Tasting + Heritage series. For our hometown, Celorico de Basto, we've prepared an itinerary that starts at the Church of Santa Maria de Veade, the greatest example of religious architecture from the Romanesque period, where its beautiful side portals stand out. Have we aroused your curiosity? The tour doesn't end there! Have you ever heard of topiary art? Join us as we take you to the most paradigmatic camellia garden in the Terras de Basto; it's right next door, at Casa do Campo, in Molares. Look at its symmetry, the elegance of the 'fresco houses' and the size of the famous 'Centenária', Portugal's oldest and most illustrious camellia tree, in the freshness of its 250 years!

On these heritage tours we don’t forget our neighbors. Thus, we have also prepared a tour to Mondim de Basto, starting at Castro do Crastoeiro, a fortified settlement from the Iron Age (c. 9th century BC – 1st century AD), where the famous Galician warriors and the indigenous peasant societies lived before the arrival of the Roman imperial power. Besides learning more about their way of life, handicrafts, beliefs and social organization, this settlement will give you a privileged view of the largest viticultural “spot” in the Basto Region. On the subject of privileged views, this tour would not be complete without the trip up to the top of the Farinha Hill, the Sanctuary of Senhora da Graça, terminus of the most famous stage of the Tour of Portugal by bicycle. Take a deep breath and feel on top of the world!

Still not convinced to visit us, taste our wines and try one of our wine tourism proposals? Maybe you are looking for a more personalized program…If so, contact us; we will be delighted to hear your ideas and suggestions. Come; you will see that you will have a lot of fun.