– Business Delegation Programme –

5  ˙  11 NOV 2016

PORTO  ˙ PORTUGAL

Welcome! Welcome to Porto, this year’s host of the Great Wine Capitals General Assembly! We invite you to sign up for this event for both professionals and consumers, where you will meet with leaders and opinion-makers and share in discussing developments and international trends in the winemaking and wine tourism sectors. Porto, the Alto Douro Winemaking Region and the Vinho Verde Wine Region will receive visitors from the nine finest winemaking regions worldwide and provide a showcase of the best that is being done in terms of producers, visitor centres, wine hotels and restaurants, as well as sectorial entities. The theme “Wine and Nature”, of increasing interest to everyone, has this year been added to our culture, the environment and the art of hospitality. Do accept our invitation and participate in this unique and stimulating program!

2

November 5th (Saturday) Arrival of the delegations´ participants from the invited member cities. Check-in at the selected hotel.

November 6th (Sunday) Starting at 09:00 Accreditation of the delegations’ participants at the official hotel of the Annual General Meeting the Intercontinental Hotel Palácio das Cardosas.

10:00 Porto City Tour

Departure from Intercontinental Hotel Palácio das Cardosas and guided panoramic bus tour of the city. Arrival at the Cathedral and guided tour along the historic centre’s narrow streets by electric tuk tuk.

12:30 Welcome cocktail at Intercontinental Hotel Palácio das Cardosas.



14:00 Avenida dos Aliados - Inauguration of the urban art mural created especially to welcome the member cities of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.

Free afternoon.

19:30 Welcome reception and dinner under the Port Wine theme at the restaurant Vinum, preceded by a guided visit to the cellars of Caves Graham’s (Best of Wine Tourism 2014 and 2015).

Porto Cathedral Graham’s lodge | Vinum

Departures from the official hotel of the Annual General Meeting the Intercontinental Hotel Palácio das Cardosas

3

November 7th (Monday)

09:00 Transfer to the Cristal Palace gardens | Almeida Garrett Library from Intercontinental Hotel Palácio das Cardosas by tram. 09:00-12:00 Official opening ceremony and “Wine and Nature” Conference at Almeida Garrett Library.



10:30 Coffee Break.



13:00 Lunch at a restaurant downtown.



14:30-18:00 Porto City tour including visit to Vini Portugal wine tasting room and Essência do Vinho.



19:30 Dinner under the theme Vinho Verde, with award-winning wines of Best of Wine Tourism at Casa da Música restaurant.

Cultural moment with Fado. Transfer by Metro (subway) to Casa da Música and back to Intercontinental Hotel Palácio das Cardosas.

Cristal Palace (Palácio de Cristal) Casa da Música

4

November 8th (Tuesday)

09:00 Departure for a Tour Dedicated to Cork.



09:30 Visit to a factory of cork stoppers Socori.



11:30 Presentation about the technical challenges of cork stoppers – Amorim R&D.



13:00 Lunch at local restaurant.



15:00 Return to Porto.



15:45 Visit to Porto Cruz.



19:00 Wine Tourism Workshop. Presentation of wineries and tourist services companies to travel agencies.



20:00 International Wine Tasting in combination with a variety of culinary selections at The Yeatman Hotel & Restaurant- Best of Wine Tourism 2013 and 2014 and Michelin Star.

Cork The Yeatman

5

November 9th (Wednesday)

09:00 Technical wine tourism tours at Best of Wine Tourism award- winning estates (Quintas), including experiences in different sustainable tourist transport means: train (with an entertainment event), boat, bicycle, ebikes,...

 Douro Landscapes The trip to the Douro will be made by train. There will be musical entertainment on board with a traditional tasting and Port wine. Visit and lunch at Quinta Nova Nossa Senhora do Carmo. Douro river cruise in a Rabelo Boat. Visit and tasting at Quinta da Roêda. Douro Art and Architecture The trip to Douro will be made by train. There will be musical entertainment on board with a traditional tasting and Port wine. Visit to Museu do Douro. Visit and lunch at Quinta do Vallado. Visit and tasting at Quinta do Seixo. Vinho Verde Experience Visit and tasting at Quinta das Escomoeiras. Bike tour in Bastos bike path. Lunch at Monverde Wine Experience Hotel. Visit and tasting at Quinta da Aveleda. Dinner at participants’ discretion. A variety of locations and atmospheres will be recommended for dinner with and without evening entertainment.

Douro region Vinho Verde region

6

November 10th (Thursday)

09:00



10:00 Visit to Quinta da Aveleda.



13:00 Lunch at Quinta da Pacheca.



15:30 Return to Porto.



20:00 Gala dinner and Best of Wine Tourism Porto 2017 Awards Ceremony at São Bento da Vitória Monastery.

Departure to Vila Real.

Cultural moment by the Porto Municipal Theatre – Rivoli, prior to the start of gala dinner. Awards ceremony after-party.

November 11th (Friday) Return home or departure to post AGM tours.

São Bento da Vitória Monastery Rivoli Municipal Theatre

7