Clean and chiropodist-approved feet are strictly required for some holidays. Especially active and very immersive oenological holidays to Portugal.
For three days in September, Churchill’s is offering tourists the opportunity to get under the skin of the local fruit and trend grapes in the company’s traditional granite “lagares” which date back to 1852.
Quinta da Gricha, the company’s flagship vineyard, is inviting visitors for its annual ‘vindima’ on 10, 11 and 25 September. The day begins with a grape picking challenge with Churchill’s viticultural team and the shift on the terraces is followed by a tasting.
Churchill’s Barrels
Churchill’s is one of the few port houses to still pulp grapes all by foot. Afterwards, there is a three-course lunch in the orange grove, with Churchill’s Douro wines and a vintage port served.
The price is £185 per person, with additional options for transfers from/to Porto.
Churchill’s was founded in 1981 by master port blender Johnny Graham with his two brothers, Anthony and William and his wife Caroline Churchill, who also gave the brand its name. Graham learnt his trade in the Douro river’s terraced valleys and on “rabalo” port boats when apprenticed to Cockburn Smithie’s. He also worked for “Taylor’s”.
Churchill’s Ports Portfolio
He has also opened a port portal. He comments : “ Port.Club’s mission is to share the fortified nectar of the Douro with the next generation of drinkers, by making Churchill’s award-winning hand-crafted ports easy to purchase, learn about and make your own.”
Membership to Port.Club includes quarterly three-bottle Port Packs and access to unique travel and port education experiences, both in Portugal and online. Adds Johnny’s eldest daughter Zoe :“We know that port can be a confusing category. Our mission is to make people feel why what they’re drinking is so good.”
Zoe’s husband Ben Himowitz, is one of the few Americans in the Portuguese wine world.
The Port Packs introduce members to a range of port styles from Churchill’s award-winning portfolio. Churchill’s fuse a drier style of port with minimal intervention viticulture and winemaking. All Churchill’s ports are foot-trod, using natural yeast for extended fermentation.
Port Treading
The Graham family has been involved with port for two hundred years. The family business was sold to “Symington Family Estates” in 1970. “Churchill’s” is a first generation business producing 50,000 handcrafted cases a year. Churchill’s is the only port house that is still founder-led.
Port Club members have access to personalized on-line masterclasses with Johnny, son James and Portuguese winemaker and “fellow wine rogue” Ricardo Punto Nunes. Aspiring connoisseurs can learn all about crusted ports and that Portuguese cooking isn’t all potatoes and queijadas. Recipes for cooking with 10 Year Old Tawny Port and Late Bottled Vintage and suggest what pairs with with dry white port. As well as what to drink while cooking!
Port Packs all come with one everyday port, one special occasion port, and one unique Club Port selected and blended by Mr Graham exclusively club members. Each port is ready to drink immediately.
Members will also have access to exclusive VIP access to Churchill’s luxurious 4-bedroom Vineyard House in the Douro Valley to bespoke programmes at Churchill’s Lodge in Oporto.
Further images here: https://we.tl/t-fT2o5fnGeD
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