The Valfers

09/07/2026

A soulful map of private homes, off-menu flavors, and the fiercely independent spirits of 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.

In two weeks we’re loading up the car in Jerez and driving straight into the 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐨 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲. Just 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 lost among our absolute best friends, hidden cellars, and exceptional wines. No checklists, no tourist filters—just Portugal, through our lens.

There’s a quiet reverence that hits Fernando & Valeska every time these glasses are poured.

We are holding pure, 𝐥𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲—wines that have slept in old wood for decades, crafted by a different generation.

We have a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 for what time does here; it turns absolute patience into something sublime.

Looking out from 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐨 𝐝𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐚 with the ocean crashing below, we come here just to get lost in the sheer scale of it. Pure, 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.

The Lusitano horse isn’t just a breed; it’s pure Portuguese DNA on display. Watching them graze gracefully under ancient olive trees in the Alentejo, completely surrounded by sweeping vineyards, is 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞.

It’s raw history, completely unbothered, right in the heart of wine country.

Real life in real-time. We show you 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐨’𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐃𝐍𝐀—bold colors, open windows, and laundry casting long shadows on ancient stone.

What’s truly fascinating is how Porto stubbornly keeps its vibe despite the world moving faster around it. This is the city’s unedited pulse. One of our favorite cities!

The final stop of the trip. 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐨𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞—the historic neighborhoods, the massive river, and a great city vibe.

When we first came over 14 years ago, using wine as our excuse, we were completely trapped by its energy. Standing up here looking out over the skyline, you just want to dive straight back into it.

Down into the underground. This isn’t a dusty, old-school tourist cave—it’s a modern vault where the region’s best independent makers are busy breaking the rules.

We love 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, and it’s the exact behind-the-scenes access we’ve built for every journey.

This is our only and unique departure, and we are keeping the group strictly capped at 20 people.

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Dates: 𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐋 𝟕-𝟏𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕

𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊: https://thevalfers.com/limited-edition-journeys/portugal-food-wine-tour/

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23/06/2026

This isn’t the Croatia people think of. It’s a hidden, borderless Adriatic corner most travelers completely miss.

For over twelve years since we met our friend from P**a, we’ve chased the sea wind down these roads to sit with growers who have become family.

Our new Journal entry dives into this coast through the lens that moves us: raw terroir, radical amber macerations, and hidden spots where the wine tastes of pure sea salt.

We hand-craft and host every mile of our 2027 Bespoke Tour ourselves. Space is tiny so we can all fit around these same family tables.

Go the extra mile: https://thevalfers.com/istria/istria-and-the-borderless-adriatic/

Valeska Idarraga Fernando Paredes

An intimate, off-the-beaten-path journey through Istria, from Trieste’s coffee culture and Istria’s coast. Discover rare white truffles, local seafood, and terroir-driven wine.

31/05/2026

🧭 Most people have never even heard of 𝐈𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚—but we’re about to change that.

It’s this incredible, hidden pocket of Europe that sits right where 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚, 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚, and 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲 meet. Think ancient Roman history, endless vineyards, fresh truffles, and coastal towns that look like a movie set.

We put together a visual sneak peek of exactly what our days are going to look like. Truffle tasting, poolside views, historic towns, and plenty of wine!

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱.
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Secure your place:

https://thevalfers.com/limited-edition-journeys/croatia-food-wine-tour/

24/04/2026

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐆𝐏𝐒 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲).

We’ve always said we’ll take you off the beaten path, but we usually try to keep all four wheels on the ground. This shot from our last Saharan scouting trip is the perfect reminder of why we do what we do: because the most memorable moments happen when you stop following the GPS and start following the feeling.

Morocco is our second home. It’s the place where we’ve traded stories with carpet weavers over endless cups of tea and found the kind of silence in the dunes that stays with you long after you’ve flown home. We don’t just “book” these trips; we live them with you.

We’re heading back to the golden sands, and we want you in the passenger seat (ideally in a car with an actual engine).

𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞:

• The November Glow: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
• The March Oasis: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

We’re keeping the circle small—just 20 guests per journey. It’s the only way to make sure the hospitality feels personal and the wine flows exactly as it should.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬?

👉🏻 Check all the details & Reserve your seats:

https://thevalfers.com/small-group-tours/morocco-food-wine-tour/

19/04/2026

🌱 While others see a landscape, we see a pulse. The 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐨 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 is a masterclass in patience, where “heroic viticulture” isn’t a marketing term—it’s a way of life etched into the schist.

Standing atop these sun-drenched ridges, the scale of human effort becomes visceral.

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐨 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 is an intimate dialogue between the stone and the Douro River, a place where the air is heavy with history and the silence is absolute.

There is a distinct ease that comes with knowing which unmapped dirt road leads to the most honest glass of wine. It’s the feeling of a door being held open by a friend.

This is the Douro experienced at its true rhythm—unhurried, elevated, and entirely free. 🍇

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𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕

🔗 https://thevalfers.com/small-group-tours/portugal-food-wine-tour/
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12/04/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. ✨

Our latest visit to NOOR Restaurant reminded us why pacomoraleschef remains one of the most vital voices in global gastronomy. Alongside paola.gualandi_, they have curated a space where the forgotten spices of the Caliphate meet the precision of a contemporary art gallery.

These aren’t merely courses; they are “pieces of art” that narrate the 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐧. A privileged invitation to step back in time, without ever leaving the present.

An unforgettable experience, etched in gold and spice.

Thank you, Paco and Paola, for welcoming 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 once again. 🙏🏻

08/04/2026

𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐳 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭. 🕊️

I’m back in my hometown, catching that early light in the bodegas before the day really starts.

It’s , just soaking up the quiet and the shadows.

𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆.

03/04/2026

The only alarm clock we accept. ☕️✨

Mornings at La Mamounia Marrakech belong to those who appreciate a slower tempo. No crowds—just the heady aroma of orange blossom, beautiful people, and the city’s most coveted gardens.

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐞?

🔗 Live the Dream! https://thevalfers.com/small-group-tours/morocco-food-wine-tour/

01/04/2026

After three days of the Sahara’s raw, majestic silence, there is something incredibly grounding about pulling up a chair to a table like this.

Returning to Marrakech always feels like a homecoming, but having chef Meryem Cherkaoui personally curate the menu takes the experience to a different level.

There is a particular kind of greatness in the Marrakech extravaganza!

The desert is the soul, but this is the heartbeat. And we’re just getting started.

𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: https://thevalfers.com/small-group-tours/morocco-food-wine-tour/

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