Change Your World Through Wine, Travel, and Personal Transformation

Five days before your departure, you will receive a daily email with trip preparation details to help you make the most of your upcoming experience.  In the meantime, enjoy a bit of Portuguese language practice, explore the area of Brasil in which we will be visiting, and begin your packing preparation!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure.
There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”

~ Jawaharial Nehru

Flights from your hometown to Porto Alegre, Brazil.  Plan to arrive in Porto Alegre, Brazil no later than 2 PM on our scheduled arrival date.

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

~ Gustav Flaubert

We will meet you at the Salgado Filho Porto Alegre International Airport no later than 2:00 PM on Saturday, DATE. We'll gather our luggage and board a modern, comfortable private bus for a 2.5 hour trip to the winery/hotel. On the bus, you'll sit with someone new and get to know each other using a few prompts. Upon arrival at the hotel, you'll check in and have the afternoon to rest. At 5:30 pm, we'll meet in the lobby where you'll be paired with a local employee and together you will explore the property. Bring your Portuguese language cheat sheet so you can practice with your new connection. Dinner will be at 7 PM. 

 “Each new friendship can make you a new person because it opens up new doors inside of you.”

~ Kate DiCamillo

We'll spend the day in the vineyard, so bring comfortable shoes and clothing. Leave your electronics in your room or bring them to breakfast and we'll safeguard them for you so you can fully enjoy via all of your senses. Enjoy a continental breakfast at 7 AM and we'll depart to the vineyard at 8 AM from the lobby. We'll start with a presentation and discussion about regenerative agriculture and agroforestry as we walk through the vineyard. Then we'll do a coaching exercise and have lunch in the vineyard. After lunch, we'll have a conversation about vine growth and vineyard management with local experts and you'll be paired again to walk the vineyard with a local worker. We'll have a mid-afternoon tea and you'll have another coaching session and debrief. We'll return to the hotel around 5 PM. Dinner will be 7 PM.

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.

- Annie Lamott

The day starts with continental breakfast at 7 AM, then gather in the lobby at 8 AM for departure. We'll spend the day visiting the Mercado Publico Porto Alegre (scavenger hunt type experience - language, culture, food - seek out local aspects). We'll end the day with a de-brief. After dinner at 7 PM, we'll go out at 9 PM for a star-gazing and silent coaching exercise.

I have good news and I have bad news:
The bad news is that there is no key to the universe.
The good news is that the door has never been locked. 

~ Swami Beyondananda

Today we'll have several experts join us to explore Brasil wine culture in more detail. We'll cover regions, terroir, grape varieties, and vineyard and winery practices. We'll have a morning and afternoon break plus a leisurely lunch with a short tasting and another short tasting at 5 pm. The evening is your own for reflection, reading, connecting with others, personal coaching, and dinner.

To change the world you see, change the vision you are using to see it.  

~ Alan Cohen

You'll meet a partner after breakfast for a couple of exercises designed to encourage intimate connection and shared reflections. You'll be paired with a local staff member for lunch to practice communication techniques to bridge language. The afternoon will be free and we'll gather at 7 pm for our last dinner together where we'll debrief, share, laugh, and celebrate the wonderful company and food.

“Self-reflection is a humbling process.
It’s essential to find out why you think, say, and do certain things – then better yourself.”

~ Sonya Teclai

We'll say our goodbyes in the morning, then you'll have the day free to connect and prepare for departure. We'll have transportation ready for those going to the airport and those wanting to spend more time in Porto Allegre. For those going on to other adventures, we'll work with you to plan your transportation options.

"Don't be sad by leaving.
Saying goodbye is our first step to seeing each other again."

~ Samuel Kosipa, Teacher and Soulful Traveling Guide, Ghana

Now that you have returned from your delightful Brazilian adventure, consider in-depth reflection, continued writing, and let's muck through the question, "where do I go from here?"  Each day, we request that you reflect on and write about the following statements or questions.  As you proceed through this exercise, you will develop your own unique plan of action, which will continue the enthusiasm for personal growth, and take you farther into the personal transformational process, the Reflective Call to Action, which is an important facet of participating in an adventure such as this!

Reflective Call to Action

Day 1.  What is missing in your life?

Day 2.  Describe the most impactful moment you had during this experience.  What are the key components that made this moment so profound?

Day 3.  How would your life change if you expand on the impactful moment within our program and apply it to your daily growth?

Day 4.  What will happen in your life if you make no change?  What will that feel like?

Day 5.  After experiencing this program, what do you feel is your Call to Action to lead a transformed life?

Day 6.  Describe the first step you can take to lead you to a transformed life.  What do you think you need to do right now? What is one step you could take right now that would indicate you were moving forward?

Day 7.   List and describe the resources you will need to influence others. Identify potential sources for each of these resources.

Day 8.  What can you do to ensure this first step leads to the second step, which leads to the third, and continues on to ensure your personal transformation?

Day 9.  Describe how you can take your transformed life and influence others to bring about the desired action you want to see happen.

Day 10.  How will you know you have achieved your Call to Action and how will you celebrate your success?

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

~ Helen Keller

Wherever you go, go with your whole heart. ~ Confucious