Overview
A unique and personal exploration into the nature of our human experience and connecting with the land and people of a beautiful and historic wine region in Brazil. Experience personal transformation through this deep exploration of land, culture, and connection through extraordinary wine travel.Pre-Trip Planning
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

A Day in the Vineyard
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
A Trip into Brasilian Culture
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

Understanding Wine in Brasil
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
Reflections
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

Reflective Call to Action
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
Explore Rio de Janeiro or the Campanha wine region in southern Brasil
Depending on interest, you can join a three-day visit to the islands off the coast of Rio de Janeiro or an exploration of the southernmost wine region in Brasil bordering Uruguay.
Whoever makes himself freer and more human in his own existence is doing his part towards peace.
~ Maria Rainer Rilke

Jungle Adventures
"What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and one another."
~ Mahatma Gandhi
Ready to experience the Brazilian jungles? Continue on your personal growth and transformation with an exhilarating journey into the rural Brazilian Pantanal or Amazon.
The Brasilian Pantanal is THE PLACE to see jaguars in the wild. The world's largest tropical wetlands hold magic and intrigue with some of the most diverse flora and fauna imaginable! This 5-day add-on experience will take you to the northern Pantanal near Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil where you will stay in a jungle lodge deep in the Pantanal, learn about the ways of living of the pantaneiro, the cowboy of the Pantanal, eat the local dishes (fresh and delicious!), explore the Pantanal on foot, by boat, and in the back of an open safari truck, and interact with locals as you learn about conservation and preservation efforts of the Pantanal. This is one of the most unique and exciting experiences in the world! Maximum capacity-7 participants
The Brazilian Amazon offers the intrigue and excitement of exploration of the world's largest rainforest and all of the beauty it has to offer. Join this six-day experience starting in Manaus, Amazonas and journey up the Rio Negro on a regional boat as you explore the jungles via canoe and hiking, stay in a lodge deep in the jungle, and camp out, sleep in a hammock, and swim in the healing black waters of the Amazon. We will learn from a shaman who treats his people with tinctures made from jungle flora and fauna. Interactions with and support of the local inhabitants of the areas we visit enrich the experience and help you understand how people live and survive in the jungles. Experience first-hand, the sounds, smells, sights, tastes, and touches (carefully!) of the jungle. This is a wonderful introduction to the Brazilian Amazon! Maximum capacity-15 participants
Both experiences will be tailored for what you want to experience and both can be add-ons, before or after our wine journey. Contact [email protected] to discuss possibilities!
"The Pantanal is to the Americas what the Serengeti is to Africa".
~ Unknown