The Luxury Travel Magazine
The Luxury Travel Magazine
When it comes to enotourism, many wine enthusiasts overlook Portugal in favour of world-renowned regions like Bordeaux, Tuscany, and the Napa Valley. But while this compact coastal nation still flies under the radar of many a connoisseur, Portugal is very much emerging as a major star on the world’s viticultural stage, and its 14 wine regions occupy some of Europe’s most beautiful, and diverse, terroir.
As the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, the Douro Valley needs little introduction, and with good reason – the terraced hills and gleaming river that wind north from Porto are spectacular, and the port wine produced here is celebrated the world over. The Douro is also held in increasingly high regard for its table wines, and it is far from the only Portuguese wine region worth exploring. Taking in rocky mountains, lush greenery, and sun-baked coastline, Portugal’s diverse topography makes for wines that vary dramatically from one region to the next. From the subtle effervescence of northern vinho verde, to the robust reds of the Algarve, Portugal has something to tempt every wine lover.
Accommodation options are enticing, too – from boutique wine quintas with dazzling views to city centre hotels offering an immersive wine experience, we’ve rounded up seven of the most tempting stays for wine lovers in Portugal. And rest assured, once you discover the wines of Portugal, you’ll be left in little doubt as to why the country consumes more vinho per capita than anywhere else. Read on to discover five of the best destinations for wine lovers in Portugal.
Forget any associations you may have of the Algarve as a region full of packed beaches and noisy resorts. Vila Vita Parc is a secluded haven tucked away from the tourist trail, with its gleaming white buildings and outdoor pools set beneath swaying palms looking out to sea. Steps lead down from leafy lawns to a secluded beach, and while trails lead out to nearby towns, you’re unlikely to want to stray too far from this elegant resort.
The numerous drinking and dining options include a Michelin starred restaurant, and wine lovers will delight in visiting the vast wine cellar, which houses some 11,000 bottles. Guests can enjoy guided tastings, led by expert sommeliers, and should be sure to try the wines and olive oils from the hotel’s own winery in the Alentejo. In case you need to be any more relaxed, the onsite Sisley spa offers a truly indulgent experience.
The steep, twisting road that leads to the lofty Quinta do Ventozelo wine estate is not the only thing about a visit here that will make your head spin. The centuries-old wine estate and former farm also produces spectacular gins made from home-grown botanicals, and the heady aroma of the enormous oak casks will whet your appetite for tastings led by enthusiastic staff.
The view from the expansive grounds and the outdoor infinity pool (open all year, so you can take a winter dip if the mood takes you), take in the verdant hills of the Douro valley, the snaking river below, and the blissful silence is punctuated only by birdsong. There’s excellent farm-to-table Portuguese food at the onsite restaurant, too, best accompanied by the quintas’s famous ports and table wines.
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten track escape with spectacular sea views, pristine gardens, stylish rooms and a well-regarded winery on site, look no further than Quinta Vale da Roca, an intimate eight-room boutique hotel perched on a cliffside west of Lisbon.
Tucked away from the tourist trail in the renowned wine region of Colares (and close to the fairytale palaces of Sintra), the family-run wine estate produces celebrated red and white wines produced from grapes cultivated on-site, and the owners are passionate about their produce.
Tasting sessions here are a real education, and there’s no better way to end a day’s exploring than pouring yourself a glass to enjoy while soaking in the outdoor pool and admiring the glorious sunset over the Atlantic.
Sitting proudly on a hillside above the storied port wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia and with unrivalled views across the river to the Porto skyline, The Yeatman is arguably Portugal’s best-known luxury wine hotel. Open since 2010, the large-scale hotel offers a luxe spa specialising in vinotherapy treatments, fine dining at the double-Michelin-starred Yeatman Gastronomic Restaurant, and expert-led wine tastings and masterclasses courtesy of some of the most esteemed sommeliers in the business.
Guests can visit the famous Dick’s Bar for a relaxed drink with an incredible view, and it’s a short walk downhill to the famous wine lodges and to World of Wine – a vast cultural district encompassing museums, galleries, shops and restaurants, all dedicated to celebrating the mighty grape. For a real immersive treat, guests can splash out on the enormous Presidential Suite, where the master bed is housed inside a replica wooden port barrel.
You can turn your city break into a luxurious wine-tasting experience at this artfully restored 18th-Century palacete in Lisbon’s lively historic centre. Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel is a five-star boutique spa hotel offers elegant lodgings in a tranquil setting just steps from one of Lisbon’s most famous viewpoints – the Miradoura de de São Pedro de Alcântara.
With renovations overseen by renowned Portuguese architect Miguel Câncio Martin, guests can marvel at original features like stucco ceilings and perfectly-preserved azulejo tiles, before sampling vinotherapy treatments at the Caudalie spa and enjoying expert-led wine tastings at the on-site Porto Wine Institute. Then it’s time to put your new-found pairing expertise to work at the Federico restaurant before setting out to enjoy the lively nightlife of the lively Portuguese capital.
Thirsty for more? Other notable wine stays in Portugal include L’and Vineyards in the Altentejo, Torre de Gomariz Wine and Spa close to Braga on the Vinho Verde Route, and Quinta da Côrte, in the Douro Valley.
