Portugal has several wine routes, which make its wine regions known. However, many of the farms that produce wine have chosen to develop reference hotel projects, harmoniously combining the universe of wine with accommodation. So, from sleeping in barrels, flying over vineyards in balloon rides or relaxing in spas with massages and treatments based on wine and grapes, everything is possible according to the offer of existing wine tourism experiences. More than visiting vineyards and wineries or doing wine tastings, some farms and estates invite you to truly enjoy their hospitality. F Luxury presents proposals for some of the best Portuguese wine lodges.
Quinta da Pacheca – The Wine House Hotel
Quinta da Pacheca, in Alto Douro, whose name owes its name to Mariana Pacheco Pereira, a remarkable lady who, in the 18th century, led the property alone and prosperously, surprised by announcing a new and peculiar way of sleeping on the estate: the Wine barrels. Here, you can stay overnight in a barrel-shaped room, feeling like you’re inside a wine barrel. It is a luxurious double suite measuring 35 square meters. Since they were launched in 2018, the large kites have been a huge success, featuring comfortable beds, views of the Douro River and a skylight that allows you to see the stars. For those who prefer more traditional accommodation, in addition to the Wine Barrels, the hotel offers accommodation in its mansion, dating from the 18th century, more classic but equally comfortable.
In terms of activities, the farm has a wide range of options in its approximately 75 hectares of planted vineyards: a massage session in the middle of the vineyards, detox treatments, oriental and modeling massages, signature treatments at its Vineyard Spa or the famous grapes, a traditional method of maceration with the feet. It is also possible to visit the Ateliê d’Or and take part in ceramics, painting, or wood carving workshops. All this, in addition to guided tours, picnics, the olive harvest experience and wine tasting accompanied by magnificent cheeses. Once at Quinta da Pacheca, the certainty of spending a few unique days is safe. Thanks to its unique uniqueness, it has been consecutively awarded in terms of wine tourism, an example of which is the prestigious distinction of Best of Wine Tourism in the various modalities and in its famous wines that have been awarded with the most distinguished awards.
Quinta do Vallado Wine Hotel
Built in 1716, it is one of the oldest wineries in the Douro Valley and has the gift of combining history and modernity. It belonged to the unavoidable Dona Antónia Ferreira and is located close to Peso da Régua. Port wine is, therefore, one of its strengths, as well as welcoming visitors. The Wine Hotel at Quinta do Vallado has thirteen rooms: five in the original 18th-century house and eight in the modern building. Some have living rooms with fireplaces for the coldest days, others have private balconies with outdoor furniture, however, all have independent entrances from the garden. The restaurant, exclusively for guests, uses organic food from its own garden. Daily, there is the possibility of carrying out wine tastings, but, if this is scheduled in advance, in addition to the guided tour, there is the possibility of choosing the wines to be tasted. The program also features tasting initiation, oenology, blending or viticulture workshops, with enogastronomic lunches and dinners. In addition to these typical wine tourism activities, Quinta do Vallado also promotes rural tourism, with trails, fishing and jeep, bicycle, or kayak trips. It is possible to enjoy a swimming pool with a panoramic view or relax in the spa, which includes a jacuzzi, Turkish bath and sauna. Once at the spa, among the treatments, you can enjoy, among others, a massage with essential oils and wine therapy. Once there, know that not far away, about 25 kilometers away, is Casa de Mateus, which produces the most famous rosé in the country, so you can broaden your experience with wine tourism in Portugal.
Quinta do Ameal – Wine & Tourism Terroir
Located in the Lima River valley, in the heart of the Vinho Verde region in Alto Minho, and acquired by Esporão since 2019, Quinta do Ameal is a historic property dating from 1710 that extends over thirty hectares. As one of the most renowned brands in the region, with an exclusive tradition of producing wines from the Loureiro variety, the estate presents an intimate proposal for wine tourism: it has only five suites, created from rural houses – Casa Grande, with three independent suites, and Casa da Vinha with two suites, — provide the necessary privacy and comfort. In addition to the wine component, with different wine tastings available, Quinta do Ameal offers massages, kayaking on the Lima River, mountain bike rides, river trekking or walking the ecovia from Quinta do Ameal. In addition to the fourteen hectares of vineyards of the Loureiro variety, the farm has eight of forest, with walnut trees, chestnut trees and stone pines, some of which are over 200 years old, which makes walks and picnics more enjoyable. Whenever they need, guests have access to outdoor spaces, such as the pool, garden, and porches, where they can rest and relax.
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova – Relais & Châteaux
More than twenty years have passed since the Soares family gave meaning to the beginning of a dream that would turn out to be the journey of a lifetime, from Garrafeira Soares, based in the Algarve, to the wine and tourist paradise in Alentejo. Under the Relais & Châteaux seal, the award-winning Herdade da Malhadinha Nova has six accommodations, five on the main estate and another five kilometers away, in the village of Albernoa. In 2008, the first hotel unit appears, with the reconstruction of the original house, transformed into Malhadinha Country House & Spa. That same year, to the existing 200 hectares, another 250 hectares were added with the acquisition of Herdade do Ancoradouro. Ten years later, the construction of new hotel units began, recovered from ruins. The vineyard now covers an area of 80 hectares. Providing a perfect harmony between rural tourism and wine tourism, without leaving aside luxury and modernity, in terms of decoration, which blend these two aspects well, we find pieces signed by Philippe Starck, Olaio, Vista Alegre, Marcel Wanders, Alvar Aalto, Charles & Ray Eames or Mariano Fortuny, which coexist well with the original pieces designed by artisans. The amenities are from the Bulgari brand. For wine lovers, there is no shortage of activities, such as various tastings or the complete wine expert course, with a technical visit to the cellar and tasting of new vintages. Those less interested in wine can enjoy balloon rides, skydiving, canoeing on the Guadiana River and even classes in viola campaniça, a traditional Portuguese stringed musical instrument. The estate also raises cattle and produces honey and olive oil, always guided by sustainable practices.
Herdade do Sobroso – Wine & Country House
Here it is possible to feel the serenity of the authentic Alentejo and live the experience of sleeping in a true Alentejo hill, where modernity and comfort intersect in an unparalleled way. Herdade do Sobroso is located in the municipality of Vidigueira and is bounded by the Mendro mountain range to the north, by the Guadiana to the east, and to the south by the enormous plain that stretches as far as the eye can see. In its 1600 hectares, the estate built its wine cellar and its wine tourism center where it reconciles wine production with the pleasure that the whole space provides and the Nature that surrounds it. The region’s clayey and sandy loam soils provide a wide range of grape varieties such as Arinto, Antão-Vaz, Touriga-Nacional, Aragonez and Syrah, among others. In addition to the vast universe of wines, there are alternative activities such as fishing, taking a balloon ride at dawn to fly over the Guadiana River and the great Alqueva lake, a bike ride through 60 hectares of vineyards, a photo safari in a jeep, riding the horse or simply go for a walk or enter the world of hunting. At Casa da Quinta, with a typical Alentejo style, there are four double rooms and a suite. For its part, Casa da Cegonha has five more suites, with an independent entrance and porch, and this is where one of the most beautiful settings on the estate is provided. The estate’s restaurant offers traditional dishes from Alentejo cuisine, one of the tastiest and most appreciated in the country, accompanied by the wine that is produced there, with several award-winning references, including whites, reds, and rosés.
Adega do Fogo
The new luxury holiday home on the island of Pico, Azores, a stone’s throw from the sea, recovers the old Cabrito distillery and respective manor house, built about two hundred years ago. In fact, this former distillery was built by a priest at the beginning of the 18th century and was used by the community to produce its own brandy. It includes a distillery and four stills, set in a property measuring 4500 square metres. Currently, it has six bedrooms, a dining room and a heated swimming pool with a privileged view of the highest point in Portugal, the volcano. This unusual space, recovered by Benedita Branco, who, in 2018, inaugurated the well-known eco resort Lava Homes, also on the island, also offers the possibility of enjoying a sauna, Thai massage and a wood oven with barbecue, very inviting for the conviviality. Inserted in the Vine Culture Landscape of Pico Island, which in 2004 was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Adega do Fogo is ideal for large families and groups of friends, and it is possible to book the entire accommodation. In addition to the six rooms named Fogo, Sol, Mar, Lava, Vento e Terra – with large and comfortable beds, wooden beams on the ceiling, minimalist wardrobe, with the bright red of the doors and window frames, and whitewashed walls that, sometimes, , purposefully leave pieces of volcanic stone on display –, Benedita wants to develop a kind of experimentation laboratory to produce grape brandy, fig brandy (the red one, better than honey), banana brandy (existing on the island ), maize and sweet potato. At Adega do Fogo, the decoration of the common spaces is guided by simplicity and comfort, involving pre-existing materials and structures, not wasting anything. The two 50-litre demijohns of brandy found now serve as lamps in the dining room. The arm for squeezing the grapes serves as a wooden bench, next to the porch providing a pleasant shade; and the more than thirty barrels formerly used to ferment the fruit are objects of decoration in the area around the heated swimming pool. On one side, the peak of the mountain; on the other, the sea and the island of São Jorge: Adega do Fogo, a centenary manor house in the Azores, is to be enjoyed all at once.
Socalco Nature Hotel
On the north coast of Madeira, the beach at Porto do Seixal is one of the most sheltered places on the island and has only recently started to appear on tourist routes. Ideal for escaping the crowds of people, it offers, in addition to a warm sea, a unique view of the north coast and provides the necessary environment for rest and peace of mind. Due to the sinuosity of the landscape, it seems that you are in the middle of the Douro wine region when in reality you are on one of the terraces of Calheta. This is where this sustainable agrotourism property is located, created by chef Octávio Freitas, who invites you to interrupt an afternoon of rest by the pool to enjoy one of the many wine and gastronomic activities on offer, such as making bread or jam, and private meals prepared with the chef. From the open kitchen to the glass-enclosed dining room overlooking the sea, we have the A Razão restaurant, where Madeiran cuisine reigns supreme, using locally sourced ingredients. Take advantage of the inspiring surroundings to let yourself be carried away by the aromas, whose land has saved space for an agricultural area, with organic production, and an old wine press, where tastings are now held by appointment. In terms of accommodation, it is possible to count on eight independent premium houses, spread over the typical agricultural plots (or terraces) of the property, which offer a unique landscape of the Atlantic, and two rooms with sea views. In any case, the decoration is deliberately minimalist so as not to compete with the magnificent view that the property offers.