Visitors to Pinhão in Portugal will be able to enjoy the best of the Douro Valley, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, after the historic Vintage House Hotel reopened its doors to the public at the end of March.
Following its recent purchase, the hotel, which was built in the 19th century as a house and wine storage warehouse for the Taylor’s Port family, has undergone a two-month refurbishment and will enable guests to experience the authentic heart of Portugal’s most famous wine region. With an enviable riverside location on the banks of the winding river Douro, The Vintage House Hotel was the first luxury property to open in the Douro Valley in 1998 and has retained many of its historical features, offering guests a chic country house style retreat. Purchased by The Fladgate Partnership in 2015, the rejuvenation of the property is the creative force of Adrian Bridge, the CEO of Europe’s leading wine hotel, The Yeatman in Porto. The first two properties in the region to feature twinstay itineraries, both The Yeatman and The Vintage House Hotel offer the discerning traveller a truly immersive Portuguese wine experience.
Each of The Vintage House Hotel’s 49 south facing rooms, including five new luxury suites, will offer views of the river and surrounding terraces which guests can enjoy from their private balcony. The Rabelo Restaurant will present a choice of traditional regional specialities and creative cuisine based on local ingredients, as well as a superb selection of the Douro’s famous table wines and Ports selected by the hotel’s expert wine team. Those looking for a pre-dinner aperitif can relax in the hotel’s historic bar, which has retained many of the rustic features in tune with its Port wine heritage.
Nestled in and amongst Portugal’s most awe-inspiring vineyards, life in Pinhão has a pace of its own. Guests can take the opportunity to sit back, relax by the outdoor swimming pool and enjoy the pleasures of fine wine, great food and stunning surroundings.
For those guests looking for a little more activity, The Vintage House Hotel will also launch a Wine School where guests and budding wine connoisseurs alike will be introduced to a selection of Portuguese wines from the cellar. Daily riverboat trips depart from the hotel’s doorstep and offer guests the opportunity to explore the region by river, as the Port wine merchants would have done centuries before.
Alternatively, tours to the surrounding wine estates, self guided walks, biking tours, the Douro Museum or nearby craft workshops, promise to genuinely immerse guests in the culture and history of this spectacular valley.
As one of Europe’s oldest wine regions and a UNESCO world heritage site, the Douro Valley remains undiscovered. Originally only accessible by boat, the valley is now easily accessible by car or train, and with the opening of a new road in April, the travel time from Porto to the Douro Valley will take just over one hour. When guests arrive in Pinhão they will quickly appreciate its unique position at the heart of Portugal’s top quality vineyards; surrounding properties include Croft Quinta de Roeda, Quinta do Noval, Warre’s Quinta de Cavadinha, Sanderman’s Quinta do Seixo and Taylor’s Quinta de Terra Feita. A rich land waiting to be explored.
Room rates at The Vintage House Hotel start from €200 per room per night on a B&B basis.
For more information or to book, visit vintagehousehotel.com
