Tag: Portuguese vineyards

Romantic Hotels in Portugal

Roses are red, violets are blue, and this Valentine’s Day we have the hotel for you…

Dia dos Namorados, as it’s known here in Portugal, is a day to celebrate love or essentially an excuse for us to all eat lots of chocolate and hope someone sends us flowers. Over the years the day has evolved to galentine’s day or palentine’s day, however we’re all about the romance this February and this glorious country is filled with lots of glorious hotels to explore.
So why wait, take your Valentine to one of our selected nine;

 

1. Valverde Santar Hotel & Spa, Viseu
Located in the North of Portugal, this gorgeous spa hotel is ideal for a few days away. The property boasts 21 rooms and suites, a series of living and meeting rooms full of history, a restaurant serving Portuguese haute cuisine, an impressive spa with a large indoor pool and an idyllic post-Renaissance garden with an outdoor heated pool and plenty of picture-perfect places to walk or relax. Being a Relais and Chateaux property their culinary expertise are set to impress.


2. Vila Vita Parc, The Algarve
Often famed as a more of a family friendly place, this stunning coastal resort also caters for couples. They have an adults only wing with breathtaking sea views that are so good you may want to just order room service and not leave. If you travel with your little ones their kids club and babysitting services are fantastic, which gives you time to have lunch on the beach or a romantic dinner for two in their wine cellar.


3. Octant Furnas, The Azores
With direct flights from Faro to Ponta Delgada it couldn’t be easier to travel to the Hawaii of Europe. The Azores is an adventurer’s playground with whale watching and dramatic volcanic scenery. Time to get steamy at the Octant Furnas, by this we mean bathing in the hotel’s hot springs of course. This romantic boutique’s interiors pay homage to the island’s natural beauty with accent walls showing off waterfalls and calderas, plant pots aplenty and natural colourways. You can also bring your furbabies here, who will actually be VIPd more than you!

4. Quinta do Porto Nogueira, Óbidos
An undiscovered gem lies 40 minutes north of Lisbon. Quinta do Porto Nogueira is the essence of a family owned boutique hotel, which to our delight is also housed on a vineyard. You can spend your afternoons strolling through vines and sipping on wines before enjoying a homemade candlelit dinner. The interiors are boho chic with cosy touches such as a fireplace overlooked by your king bed. We also loved their outdoor fire pit which should be coupled with a glass of one of their vinho tintos.

5. The Rebello, Porto
New to the Portuguese hotel scene, The Rebello is not to be missed! Perfectly positioned for jaw dropping views over Porto and the river Douro, if not from your room then from their rooftop bar. Think industrial chic meets Portuguese heritage. They also have an unbelievable spa, which let’s face it is all we want from a weekend getaway (and wine, which is definitely on the menu). Nothing says I love you like booking the latest trendy hotel.

6. The Six Senses Douro Valley, Douro Valley
The current grand dam of luxury hotels in Portugal, and for good reason might we add. Located in one of Portugal’s most celebrated wine regions, The Six Senses is perched on a hilltop in a 19th century manor. As a brand their focus is on wellbeing and this Portuguese edition is no exemption to the rule – spend your afternoons making your own body scrubs or perfecting your yoga form with views of the valley. The food is also very much garden to table and the hotel can even arrange a romantic picnic for you.

7. Casa de S. Lourenço, Serra da Estrela
If snow capped mountains and cosying up by a fire doesn’t scream romance then we don’t know what does. A humble bed and breakfast turned sleek mountain lodge, Casa de São Lourenço is an ideal hideaway with your loved one. Explore the many mountain trails near the hotel before heading back for a spot of soothing R&R in their spa. Their floor to ceiling glass-fronted restaurant with jaw-dropping views is just the place for dinner for two.

8. Immerso, Ericeira
From snowy mountains to surfer’s paradise, Immerso is a super trendy zen-like hotspot for the ample surfer who wants the lap of luxury to boot. The decor is simple with modern touches and this is very much a “slow” hotel with sustainability at the forefront. The Hopeless romantic in you can swoon over endless horizons, pine-scented breezes and starlit evenings wine in hand soundtracked by crashing surf.


9. Dá Licença, The Alentejo
If this place isn’t on your radar, it should be.
Dá Licença is the labor of love from a successful duo. Vitor Borges and Franck have brought their aesthetic ideas, sensibilities, tastes and ways of looking at the world to create a unique hotel noticeable for its commitment to quality and artistry. Plus, it’s adults only and a real place to unplug from the outside world.

All of these hotels are available to book through Pippa Rose Travel, who will tailor make your trip and ensure you are VIPd during your stay; whether that’s a complimentary upgrade, a food and beverage credit or a massage.

Contact us on:

+7990824249 or +351914249592
[email protected]
Instagram: @pipparostravel

Grape Escapes: Portugal

Wine lovers rejoice! First in the series of Grape Escapes we will be exploring Portugal, aka the motherland of delightfully tasteful and inexpensive vinho.

Have you ever wondered what makes the difference between a ‘Dao’ and a ‘Douro’? Or perhaps what exactly it is that gives ‘Vinho Verde’ it’s sparkle? There’s always time to find out and we’ll help.  As self-confessed wine experts and having ‘tried and tested’ top Portuguese vineyards, we are here to point you in the ‘wine’ direction of exploring a country that has so much to offer.

With a good year-round climate and the influence of the Atlantic, Portugal is known to produce some of the best wines on the planet, and with the country keeping a lot of its produce to itself (unlike many others), you can be guaranteed its extensive quality and affordability.

You won’t find a ‘screw-top’ in sight; not only is wine one of Portugal’s biggest commodities, but their bottles are stoppered with authentic and locally grown cork, which is one of their biggest exports; the corks naturally let in a small amount of air, which fuller red wines can benefit from. It oxidizes the tannins, which helps create a smoother finish, nutty aroma and an overall more drinkable wine.

Each region of Portugal has its own distinct climate; the cooler temperatures and Atlantic breeze make the far north of Portugal (north of Porto/Braga region) ideal for producing the very popular ‘Vinho Verde’, whereas the daytime heat and cool nighttime temperatures in the middle of the countryside, as you head further south into the Alentejo region, are perfect for ripening the grapes for a beautifully smooth red (otherwise known as ‘Vinho Tinto’).

The landscape and nature changes so much across the country, that to experience it and quite literally get a flavour for the country as a whole, travel from top to bottom or vice versa is a must!

Accommodation throughout the country can range from a renovated monastery or convent to a minimalist and eco-friendly beach house or a traditional farmhouse with a modern finish.  While much of your time is spent enjoying the surroundings and sampling local flavours and delicacies, the opportunities for activities such as golf & horse-riding are endless.

The ideal time of year to visit is in the September/October months, when temperatures are pleasantly warm, evenings are still long, the ‘summer crowds’ have thinned, and most importantly it is the Harvest season across the vineyards.

Of course no wines should be tasted without the accompaniment of a freshly baked sourdough loaf, or a variety of local artisan cheeses and smoked hams from surrounding farms.

 

With the perfect mix of beautiful historic architecture, beams of countryside and stunning coastlines & beaches, Portugal truly ‘has it all’.

Journey down the long and ‘wine’ding roads and discover the very best of what this beautiful country has to offer.  Get in touch with us for more information; [email protected]

Sáude!

*As ever with any our trips we take the stress out of planning, cost the same as going direct and we will give you our insider knowledge as well as making sure you are VIPd where ever you stay.

 

Suggested Route:

Braga – Porto – Douro Valley – Coimbra – Areias do Seixo – Lisbon – Comporta – Evora – Alentejo – Algarve

Suggested wineries by region:

Vinho Verde (north of Braga) – Palácio da Brejoeira + Solar de Merufe

Bairrada (near Coimbra) – Quinta Mata Fidalaga

Dão (near Coimbra) – Parador Casa da Insua

Porto – Taylor’s

Douro Valley – Esporão + Quinta do Vesuvio + Quinta de La Rosa + CARM

Lisbon/Tejo (Lisbon & Comporta) – Quinta do Monte d’Orio + Herdade de Comporta + Casal Sta. Maria

Alentejo (Alentejo) – Herdade de Malhadinha / Herdade dos Grous / Herdade de Freixo

Algarve (north of Portimão) – Morgado do Quintão + Quinta Barranco Longo

 

Suggested places to Stay:

Braga – Torre de Gomariz Wine & Spa Hotel

Porto – The Yeatman + Rosa et al townhouse + Mo House

Douro Region – Six senses Douro Valley + Douro41

Coimbra – Quinta das Lágrimas

Lisbon/Terras Novas – Areias do Seixo

Lisbon city centre – Palácio Príncipe Real

Comporta – Sublime Comporta + Casa Palmela + Casas Na Areia

Évora – Convento Espinheiro + São Lourenço do Barrocal + Da Licença

South Alentejo – Herdade Malhadinha Nova

Algarve – Fazenda Nova Country House + Vilamonte Farmhouse

East Algarve – Grand House (This is a great stop off at if you want to twin your Portugal road trip with a Spanish extension)