The Ribeiro family saw the way the land lies. Well they should do, given their long association with the Douro region, and their extensive vineyards that traverse every wrinkle and fold of these spectacular mountains. So they upgraded their vintage manor house into a small hotel with 5 comfortable rooms in 2005, to better promote the Quinta do Vallado brand in particular, and to capitalise on the growing popularity of the region, Portugal's answer to Tuscany or Bordeaux.
The winery itself was architect-redesigned and modernised in 2009, making bold use of local schist. The winery-hotel's success led to an additional smart New Wing with a further 8 rooms, a library, a chic living room and a dining room. This striking building has large glass windows overlooking the Corgo valley, cut-slate walls and wooden floors. The ethos is to use only Portuguese materials, products and produce (if possible from Douro or Porto) - from the slate to the toiletries to the goats' cheese. And speaking of food, we loved the flavours and regional specialities, and blissfully went from meal to meal in a happy daze, enhanced by the excellent home-grown wines (recommended by Jancis Robinson, no less). Otherwise, you can splash in the pool, have a massage, borrow a bicycle or take a cooking class, and the winery tour is a must. What a marvellous blend!
Highs
- Wonderful terraced setting on the slopes of the Corgo river, close to the confluence with the Douro; fab views
- Supremely comfortable rooms and facilities in both sections of the hotel; all fixtures and finishings are of the highest quality
- Delicious food and great wine - all as local as possible; they even have their own vegetable patch
- Good value, and will suit everybody from honeymooners to families
- Just a short drive from the mighty Douro itself (boat trips recommended) and there's kayaking and fishing on the Corgo river
Lows
- The (seemingly seldom used, and thus luckily relatively quiet) IP3/A24 motorway traverses the valley opposite, which does slightly blight the view
- Dinner is a set menu with at most 2 choices, and lunch is chosen from a limited menu, though you can always request alternatives
- The pool is unheated
- We couldn't find the property that easily, but this was likely more our fault than theirs...
Best time to go
Northern Portugal is pretty much an all-year destination. Springs are glorious, when the vines burst with leaves, and summers can be very hot indeed (thankfully, there's a pool to cool off in). Autumn (when we visited) is really beautiful, with the vines on the turn and warm days followed by chilly evenings. Winter sees some rain and it does get colder, but good food and wine will keep any blues away. Note that the pool is unheated, so late spring, summer and early autumn will be your best bet if you want to swim off some of the excess calories consumed at delicious mealtimes.
Our top tips
Don't miss a boat trip up the Douro Valley. The terraced hills, old port lodges and steep valleys make for a memorable and relaxed voyage.
- Boutique Hotel
- 13 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
- Fishing equipment
- Kayaks
Rooms
The traditional saffron-hued 15th-century Manor House has 5 comfortable rooms. You get romantic details like an in-built stone window seat, or a chamfered lookout with a colonnade. The Suite is larger and occupies a corner of the farmhouse; the Master Suite has an additional living room. Bedheads are wooden, sometimes painted; colours are cosy - an antique rug might grace the floor, bird prints may cluster on walls. Bathrooms are tiled in aquamarine, cream or ochre.
The 2-storey building is surprisingly spacious inside. There’s a large upper-floor living room with a fireplace, books and magazines leading to a vine-covered balcony with commanding views over the countryside. Adjacent is a formal dining room.
In contrast, the 21st-century New Wing provides a contemporary version of the traditional Douro farmhouse. Two storeys again, with ground-floor common areas - a large living room with a fireplace and honesty bar, a games room, a dining space - and floor-to-ceiling windows gazing over valley views.
Eight smart rooms run along the angled top floor, all with excellent views and balconies. They’re identically decorated in white, wood, glass and precision-cut slate. The Suite has an additional living room and a larger balcony; Superior rooms are at the end of the building, so again have a larger footprint - we really enjoyed our large balcony. Super bathrooms have underfloor heating, slate baths, double sinks, a separate loo and shower behind glass doors, and swanky hardware.
Since our last visit a new building, Casa da Eira, has been added in a private corner of the property. The rooms here are split level and cabin-esque with wood-clad walls, embroidered bed linens, and private terraces with spectacular views across the grounds. There's also a communal lounge with an honesty bar.
All rooms have good-quality linens and towels, a radio, bathrobes, locally produced complimentary toiletries, and slippers.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Iron
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast, in the form of a superior continental buffet, is laid out along the counters in the dining room from 8.30am. Choose from ham, chorizo, cheese slices, local quince paste, croissants and pastries, delicious homemade pumpkin jam, marmalades, lovely fruits, honey, nuts and cereals. Eggs are cooked to order, and tea, coffee and hot chocolate are plentiful.
You're probably out and about for lunch, and can ask for a picnic to be made up with a bit of notice. If not, then tuck into a small tapas menu - those little country sausages were truly the very best I have ever eaten, rich with pork fat - or order sandwiches.
But dinner was where we began to fully appreciate the Douro region's gourmet bounty. The hotel has its own vegetable patch, and the simple set menus showcase local produce. On our first night we started with a light, smooth and creamy cabbage soup, followed by baked cod in breadcrumbs with local potatoes. My husband had the roasted goat ribs. Dessert was the most delicate of lime mousses. On the second night we feasted on hake and spinach bake, pork medallions in a port sauce, then lemon pie. Our daughter was cooked for specially - chicken escalope followed by chocolate fondant. So any special requests can be easily catered for. And of course, there's the wine...
Don't miss the winery tour. You're shown the vineyards, and the state-of-the-art facilities for wine production. The guide spoke immaculate English. There's a small shop attached should you be unable to resist a bottle of their tawny port, as we were... Note that Jancis Robinson ranked Quinta do Vallado Sousão 2009 Douro as one of the top 50 Portuguese wines. But make sure you have enough room in your luggage, as you already receive a bottle of wine and olive oil for booking through i-escape!
If you want to dine elsewhere, consider Aquapura, just 12km away, or DOC on the Douro, or try Castas & Pratas or DouroIn.
Features include:
- Bar
- Kids' meals
- Organic produce
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Take a boat tour up the beautiful and historic Douro river; the embarkation point is a 30-minute drive away
- A tour of the winery is included in the room rate, and well worth doing. They've recently upgraded all the facilities and it looks most impressive, and you get a tasting too. If you're here in season you could join in the wine treading...
- Jeep safaris are available on the property
- There are bicycles to borrow
- And kayaks to take onto the Corgo river where you can also go fishing
- Take a picnic by the river or into the hills. There's good birding in these mountains, too
- In the summer, cool off in the swimming pool; the garden has orange trees and a vegetable patch
- Cooking classes are available with advance notice, and you learn traditional local dishes
- Have a massage in the treatment room; private yoga sessions are also available with advance notice
- Relax over chess and a glass of local port in the library or have a game of snooker in the basement
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Mountain biking
- Plantlife / flora
- Private guided tours
- Swimming
- Well being
- Wildlife
- Wine tasting
- Yoga
Kids
Quinta do Vallado is a great place for a family stay. The pool and gardens, boat trips down the Douro, and the opportunity to go on the wine tour or have a massage while a babysitter looks after the kids, will mean everybody in the family has a good time. Staff are unfailingly sweet to children, although the nicely set-out common spaces and long drop from the low wall aren't conducive to toddlers.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
The Manor House Suite and New Wing Suite are the best option as they can fit a baby cot in the in the bedroom as well as 2 extra beds for children in the living room. The living room can alternatively fit 1 extra bed for over 12s.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitters can be arranged - see Rates.
Baby listening:
Baby monitors are available on request.
Baby equipment:
- Baby cot
- Extra beds
- Bottle warming on request
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
- High chair
- Kids options offered
Kids Activities on site:
- Swimming pool (unheated)
- Garden to romp around
- Games in the library, including chess, checkers and backgammon
- Snooker table
Kids Activities nearby:
- Boat trips along the Douro river
- Kayaking on the Corgo
- Bikes to borrow
Families Should Know:
- There are no minibars in the rooms, but you can always ask to keep perishables in the kitchen
- There's a stone wall running along the terrace, below which is a big-enough drop to be heart-stopping, so keep an eye on younger ones. And at one point, near reception, the slope of the hill and the angle of the wall don't keep parallel, so it is easy for a small child to climb up
- The pool is unfenced
- We did spend a bit of time chasing after our toddler to prevent breakages in the lounge and library
Distances:
- Airport: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Hospital: 10 minutes
- Shop: 5 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Quinta do Vallado is in the Douro wine region of northern Portugal. The hotel is found in the Corgo valley, near to its confluence with the River Douro, and 6km from the town of Peso da Régua. It is 100km from Porto, and 25km from Vila Real.
By Air
Vila Real is the closest airport, but Oporto (Porto) is a much bigger hub. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
It is probably easiest to hire a car, although you could take a taxi or arrange a transfer from either airport - around EUR25 from Vila Real and EUR100 from Porto in 2012.
By Car
See our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Portugal and getting around
Airports:
- Porto 100.0 km OPO
- Vila Real 25.0 km VRL
Other:
- Beach 60.0 km
- Shops 6.0 km
- Restaurant 5.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape