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Francisco Ferreira

April 17, 2019     8 minutes to read

Casa das Pipas: the pearl of Douro wine tourism

Known for being the first wine farm in Alto Douro region to employ women on the treads of grapes, Quinta do Portal, located in the municipality of Sabrosa, is a vast estate which extends from the vicinity of Celeirós to Pinhão carved slopes. In the vineyard, the work is not a bit: throughout the whole year, 100 hectares are worked hard by the winegrowers. And the result can be checked in the cellar: table wine, Port wine, rosé and muscatel, which, by the alcohol evaporation, subtly perfume the whole warehouse building, designed by Siza Vieira. At Casa das Pipas, with typical shale walls, there are twelve rooms of an impressive and ancient taste, facing South, overlooking the swimming pools and the extensive vineyards that surround it. Also on the main facade there is a comfortable living room, well-stocked with books, board games and a warm and cozy fireplace, as well as a dining room, which invites you to take a varied and delicious breakfast, with the swimming pool and the omnipresent vineyard in the background, or to taste a dinner, prepared by Chef Milton Ferreira.

Casa das Pipas surrounding environment

This property is located 5km from Sabrosa, 13km from Pinhão and 32km from Régua. The qualified service and the impeccable cleanliness, as well as the tranquility (the building is near the municipal road, but it is totally surrounded by vineyards, making a pleasant contact with the Nature), are some of the many aspects that stand out and that allow the rest.

Points of interest in the surroundings

The upstairs double rooms are equipped with a TV, a desk, an armchair, an air-conditioning unit and a spacious and well-equipped bathroom.

Interior of the upstairs double rooms

In the living room, upstairs, framed by the vineyard to lose sight of, there is a balcony, with tables and chairs, to enjoy the countryside Nature. The entire property has an excellent and free internet coverage, as well as mobile network.

Living room

The breakfast offered by the house is very well served (homemade cake, cheese, ham, various types of jams and bread, cottage cheese, fruit, cereals, milk and coffee) and, due to the proximity to the pool, it provides a much more pleasant awakening that in most hotels.

Breakfast in the dining room

We can walk through the vineyard and, in order to enrich our knowledge of the winemaking work, then make a visit to the cellars, offered by Quinta do Portal. It is also possible to take part in the vintage (between September and November) and, if you prefer to spend a warm summer afternoon with the youngest ones, you can choose to cool off with them in the children’s swimming pool.

Quinta do Portal Cellar

Being ideal for those who look for rest and peace, the price (around 130€ per night) fits perfectly in the quality of the facilities and the service, as well as the gastronomy.

Useful Informations:

 Medium temperature: 10ºC (Winter) and 23ºC (Summer)

 • Nearby localities: Sabrosa, Pinhão, Peso da Régua, Vila Real, Alijó, Lamego

Take a look on my Trás-os-Montes Photo Album and on the following video, that shows you Casa das Pipas exterior.

Images: Francisco Ferreira (PhotosOfEurope)

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