Douro Valley, Portugal

Zannier Private Estates - Quinta do Pessegueiro

Style

Vaunted vintner’s rest

Setting

Pinnacle of Douro Valley

Sleeps

10

Decadent wine-estate homestead Quinta do Pessegueiro sits high on a leafy throne above the Douro River amid the valley’s terraced vineyards. Built among sensuously contoured scenery, this architecturally astounding winery alchemises rich reds and fine ports from vines that coat the slopes, while the colonnaded quinta encapsulates the rare charm of a Zannier estate with its country-hopping decor, zesty sociable spaces, hotel-aping service… and excellent wines to pair them with.

Smith Extra

Get this when you book through us:

A bottle of wine on arrival

First Glance

  • The hideaway is comprised of two buildings (590sq m in total) over three levels.
  • The whitewashed villa has a classic look with colonnaded loggias at the front, neat greenery, a meticulously landscaped terrace and Spanish-tile roofing. Within, there are designer furnishings, statement antiques and a chic cache of paintings and sculptures. It’s homey, with breathtaking Douro Valley views, but luxury is intimated in its sumptuous fittings and fabrics.
  • The 86sq m living room is dressed in cream and gold with large-scale paintings on the wall, elegant bronzes and ample comfy sofa seating. There’s a piano and direct access to the veranda.
  • More sultry in style, the 44sq m lounge has a black-and-red colour scheme with wood-panelled walls, paintings on display and statuettes on glossy plinths, and it has a fully-stocked personal bar
  • Fully-equipped kitchen (27sq m) with whitewashed exposed brick, high-gloss cabinets and an azulejo-tiled floor.
  • A dining room (41sq m) with a long table to seat 12 and a chandelier.
  • A small (29sq m) studio apartment for staff use only, with a king-size bed, bathroom with a walk-in shower and powder room.

Villa highlights

  • Wine, glorious wine
  • Intoxicating views
  • Classically beautiful digs

Sleeping arrangements

  • There are six bedrooms in total to sleep up to 10 adults and six kids in total.
  • Bedroom 1 (47sq m) is in its own annexe, just next to the main villa. It has Japanese-inspired decor mixing vintage lacquerwork with modern art. There’s a super-king-size bed, and an ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower, bath tub and double vanity.
  • Bedroom 2 (25sq m) has Moroccan-inspired decor and a king-size bed. The ensuite bathroom has a walk-in shower.
  • Bedroom 3 (20sq m) has Indian-inspired decor and a king-size bed. The ensuite bathroom has a walk-in shower.
  • Bedroom 4 (20sq m) has Brazilian-inspired decor and a king-size bed. The ensuite bathroom has a walk-in shower.
  • Bedroom 5 (25sq m) has Chinese-inspired decor and a king-size bed. The ensuite bathroom has a walk-in shower.
  • A sixth kids’ bedroom with Cuban-inspired decor and three pairs of bunk-beds to sleep up to six. There’s also a living area, ensuite bathroom with a double vanity and a powder room.

Key kit

  • Check-in, 3pm; check-out, 11am
  • The villa’s available all year round
  • Breakfast is included
  • Concierge and a personal shopper or chef can be arranged on request (for an extra charge)
  • With 48 hours’ notice, a babysitter or nanny can be arranged for an extra charge
  • Laundry service available on request
  • Garden maintenance crew
  • Three hours of housekeeping a day, with linens changed twice a week
  • Yoga and gym equipment
  • Library of books
  • Board games
  • TVs and free bottled water in guest rooms
  • Free WiFi
  • House bath products
  • Pets aren't allowed at the hotel

Grounds

  • The 11-acre estate has lush landscaped gardens, olive groves and many neat rows of vines.
  • There’s direct access to the Douro River with a path leading through the grounds.
  • The winery close by is set in a very striking modern build composed of glass and concrete cuboids, and it’s surrounded by fertile vineyards. Within there’s a centrepiece spiral staircase, lounge, and various tasting rooms. And barrelfuls of fine wine, of course.
  • Alfresco dining terrace with a barbecue.
  • Leafy terrace with a fountain, greenery-threaded pergola, cypress trees and other decorative features.
  • Furnished, colonnaded loggia on two levels with views of the valley and river. Gated entrance.
  • Private free parking located next to the villa.

Location

  • The villa sits amid the rolling wine-giving mountains of Portugal's Douro Valley, one of the world’s oldest wine regions, overlooking the Douro River. All around are terraced vineyards and quintas (wine estates), centuries-old cellars and granite bluffs. Its winding roads make for scenic road trips and there are picturesque ports and villages to pause at.
  • The hotel’s a two-hour drive from Porto or just over an hour’s drive from Vila Real. International flights from all over Europe, the east coasts of the Americas and Morocco arrive direct at Porto; and if you’d prefer to chopper in, you can touchdown at Vila Real’s airstrip.
  • The closest town to the hotel is Pinhão, just across the river and a 30-minute drive away. There’s a direct train from Porto to the town’s prettily azulejo-tiled train station, which takes around two-and-a-half hours, with some remarkable country scenes to ogle along the way.
  • Wine tasting is a priority in this region – there’s the Zannier family winery onsite which you can tour followed by a tasting. And you’re surrounded by noted cellars, so it would be rude not to sample the wares.
  • If you arrive at harvest time, you’ll be invited to help out with grape picking and stomping, plus tastings of new and vintage yields.
  • The hotel has its own traditional rabelo boat, so you can wind lazily along the river (€400 a person) stopping at wineries along the way. Or the concierge can point out the most rewarding hiking and mountain-biking routes.
  • Ask staff to pack you a picnic for a lazy lunch on the riverbank or in the woodland.

The Guestbook

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Price per night from $437.41