Visitors to Pinhão will be able to enjoy the best of the Douro Valley, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, as the historic Vintage House Hotel reopens its doors in late March this year.

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, is undergoing 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 chief executive of Europe’s leading wine hotel, The Yeatman in Porto.

The first two properties in the region to feature twin-stay 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.

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.