Page 42 - Code de Vino, #17/23, a/w 2018

40 Feature Story Code de Vino #17 Code de Vino #17 Quinta do Portal (Douro Valley) 41
Architecture Slate and cork were used as finishing materials (the finishing
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area is 2051 m ), and the area of the concrete-and-steel
The dream of Eugénio Branco, the owner of Quinta do building is 4722 m . Douro port and other wines age
2
Portal, came true in the form of an architectural masterpiece in this temple of wine and time.
in Douro Valley built by outstanding architect Álvaro Siza
Vieira. Quinta do Portal was his second wine-related project. The architecture of the winery has won numerous special
awards, including The Best of Wine Tourism award for
It was literally built among the vineyards, symbolizing the "Accommodations" in 2007 for the main guest house (Casa
balance between the built and natural environments, which das Pipas), and "Sustainable Development" in 2008. In 2011,
was made possible thanks to the materials (slate, cork), the wine cellars of Quinta do Portal were awarded the Douro
which corresponded to the colors and character Architecture Prize and Best of Wine Tourism award for
of each season. "Architecture and Landscape" (Decanter magazine award).

Tourism

Quinta do Portal is rightly considered the wine tourism leader
in the region. Constructed in different styles, two boutique
hotels, Casa das Pipas and Casa do Lagar, are designed
for maximum comfort and to introduce visitors to the region's
winemaking and culture. Apart from wine tastings and special
tours through the vineyards and cellars, there are some active
leisure programs available as well. If you want to dive right into
the atmosphere of winemaking, you can come during harvest
time and help pick the grapes.

The Casa das Pipas guest house offers 12 suites overlooking
the south, a large open swimming pool, a children's pool,
a panoramic reception area, gym and wine library. It excels
in its extremely welcoming atmosphere. This boutique hotel
Architect Álvaro Siza Vieira is located amidst the vineyards, with vines growing so close
you can reach out and touch them from the terrace or the edge
Álvaro Siza Vieira was born in 1933. In 1955, he graduated from the School of Fine of the swimming pool. The stunning view of the Douro Valley
Arts of Porto (Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto, ESBAP). He completed his first mountain peaks is also worth mentioning.
project in 1954.
Casa do Lagar is a guest house located in a renovated old
From 1966 through 1969, he was a professor at ESBAP, and from 1976 through 2003
in the Department of Architecture at University of Porto. He is a visiting professor at building used as a mill and olive oil pressing facility. It offers
École Polytechnic in Lausanne, the University of Pennsylvania, the Harvard Graduate moderate prices for 4 apartments, two of which are large
School of Design and other universities. enough to fit four beds and are perfect for families with children.

He currently works in the city of Porto. In 1992, he was awarded the Pritzker
Architecture Prize. Álvaro Siza Vieira was also awarded the Royal Gold Medal by
the Royal Institute of British Architects. This award was presented to him by Queen
Elizabeth II in 2009. In 2010, he was given the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the
Technical University of Lisbon (Universidade Técnica de Lisboa). In 2011, he won
the Douro Architecture Prize for his Quinta do Portal cellar project. In 2015, he won
the "Building of the Year" contest from ArchDaily.com, a prestigious online publication
(in the "Office" category).