This property is located in Amarante which is about 1 hour drive from the Douro wine region... the…read morehotel is very nice in a nice setting. We did arrive and it looks like a Relais Chateaux... we were welcomed and got a pretty nice room... decor is on the classic old style, and we were expecting that.... Our room had a balcony that overlooked the River and the Church that was quite nice.. Room, The bed could improve as well as pillows and duvet... they could also refresh the rug in the room... even thouhg there was a lot of fabric around, I did not smell anything odd, and I am VERY picky on odors... that could not be said about the corridors of our 4th floor... it did smell odd. Lighting in the room was defecient as most hotels and trying to charge your electronics was a nightmare... once you turned your lights out, it would cut the power of your devices as well, so we had to charge in the bathroom. Bathroom was on the ok side... shower was also on the good side. The bathrobe needs a replacement as it was harsh and over-used... Staff in the lobby could be nicer.... Breakfast in the dining room was very good... great service there! As for the restaurant, I will post a review of its own as it does deserve a star in the Michellin book!!! The gardens outside are quite nice... they needed some care though.. All in all, it was a good hotel and missing some details to maintain the R.C. status in my opinion.... Enjoy

Wonderful historic location. Our room was near the service road and diesel fumes were not good…read more Great restaurant and excellent staff. Recommended

An amazing winery in Vinho Verde with a historic and picturesque setting. We visited in late…read moreSeptember with a private guide for lunch and a wonderful tasting of their fine selections. We sat nestled under a shady arbor enjoying 3 fabulous white wines, a luscious red and of course port with dessert. We even tasted a bit of their digestif to round out everything. While they aren't a restaurant, we enjoyed a delicious private lunch while we tasted the wines beginning with some fresh bread and house made olive oil. Next came a light and savory goat cheese puff pastry over roasted mushrooms. For our main we feasted on seared pork belly in a bed of fresh peas and for dessert a sweet orange roulade with strawberry compote. Definitely one of the tastiest meals on our two week trip in Portugal so far. After lunch we strolled a bit around the historic property with its small chapel ruin and many fruit trees. A great wAy to kick off our wine tasting journey in northern Portugal.

This was exactly what we were looking for on our drive up the Duoro Valley. Quinta de Covela was…read morejust a few minutes off of the main road - a slightly harrowing drive down to it so do yourself a favor and stay alert (and plan for accordingly for the drive out if you are having wine). My wife and i drove in and just wondered around until someone approached us in our clearly lost/confused state. We were greeted by an incredibly friendly young gal and treated to an impromptu wine tasting on a stone table in the shade of a large tree on a patio overlooking the Duoro River. Honestly, the wine would have been swill and this would have been an incredible experience... but luckily we were treated to some very crisp and refreshing Vihno Verdes (green wines) while having some nice conversation with the Covela pourer (whose name I have forgotten). Afterwards she took us for a tour of the grounds where we saw the vineyards, orchards and the few centuries old ruins of the old manor house and chapel. To sum it up... this was the stuff of dreams. Unfortunately they do not distribute in the USA or I would most certainly buy their wine often. Instead we left with a bottle and drank it at the hotel later that evening (yes, i am a wino). If you are in the region - certainly make a stop here. Well worth it.