Quinta Nova
Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
There are times in life when you just want to escape to a quiet place, where you can forget about daily struggles and worries. Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo is a place where you will be able to take some time off. Staying in the manor house of Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo enables guests to feel the ambience of a large Portuguese family home, surrounded by the valley’s spectacular scenery. At the Quinta you'll find the luxury of tranquility and authenticity. The staff will pamper you with the best service, food and wine. You'll wish to stay for much longer than planned.
Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo is the first estate in the Douro with monovarietal plantation and the first wine estate to open wine tourism facilities. You'll experience the unique location already while driving there. Embedded in the picturesque scenery of Douro, the manor house of Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo invites their guests to discover the place's history and tradition in a romantic ambience. Its Wine Museum Centre is unique in the Douro. The collection assembled by Fernanda Ramos Amorim represents the productive cycle of Port Wine, including items from the 19th and 20th centuries that have been inventoried by the Douro Museum Foundation.
We stayed in a Premium room, located in the manor house, with a direct access to the beautiful terrace. We liked that we could just go back to our room without having to walk through the whole manor house. In the mornings we opened the terrace door and let the sound of the birds and the sun rays in. It was like waking up in heaven. These rooms and the whole manor house have been carefully decorated with great attention to detail to provide the maximum of tranquility and comfort of a Portuguese family home. The Quinta has only 11 rooms. This contributes to the private atmosphere you'll experience.
Morning atmosphere at Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo belongs to the Amorim family which have been involved in wine since 1870, when they first negotiated sales of cork to the Caves de Vinho do Porto, in Vila Nova de Gaia. The family aims to protect the estates history. This is very beautifully shown in their choices of Interior Design. Traditional ceramics by Vista Alegre are combined with contemporary ones with modest designs. The colonial touch of the manor house invites you to stay inside on rather rainy days. We were lucky to have splendid weather and basically spent all our time in the gardens that are surrounded by centuries-old trees, cypresses and native plants with a small pool overlooking the vineyards and offering you a breath-taking view over the river Douro. During the stay, it is also possible to take a walk along the three routes signaled in the estate, spanning eight kilometers, which offer the chance to experience the true spirit of the region.
Another highlight of our stay at Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo was the outstanding food experience at their restaurant Terraçu's. It was like being on a unique culinary journey. Chef André Carvalho's team has rewritten the culinary landscape of the Douro Valley, influenced by the Douro’s heritage, in harmony with the winemaker, Jorge Alves. The delicate dishes and fresh, textural and tasty food served at Quinta Nova with naturalness is reason enough for a visit. The experience at Terraçu's is complemented by the possibility of accompanying each dish with wine, all produced in the same terroir, with the same passion. No words or pictures can describe our culinary experience. You simply must experience it yourself.
“We are not fundamentalists, but we believe that by promoting seasonal cuisine we are promoting the origin and our estate, while also preserving the nature of the Douro. ”
Restaurant Terraçu's with its beautiful terrace
Breakfast at Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo: One of the bests we've ever had.
You can also just visit for a wine tasting and petiscos (tapas) on the outdoor terrace in the middle of the vineyards, offering stunning views over the Douro River. More about their wines here. Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo has also put together some unmissable experiences for you.
We are beyond grateful to have been able to experience this magical place after a difficult period with COVID-19 restrictions. Our thanks go to the family of Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo who made our stay an unforgettable one. We'll be back for sure!
Chapel of Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo from 1764
Book your stay at Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo: www.quintanova.com
Pictures © Liliana Belchior, Taste of Portugal