Spoils of the Vine

COSYING UP WITH SIX SENSES’ FIRST EUROPEAN RESORT IN DUORO, PORTUGAL

Portugal’s Duoro River does not rush but rather flows gently past the terraced vineyards of Europe’s oldest wine country. The Six Senses Douro Valley – which opened in July 2015 on a hill overlooking the river – is an appropriately soothing retreat that inhabits one of the valley’s historic quintas (wine estates). The bounty of the local vines permeates the guest experience at the resort, from the proprietary red blends produced by the in-house winemaker to the hand soaps milled from grape seeds and olive oil. In the 57 guest rooms, modern furnishings reflect the Bangkok-based Six Senses’ Asian roots. The Vale d’Abraão restaurant, however, is Iberian through and through, with Portuguese delicacies coming fresh from a Josper grill.

Duoro Valley is Six Senses’ first European resort, featuring 57 contemporary rooms, suites, and villas in a 19th-century quinta. The resort is set on 20 acres in the Douro Valley, Portugal’s centuries-old winemaking region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An on-site winemaker and sommelier, a wine library, and a series of vineyard excursions—including helicopter tours to top quintas in the region—offer ample opportunities to discover the local ports and reds.

Six Senses Douro Valley