One of the Douro region’s oldest wines is celebrating its 250th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo is offering a collectible bottle of their bestselling Colheita Unoaked. Available only through the end of 2014, the bottle is unmistakably Portuguese. Made of etched glass, its elegant blue, green and brown design evokes the river, vine leaves and earth, and was created by the Portuguese design team at B+ Comunicação.
Quinta Nova was officially established in 1764, though estate records indicate the vineyard existed long before that, with some vines believed to be up to 300 years old. Visitors can purchase a bottle on site. The estate also includes a Wine Hotel set in an 18th-century manor house. In addition to rooms decorated in traditional regional style, the hotel features a charming indoor winter garden.
Nearby, a small schist building has been converted into a museum that highlights the estate’s agricultural heritage. The original olive press takes pride of place, and the museum offers a tasting area where guests can sample the estate’s olive oils. Together, the wine, hotel and museum create an immersive experience of Douro’s history, landscape and artisanal traditions.