This story appears in the June 29, 2014 issue of ForbesLife. Subscribe
The Celts and Romans both knew the prime hillside spot to settle at the mouth of Portugal's Douro River. The Yeatman Hotel wisely followed their lead, designing the four-year-old Relais & Châteaux wine destination along the same slope in Vila Nova de Gaia. In honor of port's Anglo heritage, guests often try a round of croquet in the 7-acre gardens before enjoying an invigorating cabernet scrub in the spa. As the sun starts to set, ensconce yourself on the terrace at Dick's Bar and treat yourself to, what else, a chilled glass of tawny port from the Yeatman's extensive cellar. All the terra-cotta rooftops just below belong to the great port-aging "lodges," where for centuries stevedores have loaded the traditional Rabelo cargo boats.
Soon, the sun's rays will bounce off the Douro (it means golden, after all) and the elegant, Eiffelesque Luís I bridge, where streetcars heading over to Porto look like model trains in the distance. Continue the evening with the seasonal tasting menu in the Yeatman's Michelin-starred restaurant and finish with more drinks over live jazz or sublime fado at Dick's. But there's still work to be done--you need to plot tomorrow's adventure up the Douro to the source of all that sweet, golden wine.
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