Hotel Casa da Ínsua, Dão Region, Portugal

GPS Coordinates: Latitude 40°40'34.53"N Longitude 7°42'23.42"W

Driving through the demarcated wine region of Dão you’ll pass hazelnut groves, fig, apple and pear orchards and of course vineyards before you reach the little village of Penalva do Castelo. On the edge of this, in the heart of a vast, working estate, stands the newly renovated boutique 5 star Hotel Casa da Ínsua.

The location is so quiet and rural that you’ll be surprised to find that this is only 10 minutes away from the large highway linking the coast of Portugal with Salamanca in Spain. Just riding around admiring the countryside here is a pleasure in itself, and you can get even more out of this by following the Dão Wine Route, which leads you along some of the most interesting sights and is also a wonderful way to get to know the estates, vineyards and wines of this fascinating region.

You’ll also soon realise that another special aspect of the region is its gastronomy. Under the influence of the surrounding mountain ranges, the most famous being the Serra da Estrela, the highest in Portugal and offering breathtaking nature and even skiing in winter, the tastes are robust and rich. The cuisine incorporates aromatic mountain herbs and meat like wild boar, hare and kid. The local ewes’ milk soft cheese, the queijo da estrela, is considered the best in Portugal.

Come and explore this unspoilt and under-discovered region while enjoying the luxury and comfort of the Casa da Ínsua.

The closest international airport to Casa da Ínsua is that at Porto, which is approximately 160 km away. For a convenient way of getting here, click here for more information about transfers.