Alijó, Portugal, July 22, 2024 (Lusa) — Wine producer Costa Boal Family Estates is proceeding with a wine tourism project in Favaios, Alijó, which involves the construction of a hotel costing more than €3 million, it announced on Monday.

The project involves purchasing a farm with around five hectares of vineyards, where a 1920s building will be restored to house a four-star hotel.

The hotel will have 16 rooms named after grape varieties, a tasting room, an organic vegetable garden and a panoramic restaurant.

It will be located next to National Road 322 and will promote ‘the rurality and culture’ of the parish of Favaios in the district of Vila Real.

‘Here, guests will have the opportunity to get to know the various agricultural activities of the region, such as the grape harvest and treading the grapes in the presses, and get involved in them, absorbing all the culture of one of the most remarkable Portuguese regions,’ said António Boal, head of Costa Boal Family Estates, quoted in the statement sent to the Lusa news agency.

Visitors will also have activities and tourist entertainment programmes, such as wine tasting and pairing, guided tours of the Favaios Bread and Wine Museum, private boat trips, hiking trails and cycling.

With sustainability as its hallmark, the producer wants to ‘promote direct contact with nature and the Douro (...) while maintaining its commitment to producing unique wines’ to attract the interest of the national and international markets.

‘We want to maximise the income from the property, taking advantage of the natural features and its privileged location, next to the 322-3 National Road, complementing it with a strong tourist component of excellence,’ said António Boal.

The project, budgeted at more than €3 million, will start this year and should be completed within 24 months.

The wine producer plans to open the doors of the tourist centre at the beginning of 2026.

MYMR/ADB // ADB.

Lusa