Designed by Portuguese studio Atelier Sérgio Rebelo, the winery at Quinta de Adorigo forms part of a family wine tourism development that will also include a hotel, currently under construction. The “quinta” (wine estate) is located in the Alto Douro Vinhateiro, Portugal’s most prestigious viticulture region, listed by UNESCO as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site since 2001.
The landscape, long history of human occupation, and winemaking traditions informed an architectural approach intended to honour the setting and local culture while incorporating contemporary construction strategies and sustainability measures.
Form and relationship to the landscape
The winery’s horizontal, curvilinear volumes and circulation routes reference the zigzagging patterns of the surrounding vineyards. Rather than directly reproducing these forms, the design prioritises functional requirements. The building steps down across the terraced site, reflecting its internal mechanics and supporting a winemaking process that utilises gravity, a common procedure on the banks of the River Douro. This arrangement creates interwoven naves that follow the topographic slope, replicated internally across multiple levels.
Roof geometry and structural approach
The roof geometry interprets the vernacular timber-framed gable roof. In this project, the structure is exposed and extended as a continuous, sinuous sculptural element aligned with the curves of the vineyard landscape.
Material strategy and construction
Materials were selected to reflect the natural palette of pinkish browns, greens, and greys, drawing on traditional skills alongside modern production techniques. Locally sourced schist and granite are used externally and in interior concrete retaining walls — as they age, their weathering will contribute to a closer material symbiosis with the environment.
The naves are constructed with laminated timber frames and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. These are enclosed with prefabricated Glass-Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) cladding panels, produced less than 150 kilometres from the site. This proximity minimised transport distances, supported regional manufacturing, and lowered on-site construction activity and vehicle movements.
Timber structures are used where the building does not touch the ground, reducing concrete use and lowering CO2 emissions by 40 percent compared with an equivalent fully concrete structure. Weathering will also alter the tone and texture of these materials, aiding integration with the landscape.
Spatial experience and landscape design
Internal spaces frame views across the site, while outdoor paths, sheltered corners, and patios allow various forms of engagement, including walking and quiet observation. The landscape design reinstates native flora that contributes colour and scent, supports species beneficial to vineyard health, and accommodates activities linked to wine production.
Environmental systems
The winery combines passive and active strategies to stabilise internal temperatures and reduce energy demand. The partially buried structure uses ground thermal inertia and the north-facing main facade limits solar exposure — this approach helps maintain the wine-ageing areas at 14 to 16 degrees Celsius across an exterior temperature range of –5 to 45 degrees Celsius. A low-enthalpy geothermal system — using stable ground temperatures to transfer heat with minimal energy — is supported by centrally managed local electricity production. This combination generates, recovers, and stores energy, lowering mechanical loads and operational consumption.
With no public water infrastructure, the project incorporates rainwater harvesting, potable water from artesian boreholes, and systems for treating and recycling water for irrigation, cleaning, and firefighting. Permeable exterior surfaces return rainwater to agricultural use.
Visitor centre and public areas
The main facade contains the entrance to a visitor centre with a reception area and wine shop. This level leads to a meeting room with a full-height glass wall and to a wine tasting area on a balconied gallery overlooking the central wine ageing nave, the vineyard, and the river. These rooms connect to the vineyards and a chapel via a large terrace facing the Douro, which hosts events that promote the winery and region.
