From the moment I set foot on my terrace overlooking the scenic Douro river to the divine meal I ate at its Michelin-starred restaurant, The Yeatman played a wonderful trick on me. The five-star hotel in Porto celebrates all things wine - Port wine, in particular - and has the feel of a place steeped in decades-old tradition, with a prime location, classic design and unblemished attention to detail. But, to my surprise, The Yeatman has been open for just five years - a fraction of the age of some of the pricier bottles in its wine cellar. In those five years it has been hitting all the right notes, developing a reputation as a haven for wine lovers and one of Portugal’s best luxury hotels. The Bacchus suite at The Yeatman boasts a high-vaulted wooden ceiling, copper Jacuzzi, fireplace and a rotating bed . Portugal's first wine hotel is built into a hill, providing sweeping views of Porto and the Douro river from the indoor pool and guest rooms . When guests arrive at The Yeatman they set foot in a stunning lobby with a statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine . For guests like myself, who know little about wine but will never allow it to go to waste, it presents an opportunity to learn and develop an appreciation for the picturesque Douro region’s nectar. Even though the hotel is dedicated to wine, it’s not just for enthusiasts. Regardless of their knowledge or palate, guests can take advantage of two other things that The Yeatman specialises in: relaxation and imaginative food. When I arrived on a Friday night I stepped into the immaculate lobby - accentuated with a statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine - to the sound of an acoustic guitar drifting from Dick’s Bar, the in-house bar where couples canoodle on couches and bartenders mix Port wine cocktails. With more than 80 wines by the glass it is the only bar in Porto to remain open 24 hours a day. Public spaces inside the five-star hotel, including the lobby and Dick's Bar, offer a breathtaking view of Portugal's second-largest city . The Yeatman is located in Vila Nova de Gaia; it is separated from Porto by the Douro river, which spills into the Atlantic Ocean . The Yeatman's large decanter-shaped infinity pool is heated and surrounded by a terrace with plenty of space to lounge in the sun . From the statue of Bacchus, guests’ attention usually moves to the large glass doors and windows that offer sweeping views of the river and the Luis I Bridge, which links Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Guests are afforded the same luxury when they enter their room and set foot on the private terrace, which has impressive views across the river of Portugal’s second-largest city. The Yeatman, Portugal’s first luxury wine hotel, is built into a hill in Vila Nova de Gaia, with all of its 82 rooms facing the river and almost every one themed after a Portuguese winery. Guest rooms at The Yeatman face the river, and almost all of them are themed after a Portuguese winery (pictured: superior room) Each guest room is decorated in an understated, classic style, with a private terrace where guests can relax outdoors . No visit to Porto in northern Portugal is complete without a sampling of its most famous export - Port wine. Guests at The Yeatman are just a short walk from Taylor’s wine lodges and cellars, where its Port wine ages in thousands of barrels. Owned by Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman, which owns the hotel, the compound offers informative tours and tastings, with visitors learning about the history of the sweet wine and the House of Taylor’s, which is in its fourth century. After the tour guests are offered three Port wines - chip dry (extra dry white), late bottled vintage and 10-year-old tawny - and they can pay extra to sample premium Port wines. My tour included a stop inside one of the cellars, which houses nearly 2,000 barrels containing Port wine as old as 1880 and a giant barrel capable of holding 100,000 litres. Located next door to The Yeatman, Taylor's Port wine cellars offers affordable informational tours and tastings for visitors . My superior room, themed after the Quinta do Passadouro winery, was decorated with its labelled bottles, photos of its vineyard and regional artefacts, plus vintage-like furniture and lime green curtains, giving it a luxurious but laid-back feel. Like the rooms, each floor has a theme. Floor one, where the outdoor pool is located, is decorated with framed maps of Portugal, while other floors focus on local history or Portuguese discoveries. Wine is front and centre at this polished hotel, owned by centuries-old Port wine producer Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman, but one could argue that the real star of the show is the Gastronomic Restaurant. The restaurant at The Yeatman is the only one in Porto to carry a Michelin star, offering exceptional service and creative dishes . Tasting menus include dishes such as crispy suckling pig belly (pictured), and codfish with corn bread crumble and chickpea puree . It is the only restaurant in Porto to carry a Michelin star, and during my visit I was treated to a two-hour culinary masterclass with exceptional service and creative dishes from start to finish. The tasting menu included a langoustine broth with crunchy langoustine and Champagne sauce, roasted codfish with corn bread crumble and chickpea puree, crispy suckling pig belly with cardinal prawn slices and herb sprouts, and a chocolate cafe with toffee and caramel ice cream - all paired with Portuguese wines. Best enjoyed before indulging, guests can spoil themselves at the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, which offers a number of treatments that stick with the hotel’s wine theme. Guests can spoil themselves at the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, which offers a number of treatments that stick with the wine theme . Spa visits include access to a Roman bath (pictured), sauna and The Yeatman’s indoor panoramic infinity pool . Spectacular views are enjoyed from the spa’s private barrel bath rooms, where guests relax in bubbling water enriched with a grape extract . I was treated to the spa’s signature massage - the Caudalie relaxing massage, with grape extract oils - after spending some time in the relaxation room, which offers another impressive vantage point of the hustle and bustle across the river. TAP Portugal (www.flytap.com, 0345 601 0932) flies from London Gatwick to Porto 14 times a week, with return fares starting at £120 including all taxes and surcharges. Porto Airport is just a 20-minute drive from The Yeatman. Spectacular views can also be enjoyed from the spa’s private barrel bath rooms, where guests relax in bubbling water enriched with a conditioning grape extract. The spa has two levels connected by a spiral staircase set within a giant port wine barrel, and guests also have access to a Roman bath, sauna and The Yeatman’s indoor panoramic infinity pool. From the spa to the restaurant and everywhere in between, everything at The Yeatman comes back to wine, with the hotel acting as an ambassador. One of the features that should delight anyone with an appreciation for it is a ‘working cellar’ on the lower level . Open two hours every day, guests can head down with a sommelier to pick out a wine - from Portugal or another wine-producing nation - to pair with their dinner. After my two-night stay at The Yeatman I still consider myself a novice when it comes to the finer points of wine, but I left feeling confident that there will be fewer surprises the next time I pick up a bottle at the supermarket. The Yeatman . Rua do Choupelo (Santa Marinha) Vila Nova de Gaia . Porto 4400-088 . Portugal . +351 220 133 100 . www.the-yeatman-hotel.com . Rooms starting from €175 in low season and €250 in high season. The Yeatman is offering a summer programme from May 1 to October 31, requiring a minimum two nights’ stay in a superior room or suite. On a per-night basis prices start from €310 for double occupancy in a superior room or €495 in a suite, with guests receiving 20 per cent off the price of treatments at the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, a luxurious buffet breakfast served in The Orangerie Room, car parking, and late check-out. Children stay for free, and the programme includes access to the well-being area, indoor and outdoor pools, and gymnasium. Visit Taylor’s website for information on Port wine cellar tours and tastings.
The Yeatman has been open for just five years, but has the feel of a place steeped in decades-old tradition .
There is a wine theme throughout the five-star hotel, with guests enjoying amazing views of the Douro river .
The hotel is built into a hill in Vila Nova de Gaia, with almost every room themed after a Portuguese winery .