THE WHOLESOME TABLE

SIX SENSES DOURO VALLEY

PORTUGAL

A few minutes into our drive across the Douro Valley, we couldn’t resist rolling down the windows to take in the fresh breeze at this serene slice of northern Portugal. Hugged by the Douro River on one side and rolling terraced vineyards on the other, the winding road served as a red-carpet welcome to the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.

Portugal has seen a massive tourism boom in recent years, so much so that crumbling buildings in both Lisbon and Porto have been transformed into trendy hotels and restaurants. While the Douro Valley is popular—especially for keen oenophiles—it has managed to retain a sedate character. Built structures are few and far between, a triumph of regulation that respect the area’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

However, even the staunchest of purists would delight in the 19th-century manor that now houses the Six Senses, which opened its doors in 2015. Perched on a hill, each of the 41 guest rooms, nine suites and seven villas make the most of their privileged position, with strategically placed windows that lovingly frame the surrounding majesty. This is more