1720 Quinta da Cancela Winery & Farmhouse

It was an absolutely unique experience staying at 1720. The winery history, the superb renovation of the winery buildings and the contemporary touches. The refreshing natural water pool, the container bar and wine storage area, the room amenities. Arthur goes above and beyond to make each guest's stay enjoyable and comfortable. There are several indoor and outdoor areas to relax and enjoy the winery views, and a highlight for us was having dinner prepared by Arthur and Palmira, served with paired local wines.

Cancela is an oasis in the heart of Northern Portugal; nestled between Guimaraes and Braga it is just an hour north of Porto. The national park of Gerês and the coastal towns to the West are also equally accessible on an hour so’s drive. Arthur is one of the world’s natural inn-keepers. He is warm, welcoming and does everything in his power to ensure his guests comfort and happiness. He seemed to switch effortlessly between Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, reflecting the journey of his own life before establishing Cancela 15 or so years ago. Our rooms were located in a converted 18th century wine store, were spacious and sympathetically converted, with comfortable beds and well-appointed bathrooms. The breakfast was a highlight, featuring unlimited strong coffee, fresh juices, local produce and fresh breads from the local bakery. Fruit and cheese both came from neighbours as did the wonderful jams. The swimming pool offers a fabulous respite from the August heat, fed as it is by an underground spring. It is surrounded by vines, and indeed a chief attraction of Cancela is its wine. We were treated to a complimentary bottle on arrival. The only sadness is that we are unable to take a few bottles home. Arthur’s approach to Cancela is characterised by sustainability: he wants to create a home for his family that both feeds into and is fed by the local community. Very grateful for our stay, and sad to be leaving.

Thoroughly enjoyed our 3 night stay at 1720 Quinta. The accommodations are exactly what we had hoped for....centuries old structures with interiors that are modernized to retain that old world feel. The owner and his team are thoroughly engaged, with daily housekeeping, breakfast, and always with a willingness to share the history of the 300 year old family property and vineyard. Their Verde wine is excellent, especially given the one on one time we got with the owner who shared the whole wine making process on their farm. The location is great, only approx 15 minutes from both Braga and Guimaraes(our favorite) There are so many great places on the winery to relax and enjoy a glass or 3 of the rose....by the pool, the shipping container wine tasting hangout, billiards room library, or the main house veranda, and more. The price for these accommodations are more than reasonable given the quality of experience that you get here. Highly recommend to all travelers and families Sam and Ann

We loved our time here. Arthur is a great host, very helpful as we were unfamiliar with the area. Accommodation is very comfortable and extremely peaceful. Great views from the veranda and sitting by the pool is very relaxing. Wine is very drinkable….even when re-testing at home….and the breakfast every day was beautifully laid out and tasty. Wi fi worked very well. We visited Guimaraes, Bom Jesus and Braga with the car….and Arthur’s parking advice. Wished we had more time to explore further. Thanks very much. We fully intend to return.

Arthur is a wonderful host. He is very attentive and cares greatly about his property and he will do anything to make his guest comfortable. The property is well located and sitting at the pool with a glass of the wine is a wonderful experience. Thank you Arthur