WINE, ARTE, CULTURE

Quinta da Boeira was built by an emigrant named Manuel da Rocha Romariz who returned from Brazil in the beginning of the 19th century. With a profound knowledge of the Brazilian market, he registered himself as a Wine Port exporter in 1850 with the brand BOEIRA.

These brands quickly conquered the consideration and trust of the consumers and distributors due to its quality and expanded to several markets, including the Portuguese, English, French and Brazilian markets, among others.

In 1966, the property was bought by a British family, the warehouses by a textile company and the wines were sold to a Port Wine exporting company.

In 1999, the property is put up for sale and the potential buyer was interested in building luxurious homes in a private condominium.

João de Freitas Ferreira, priest and headmaster of a private school in Vila Nova de Gaia, highlighted that the 3 hectares  property could become a massive construction location with the consequent destruction of its centenary woods.

Worried and sensitive o this cause, Priest João de Freitas Ferreira, with a group of ten friends, bought the property thus protecting the centenary trees ant the palace from the beginning of the 19th century.

A financial study was conducted for the aquisition of the property with the breakdown of the investements in five phases:

FIRST PHASE

The transformation of the stables and greenhouses in a multipurpose hall and the restoration of all the paths in the gardens represented the initial phase of the project, which intended since the beginning to transform Quinta da Boeira in the "living room" of the North of the country and, namely, in Vila Nova de Gaia.

SECOND PHASE

It began with the restoration of the palace which was in an advanced deterioration condition and transforming it in offices and in a luxury restaurant with a seating capacity of approximately 80 people.

THIRD PHASE

With te goal of attracting tourists to this part of the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, the world´s biggest bottle, 32 metres long and 10 metres in diameter, was built allowing in this way the creation of a tasting room and an exhibition room to promote the Portuguese wines, culture and gastronomy. It was also possible to adapt the room for the exhibition of 3D films presenting to the tourist the different wine regions in Portugal.

FOURTH PHASE

Having as goal the financial consolidation of the overall project, Quinta da Boeira was registered at Port and Douro Wines Institute (IVDP), in 2017, going back to its 1850 origins, as a exporter of Port Wine with the Boeira Brand.

FIFTH PHASE

The project, in its fifth and last phase, was completed with the construction of a five star hotel, with 119 rooms and 5 suites. This is a green building project. The most recent environmental techniques were implemented, such as taking advantage of phreatic waters to supply the sanitary tanks and irrigation systems of the approximately 3 hectares property. Photovoltaic and solar energy was also used allowing significant savings and a drastic reduction of carbon emissions, making this an ECO hotel.

The most recent challenge was the aquisition of the C. da Silva family house - a name also connected to Port Wine exporting, designed in the 19th century by the architect Teixeira Lopes. Quinta da Boeira is a reference in terms of superior quality wines, namely Port Wine, duly certified by Port and Douro Wines Institute and proudly exhibiting the knight seal on the neck of the bottle according to the guidance of Observatório do Vinho do Porto regarding the defence of the Porto Designation of Origin.

Each Quinta da Boeira wine is a unique experience in which Wine and Art are closely related with its best exponent in the unique bottles standing out by their shape and aesthetics, as is the case of Diamond or Decanter.

CHRONOLOGY

1850 - It is the construction date of the palace which, up to the present, is the iconic image of the location. The owner, Manuel da Rocha Romariz, registered himself as Port Wine exporter of the Romariz and Boeira brands.

1966 - The Quinta is sold in different parcels to several owners.

1999 - With the eminent risk of real estate speculation the space is bought by a group of investors with the goal of preserving its valuable legacy and promoting cultural activities thus opening Quinta da Boeira to the community.

2014 - One of the most distinctive and original projects is concluded in honour of the quality and diversity of the Portuguese wines with the construction of the world´s biggest bottle.

2017 - Quinta da Boeira Arte e Cultura is registered as a Port Wine exporting company at Port and Douro Wines Institute.

2019 - Opening of the Boeira Garden Hotel, a luxury developement with 119 rooms and 5 suites, having Art and Culture as central theme. A luxury Hotel with an exquisite, comfortable, sophisticated, intimate and calm atmosphere, surrounded by the gardens of Quinta and harmonizing the agitation of the city with the bucolic and serene nature. The hotel was decorated based on an international competition. It is possible to admire sculptures and paintings from several artists of different countries throughout the space.

2020 - Aquisition of the C. da Silva family house designed by the architect Teixeira Lopes.