A striking new winery in Portugal showcases innovative architectural design that seamlessly blends with its natural surroundings. Quinta de Adorigo Winery, designed by Atelier Sérgio Rebelo, features a series of gently curving timber volumes that reference the terraced vineyards of the surrounding landscape. The project has been recently shortlisted in the hospitality project category of the Dezeen Awards 2025.
Located in Alto Douro Vinhateiro, a historic winemaking region and UNESCO World Heritage site, the winery serves as part of a larger tourism complex that will include a hotel currently under construction. The facility's design draws inspiration from both the wavy contours of the landscape's terraced vineyards and the gravity-flow winemaking process that guides wine production.
The architectural design consists of a cluster of barn-like forms that step down the hillside, each featuring curved structures that create a distinctive silhouette against the landscape. These gabled volumes are constructed on a concrete base clad in local schist stone and built using laminated wooden frames filled with cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glass-fiber-reinforced concrete panels. The twisting timber framework remains exposed both inside and outside the building, creating what founder Sérgio Rebelo describes as resembling "the skeleton of an ancient, giant animal."
"We studied many iterations until we found something that just seemed natural and as though it was always there," Rebelo explained. "I wanted the building to blur with the landscape, in a way that you can't tell where the building starts or ends." He further noted that "the geometry of the winery's roof interprets the vernacular gable roof structured in wood. This structure has been taken over and exposed in this winery and has become a sinuous, continuous and organic sculptural element that flows through the tangential curves of the vineyard slope."
The winery's design cleverly incorporates the winemaking process into its architectural flow. Grapes begin their journey through a series of circular gravity-drop openings at the building's highest point, following the natural gravity-flow method of wine production. Meanwhile, visitors enter at the lowest point through a "cave-like" shop and ascend via a sculptural exposed-concrete staircase.
The entrance sequence leads to the heart of the facility: a double-height, skylit aging space where industrial vats and barrels are positioned under steel balconies and a glazed tasting room for visitors. This central area has been partially sunk within stone retaining walls, creating the thermal mass necessary to maintain stable temperature ranges essential for proper wine aging. "The section of this space is very similar to a church – about 10 meters high – with natural light coming from above," Rebelo observed. "In a way, this makes the room feel very spiritual and with a special connection to timelessness."
The project represents a thoughtful approach to contemporary winery design, demonstrating how modern architecture can respect and enhance traditional winemaking practices while creating an memorable experience for visitors. The exposed timber framework and integration with the natural landscape showcase innovative design solutions that honor both the region's architectural heritage and its winemaking traditions. Photography of the completed project was captured by Fernando Guerra, highlighting the successful integration of the building with its vineyard setting.
