The Yeatman Wine CellarPortugal’s Best Wine Producers Come Together at The Yeatman
for the Second Annual Christmas Wine Experience

This December, Portugal’s luxury wine hotel, The Yeatman, will bring together Portugal’s principal wine producers from across the country to share and taste the best wine Portugal has to offer. Following a successful inaugural event in 2011, this year the Christmas Wine Experience will take place across two days, 1st and 2nd December, during which over 100 wines will be shown and available for tasting to the public.

Hosting 70 wine producers (and with over 40 producers already confirmed) The Yeatman’s Christmas Wine Experience will showcase new and emerging wines, as well as firm favourites including Sparkling Soalheiro 2012, Graham’s Colheita 1969, Niepoort Charme 2010 and Luis Pato Old Vines 2011. The event marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Porto – a UNESCO world heritage city and one of Trip Advisor’s Top Ten Wine Destinations in Europe for 2012. With over 25,000 bottles in its impressive cellars, more than 1,100 wine references, and 82 wines available by the glass, The Yeatman is well equipped to play host to the exclusive wine event, where visitors will have a chance to meet the producers and owners of the vineyards.

Adrian Bridge, CEO of The Yeatman, said "the Christmas Wine Experience event intends to create a tradition of uniting wine producers and wine lovers during the first weekend in December in Porto, thus marking the start of the Christmas period. It is the ideal opportunity to try our Wine Partners’ wines and taste the excellent quality of the new wines that have been produced throughout Portugal.”

Set amid a holiday atmosphere, the event will run from noon till 7pm, during which guests can enjoy the culinary delights of Chef Ricardo Costa who will be serving traditional Christmas flavours and tapas. The public are invited to attend the exclusive wine event, both as guests of the hotel for which a winter package has been made available, or simply as entrants across the two days whereby early bird tickets can be purchased prior to 15th November.

Beatriz Machado, Wine Director of The Yeatman, explains that "Christmas is a time for family gatherings round the table where good wine and the best in Portuguese gastronomy are key ingredients. This is the spirit of the Christmas Wine Experience: the producers will present their best wines to pair with traditional salted codfish and Christmas desserts, or to suggest as special gift ideas for friends and family.”

The Yeatman embraces the fruits of the vine throughout the luxury hotel. With 70 wine partners across 11 different wine regions in Portugal, each has sponsored and given its name to one of the beautifully appointed bedrooms in The Yeatman. Throughout the hotel – which has been sensitively built into the hillside overlooking the Douro River, mirroring the vineyards of the Douro Valley – there are references to the history and importance of the nearby wine regions, with maps and artifacts, stunning photographs and paintings adorning corridors. The Yeatman is home to the largest collection of Portuguese wines and port in the country and its wine cellar has won awards from Revista de Vinhos wine magazine in 2011, and the US magazine Wine Spectator in 2012.

For reservations and more information about The Yeatman please visit The Yeatman's website

Additional notes: The Yeatman opened in August 2010 and is located in the historic Port lodge area of Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, directly across the river from the UNESCO world heritage area of the city and just 1½ hours by car to the Douro valley. It has 12 suites and 70 rooms, each with a private terrace over-looking the river. The hotel has 3.5 acres of private gardens with croquet lawn, outdoor pool, Dick’s wine bar, extensive wine cellars, a Michelin Star restaurant and Kids Club.

Entrance Prices to The Christmas Wine Experience:

  • Entitles entrants to a wine tasting glass and to sample all of the wines on offer.
  • Regular Tickets (after 15th November): €30
  • Buffet Lunch: €25 (a variety of Portuguese dishes)
  • Dinner (after 7pm): €25 (5 tapas + unlimited samples of all wines)

Included in The Yeatman Winter Programme:

The two night package starts from €105 per person, per night based on double occupancy (including breakfast) and is valid from 15th October 2012 – 28th February 2013

  • Minimum two nights’ accommodation in a Superior Room with terrace and panoramic views
  • Continental breakfast served in The Orangerie
  • Children free – one extra bed per Superior Room and two extra beds per Suite
  • One afternoon tea per adult at Dick’s Bar
  • One Port wine and mignardise pairing per adult in Dick’s Bar**
  • 20% discount on treatments at the Vinothérapie® Spa by Caudalie at The Yeatman (rituals and cures not included)
  • Free car parking
  • Between 27th December 2012 - 1st January 2013 the minimum stay is 3 nights

** For reservations made for the nights of the 1st and 2nd December, the Port Wine & Mignardise will be exchanged for entrance to The Christmas Wine Experience (valid for 1 day)