Quinta do Portal Winery

The building stores and ages wine for an estate among the terraced vineyards of a river valley. The Portuguese architect set it into the slope so that much of it lies below ground.

Above ground, long volumes in ochre-red render sit on walls of dry-laid schist, the local stone. Openings are few and deeply framed, and a large window looks out over the vineyards.

Below, a long concrete cellar with a vaulted ceiling keeps the barrels cool and steady, reached by a narrow stair cut between concrete walls.