Sleep in a giant wine barrel at the Quinta da Pacheca estate in Portugal.

Discover one of the most unique experiences in the Douro. Photo: courtesy of Quinta da Pacheca. Have you ever had a wine experience that made you wish you could live inside the bottle? Good news: there's a place where wine lovers can experience their favorite wine from the perspective of the wine itself - so to speak. At Quinta da Pacheca Vineyard in Portugal's Douro wine region, guests can stay in huge, luxuriously furnished glamping metal barrels that look exactly like wine barrels.

The 10 barrels were designed by the estate's owners, Paulo Pereira and Maria do Seu Gonçalves, and are located adjacent to the hotel and spa on the 140-acre vineyard. Each barrel has approximately 270 square feet and includes an elegant bedroom equipped with all the necessary amenities for relaxation, a private bathroom with modern fixtures, a shower with a view of the stars, a private terrace, Wi-Fi and air conditioning. From the outside, each tent resembles a real wine barrel, from its cylindrical shape and pine paneling to the metal hoops holding it together. You'll have to pay the equivalent of about $250 per night or more to reserve one barrel.

About Quinta da Pacheca

For about 100 years, Quinta da Pacheca has been brewing Douro DOC wines and port wines. In fact, it was the first in the region to start bottling DOC wines in the 70s.

What to do on and around the estate

During your stay at the vineyard, you can enjoy wine tastings and sign up for activities such as cooking classes or a picnic. There is also a great restaurant, winery facilities for guests to visit, and an extensive menu of treatments at the spa. Exploring the vineyard and its grounds just walks out the door of your barrel. Quinta da Pacheca is located in the Douro, a famous and UNESCO-listed wine region. Off-site, you can participate in organized wine tours, visit different vineyards on your own, and learn about local winemaking traditions at the Douro Museum. Non-wine activities include kayaking and walking along the Douro River, enjoying panoramic views from the São Salvador do Mundo lookout, driving along the scenic Estrada Nacional 222, visiting the prehistoric rustic art complex at Coa Valle and walking in Douro Internacional Natural Park, one of Portugal's largest nature reserves.