The World of Wine project will see a series of former warehouses in Vila Nova de Gaia transformed into a world-class tourist attraction for Fladgate Partnership Group which is hoping to eventually attract more than a million visitors a year.

The new attraction will include five separate areas including Wine Experience, Cork Experience, Porto Through the Ages, a Fashion & Design Museum and the History of Drinking Vessels. World of Wine will also have a wine school, 12 catering venues, shops, exhibition space, a new square and parking for 150 vehicles.

The development will see the restoration of a number of historic warehouses as well as the demolition of several newer buildings to create a new large public square which will be the centre-point of the new development and has been designed so it offers stunning views across the river and city beyond.

Margarida added: “The view from this area is something extraordinary so we have worked hard with the design to ensure that it is celebrated wherever possible, both from the buildings and also the public square where we hope that people will be able to eat, drink and relax.

“Many of the existing buildings, which are long rectangular structures which offer a really interesting special sensation, will be completely renewed with the replacement of the original wooden beams and restoring the original granite brickwork.

“We will also retain just the façades of some other buildings where the main structure is of less quality and the development will also be supported by one or two new buildings which will have a more contemporary approach but respond to their historic setting.”

Work is set to begin on the first phase in early 2018 with the attraction set to open its doors in 2020.