The history of this space, formerly called the Episcopal Palace of Fontelo, dates back to the 12th century (1122) when Bishop D. Odório received a donation from D. Maria Seseriquiz. Odório received the Fontelo estate as a donation from D. Maria Seseriquiz.
The Palace began to be built in 1399, by Bishop João Homem, and in 1426 the construction of the Chapel of Santa Marta began. In the 16th century (from 1526 to 1547), Bishop Miguel da Silva, who was living in Italy, returned to Portugal. King John V, who did not like his bishops to lead an extravagant life, ordered Bishop Miguel da Silva to return to Viseu. He returned to Viseu, accompanied by the Italian architect Francesco Cremona, who began important renovations of the Episcopal Palace.
He remodeled the Chapel of Santa Marta in the Renaissance style, which is still visible in its domed roof and granite markings. The Chapel of Santa Marta was decorated with altarpieces, including "Christ in the House of Marta" by the contemporary painter Vasco Fernandes, which is currently in the Grão Vasco Museum.
D. Miguel da Silva also ordered the construction of the Renaissance garden of Paço do Fontelo, inspired by Italian gardens. Besides being the first garden of the Palace, it was also the first to have imported trees, with a pine tree imported from Brazil.
Until the 19th century, the Episcopal Palace of Fontelo was used as a vacation and rest home for the Bishops, as their official residence was located in the current Grão Vasco Museum of Viseu. With the French invasions, General Massena ordered the Bishops to leave their official residence and transformed the Grão Vasco Museum into their barracks and military hospital.
The episcopate thus settled definitively in the Episcopal Palace of Fontelo. In 1910, the Republic was established and the Portuguese State removed all the buildings belonging to the Church and the Fontelo Palace became part of the Ministry of Defense and War, which later transformed the Palace into a military prison.
Aquilino Ribeiro, a famous novelist of the city, was imprisoned in these facilities in 1927 and after a year managed to escape from this prison, having reported the whole story in one of his books.
With the 25th of April and the return of families from former colonies, the Episcopal Palace of Fontelo was chosen as the place of reception for these families.
The restoration of this building was done in conjunction with the Viseu City Council and the Dão Regional Wine Commission, with the aim of being its headquarters. In 2004 it was inaugurated and was designated Solar do Vinho do Dão, being the current headquarters of the Dão Regional Wine Commission.