The Adega Cooperativa de Vidigueira, Cuba and Alvito brings together producers of Talha Wine from Alentejo
30/11/2022With more than 2 thousand years of history in the production of talha wine, this region of Alentejo knows how to produce the traditional wine that has been enchanting many in recent years and is now recognized by wine consumers. The objective of Adega Cooperativa de Vidigueira, Cuba and Alvito is to preserve this age-old technique as much as possible and that is why on the 26th of November, from 2:30 pm to 8:00 pm, it will hold a conference on “Grapes and Talha Wine”, followed by a wine tasting. Wines from Talha DOC Alentejo.
This initiative had its first edition in 2019 with good support from the general public and was attended by several Alentejo Talha DOC Alentejo wine producers. For Adega Cooperativa de Vidigueira, Cuba and Alvito, Talha Wine has a historical and cultural representation, in its production grapes from centenary vineyards are used and the vinification is carried out in the most artisanal and manual way possible.
After two years off, TALHA DOC returns with a current conference and more producers of this ancient technique. It is an event that intends to preserve and show the public the essence of Talha Wine through the tasting of wines from several invited producers.
This year there will be something new, a blind tasting of Talha Wines, in a panel of tasters coordinated by Paixão Pelo Vinho Magazine, with the presence of our winemaker Vasco Moura Fernandes. In this tasting, all Talha DOC Alentejo wines sent by the producers will be evaluated. The selected wines, at the end of the tasting, will be presented to the readers of the renowned magazine with an evaluation, so that everyone can have the opportunity to know a little about each one, as well as the entire event.
The event, aimed at the general public, will start at 2:30 pm at the Winery, with a conference on “Vine Varieties and Talha Wine”, with free admission, just make an appointment in advance. Present will be Prof. Virgílio Loureiro, author of the book “O Vinho Sentido”, Agricultural Regent, from the School of Coimbra, Agricultural Engineer, from the Technical University of Lisbon, and Biological Engineer, from the New University of Lisbon, who will address the theme of grape varieties in the tallow wine. Prof. Elsa Gonçalves, assistant professor at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia da Universidade de Lisboa (ISA/UL), where she teaches several areas, namely Quantitative Genetics and Plant Improvement, and member of the Board of the Portuguese Association for the Diversity of Vine-PORVID and President of the Group of Experts «Genetic Resources and Vine Selection» of the International Organization of Vine and Wine, which will address, in this conference, the genetics of grape varieties. The moderator will be Luís Gradíssimo, Enófilo, specialist in wines and enogastronomy and responsible for the Enóphilo project, which will lead the conference.
The wine tasting, from the producers of Vinho de Talha DOC Alentejo, will start at 3.30 pm at Casa das Talhas, the Winery’s wine tourism space. The ticket will cost €5.00 which entitles you to a glass to taste all available wines. Present will be producers of Talha DOC Alentejo Wine certified by the Alentejo Regional Winegrowing Commission (CVRA).
Algarve hosts the fifth Regional Enotourism Forum APENO – Ageas Seguros
28/11/2022The Associação Portuguesa de Enoturismo (APENO) and Ageas Seguros, in partnership with the national Regional Wine Commissions (CVR), invite economic agents from the various Portuguese wine regions to discuss the strengths and points of improvement of national Enotourism, in various Regional Forums that take place until 2023 in various parts of the country. After the first and successful forums in the Lisbon region, in the Tagus region, in the Setúbal region and in the Alentejo region, now follows the Wine Tourism Forum in the Algarve region, on the 5th of December.
Decentralizing has been the keyword for APENO and Ageas Seguros to do more and better for wine tourism in Portugal. For this reason, the mission, this time, is to open doors to cycles of debates, in which the focus is to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of national wine tourism, with the aim of finding solutions to further grow a sector already in its own right. frank expansion, but with much more to give in Portuguese territory.
As the first national association dedicated exclusively to the sector, APENO, in partnership with Ageas Seguros, invites economic agents from the various national wine regions to discuss wine tourism on the same stage, in sessions open to the general public. APENO will travel from land to land to listen to the main problems of the different regions and to find, together, new approaches to make the best wine tourism.
«It is with great enthusiasm that we join, once again, an initiative with APENO. We want to reinforce our position in the wine tourism sector, with these professionals, contributing to a safer and more sustainable sector. It is our commitment to be present in the lives of Companies in a relevant, close and emotional way», reinforces Gustavo Barreto, member of the Executive Committee of the Ageas Portugal Group.
Objective: to create solid foundations for Enotourism
«APENO – Associação Portuguesa de Enoturismo was born just two years ago but already brings together among its associates the best players in Enotourism at national level, and we continue to grow every day. There is a lot of talk about Enotourism, but still no one has definitions or numbers that help to understand it, among other issues that need to be debated. And, obviously, APENO has been focused on resolving these issues and creating solid foundations for work so that Portugal is considered a reference region in wine tourism worldwide», says Maria João de Almeida, President of APENO.
«Obviously, this also involves the attention we want to give to each of the national regions, where we will identify and debate the existing problems in wine tourism, try to present solutions and make known the work we have been doing since we were born. In these sessions, which we do together with Ageas Seguros, our partner company, and with the CVRs of each region, we will also have a training session related to Risk Prevention and Management as a key to the efficiency of Enotourism, as well as a round table which will bring together economic agents with room for debate. I’m sure the result will be very positive», concludes Maria João de Almeida.
The fifth of these Regional Forums takes place in the Algarve region, on the 5th of December, at 2.30 pm, in the Auditorium of the Convento de São José in the municipality of Lagoa. «The regional wine tourism forums promoted by APENO constitute an important moment of reflection dedicated to wine tourism in the Algarve, its potentialities and challenges. It will be an important moment of debate about this sector of activity that has shown great dynamism in our region», highlights Sara Silva, President of CVR do Algarve.
It is a working session where wine tourism in the Algarve region will be discussed, with the following program:
2:30 pm – Opening of doors and reception of guests.
3:00 pm – Presentation of the Portuguese Wine Tourism Association APENO (mission, advantages and activities) – Members of the Board of APENO
15:45 – Risk Prevention and Management as a key to the efficiency of Wine Tourism, with Francisco Erse – PME & Corporate Manager of the Ageas Portugal Group.
16:30 – Presentation of the APENO Wine Tourism Guide (a project already under development that intends to assert itself as the reference wine tourism guide at national and international level).
17:00 – Debate: Reflections on Wine Tourism: The needs of the sector – A brief conversation about the main challenges of the region for wine tourism in the Algarve region.
Speakers:
Sara Silva, President of CVR do Algarve;
André Gomes, Director of the promotion, animation and tourist information nucleus of the Algarve Regional Tourism Authority;
Filipe Vasconcellos, CEO of Morgado do Quintão.
All these moments will have space for questions and answers from the guests present.
To participate in these Regional Forums, you can register through the APENO website
Very soon, the dates of the next forums in the remaining national wine regions will be announced, with the aim of creating, together, a country of reference for Enotourism worldwide.
Pico Wines featured at Magma restaurant
25/11/2022The island of Pico and the island of São Miguel come together in a perfect occasion where Azorean products will be the protagonists, in a tasting dinner, on the 30th of November, which will take place at the restaurant Magma da Senhora da Rosa, Tradition & Nature, in Ponta Delgada. This will be the second meeting that continues the cycle of dinners at the restaurant, and will bring together the Azorean gastronomic and wine excellence that characterizes the two islands so well. Sustainability, appreciation and quality of regional products are the concepts that are always highlighted in an experience that wants to be unique and unforgettable.
Winemaker Bernardo Cabral, from Picowines, will present the new vintages of the brand/cooperative’s excellent wines, in conjunction with the tasting dinner prepared for the moment, promoting the symbiosis between gastronomy and wines from the islands of Pico and São Miguel.
Created especially for the occasion by chef João Alves, the menu will feature 6 moments, including a ‘welcome drink’ with Terras de Lava White 2020, followed by starters, fish dishes, meat dish and dessert, and will be available for €40 , an amount that includes wine pairing by Picowines. The menu is a surprise, making the occasion an unforgettable journey of discovery of these two elements that make up the experience. The wine pairing will be presented and commented on by Picowines consultant winemaker, Bernardo Cabral.
“It is a great pleasure for us to establish synergies in the name of excellence and the enormous quality that the products of our islands assume in the universe of gastronomy and wines and, thus, give stage to the best that exists in the Azores”, says Joana Damião Melo , co-owner and director of Senhora da Rosa, Tradition & Nature Hotel.
Bernardo Cabral, consultant oenologist at Picowines, adds that “the Pico wines are genuine and of a unique quality, which makes them differentiating, taking into account the diversity that exists in the wine universe. These are wines that go perfectly with Azorean gastronomy and make us, everyone involved, extremely proud, and those who taste it very happy”.
The wine dinner takes place from 7:30 pm with a “welcome drink”, at the Magma restaurant, and promises a celebration of the unique and memorable Azorean essence.
The Magma restaurant presents a cuisine of regional flavors and techniques, with touches of history and nature, refined to the maximum through a contemporary vision. The space is open for lunch and dinner, with capacity for 55 people and includes a semi-covered terrace.
Information: November 30th, starting at 7:30 pm: Welcome drink followed by dinner – Price: 40 €/person – Reservations: info@senhoradarosa.com 296 100 900 – Address: Rua Senhora da Rosa 3, 9500-450 Ponta Delgada – Sao Miguel, Azores – Portugal
In São Martinho, taste the chestnuts and drink the wine from AdegaMãe
10/11/2022For the first time, AdegaMãe opens its doors to the festivities of São Martinho, with a program that promises to be a true sensory and intimate experience. On the 12th of November, next Saturday, this reference space for wine tourism in the Lisbon region, located in Torres Vedras, invites all wine tourists to eat chestnuts and taste their wine, with a lunch included that includes the tiborna de codfish, the famous stone soup, pork on a skewer, the traditional pumpkin soup and cornbread.
For the price of €55 per person, the program starts at 11:30 am, with check-in at Varanda da AdegaMãe. Then, at 12:00, the visit to the winery and the tasting of new wines and, at 13:30, it’s time for lunch in the vineyard. Until 5:30 pm, it’s time to taste the “hot and good” chestnuts, always accompanied by AdegaMãe’s Atlantic-inspired wines. The vines in reddish tones, the fire pit and the music help to frame this autumnal scenery of São Martinho and are an invitation to celebrate the magusto season.
Reservations by email enoturismo@adegamae.pt or telephone 939 989 094.
Best of Wine Tourism 2023: Symington wins three awards
08/11/2022Of the seven projects distinguished by the Best of Wine Tourism 2023, three of them are signed bySymington. The Bomfim 1896 restaurant with Pedro Lemos–located in Quinta do Bomfim,in Pinhão–;the exclusive visits to Quinta do Vesúvio and the new terrace of the Vinum restaurant, located inGraham’s Cellars, are the distinguished family spaces, in different categories.Inaugurated on the 10th of June of this year, Bomfim 1896 withPedro Lemos thus receives its first prize,in the category ‘Wine Restaurants’. Housed in a completely renovated old wine warehouse, Symington’slatest gastronomic project is inspired by the family kitchens of the Douro, with large chimneys andwood-fired cooking. With fire as a transversal element to all dishes, the menu–which highlights dishesof sea fish, seafood and meat from national (and local) producers–is complemented with wines fromthe Symington Family Estates portfolio, as well as from producers family friends (national andinternational). Reservations can be made through the Bomfim1896.pt website.In the ‘Innovative Experiences’ category, the Best of Wine Tourism 2023 awards highlighted visitsto Quinta do Vesúvio, one of the most emblematic farms in the Douro. As one of the largestproperties in that region, Quinta do Vesúvio has belonged to the Symington family since 1989.Since then, it was only last year that the farm opened its doors to visitors, in a very exclusiveexperience designed forsmall groups (maximum of ten people). The program includes a jeep tourof the vineyards, a visit to the winery, wine tasting and even a break for lunch on the manorhouse’s balcony, with a privileged view of the Douro landscape. The values vary between 450and 500 euros per person, depending on the number of participants per group. The price of theexperience for children is 50 euros. The contact for booking isvisitvesuvio@symington.com
Finally, the new terrace of the Vinum restaurant, a project in partnership with Grupo Sagardi,located in Graham’s Caves, won in the ‘Architecture and Landscape’ category. With a locationthat guarantees its visitors a unique view over the two banks of the Douro River, the new terraceadded 160 seats to the restaurant, arranged in different areas and levels. Of these, 80 areintended for those who want to enjoy a meal, previously only possible inside the space. The restare reserved for the new lounge, where you can enjoy a wide selection of cocktails or wines andsnacks. Vinum is open from Monday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 01:00, and it is, for example,possible to complement a trip to the restaurant with an experience at the Graham’s lodge-wherevisits and Port wine tastings take place (subject to reservation ).
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova among the best in the world of sustainability
04/11/2022Herdade da Malhadinha Nova has just been highlighted in second place in the Best Use of Sustainability in Culinary category, in the Global Culinary Travel Awards 2022, promoted by the non-profit association World Food Travel.
The World Food Travel Association announced the winners of the 2022 Global Culinary Travel Awards in mid-September, recognizing excellence and innovation in products and dining experiences for travelers. The ceremony will be streamed online on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 4 pm London time, UK.
Os vencedores deste ano são:
Best Emphasis on Wellness & Health in Culinary Travel
1st place – Spa Eastman (Quebec, Canada)
Runner Up – Nomads, Nature & Nurture (Lebanon)
Best Use of Sustainability in Culinary Travel
1st – Vegan Travel Asia by VegVoyages (Nepal)
Runner Up – Herdade da Malhadinha Nova (Portugal)
Best Celebration of Culinary Culture in Culinary Travel
1st – Jiranileo (Zambia)
Runner Up – Heather’s Helsinki (Helsinki, Finland)
Best Focus on Wine & Beverages in Culinary Travel
1st – HaliPuu / Campfire Baristan (Finland)
Runner Up – Cadushy Distillery (Bonaire)
Best Appreciation of Agriculture & Rural in Culinary Travel
1st – La Balade Gourmande (Quebec, Canada)
Runner Up – Conseil de l’industrie bioalimentaire de l’Estrie (Quebec, Canada)
The Global Culinary Travel Awards (first called the FoodTrekking Awards) were introduced by the WFTA in 2015 to set the benchmark for excellence and innovation in the industry. The annual awards open in March and winners are announced in the fall. This year, 10 winners were chosen from 131 entries from 27 countries that strove to gain recognition for their business or destination.
Culinary travel was officially recognized as a niche industry in 2001 with the publication of the report ‘Culinary Tourism: The Hidden Harvest’. Since then, the industry has experienced significant growth in both the quantity and quality of products and experiences for food and restaurant lovers.
The World Food Travel Association (WFTA) was founded in 2003 as a non-governmental, non-profit organization (NGO) and today is recognized as the world’s leading authority on Food & Beverage tourism. Each year, the Association accompanies 200,000 professionals in more than 150 countries. WFTA’s knowledge, tools and training help industry professionals and organizations leverage the F&B products and experiences in their field to help create a strong sense of belonging, which increases visitor arrivals; the value of the destination’s brand and the exportation of goods from its area. But information at www.worldfoodtravel.org.
ABOUT MALHADINHA:
Born in 1998, as a result of the enormous determination of the Soares family to produce wines of the highest quality on their abandoned lands, Malhadinha Nova immediately became the enormous challenge of maintaining the sustainability and natural balance of a unique property, never attacked by farms. soil exhaustion through chemical fertilization and the use of pesticides or plantations of any intensive monoculture or the target of any real estate speculation.
In 2008, they embarked on hospitality, with the restoration of a ruin transformed into rural tourism with the Monte da Peceguina house, but it was in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, that a new phase of the hotel project was inaugurated, new villas spread across the property, all restored to from the ruins of the land. These villas elevated the estate to a luxury project, never losing focus on sustainability and the future.
The enormous concern with the need to share and preserve knowledge, knowledge and traditions results in the involvement of local communities of artisans, musicians, artists in various areas of the estate, whether in the materials used in the construction and restoration of the ruins, in decoration elements present in all suites and villas and which can be sold on the estate, at the request of customers. Also in all the experiences promoted by HMN in its tourist activity, intangible heritage of knowledge of the region is included in terms of handicrafts and gastronomy.
The entire property is part of the “Natura 2000 Network“. This special protection zone created by UNESCO in 1998 aims to protect extremely rare species. The sustainability and environmental protection measures cover different practices, such as: organic production, efficient use of water, use of biological WWTPs, collection of rainwater, heated in boilers with firewood for cleaning the land, breeding of indigenous breeds in a extensive farming, grazing, traditional olive groves, among others.
Malhadinha Nova was one of the first producers to integrate the Alentejo Wines Sustainability Program, a pioneering project in the country and one of the most relevant in Europe.
Douro wine tourism with another commitment to excellence
04/11/2022More than twenty years have passed since the foundation of Lavradores de Feitoria, a Douro producer with a reputation for wine production, which now opens its doors to Enotourism.
With twenty estates spread over the best terroirs of the three sub-regions of the Douro (Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior), Lavradores de Feitoria assumes itself as a wine producer that has a unique innovative business model in the Douro, and in the rest of the country, investing heavily in a logic of social, economic and environmental sustainability. Founded in September 2000, under a joint leadership in management and a unique team in oenology, Lavradores de Feitoria was initially the result of the union of fifteen farmers who came together to share resources and create synergies to go further. More than twenty years later, Lavradores de Feitoria is made up of fifty-three shareholders, sixteen of which own nineteen farms, to which is added Quinta do Medronheiro, purchased with the company’s capital. It is precisely on this farm, located in Sabrosa, that the new cellar of these farmers was recently born, as well as the visitor center and the wine store.
CEO Olga Martins and oenology director Paulo Ruão, a duo recognized for the excellent work carried out at Lavradores de Feitoria, who are also shareholders, are the most visible faces of a team of professionals who work daily so that the project continues to be a reason of pride for the Douro. In total, Lavradores de Feitoria has at its disposal grapes from more than 600 hectares of vineyards. The wine portfolio is made up of brands such as ‘Lavradores de Feitoria’ (white, rosé and red), ‘Três Bagos’ (white Sauvignon Blanc, white Reserva, red Reserva, Grande Escolha red and Grande Escolha Prolonged Stage red), Vinha da Meruge (white and red), Quinta da Costa das Aguaneiras (red) and the new Vinha do Sobreiro (red). It also has celebration wines, such as ‘Lavradores de Feitoria 18 and special projects and brands for specific markets.
The wine tourism aspect, led by Eduardo Ferreira (in the entry photo), born in the region and a recognized professional in the sector, comprises visits, tastings and a wine shop. Now, with the structure, team and procedures in place, demand is high, hence they have advanced – at the request of the various partners – with a new offer, an experience called ‘Winemaker for a day’. Lasting 2h30, it allows visitors to create a batch in their own name, resulting in a unique bottle of wine. The visit begins with a guided tour of the vineyard, cellar, bottling line, wine cellar and barrel room. It continues with the tasting of three red wines – Vinha da Meruge, Vinha do Sobreiro and Quinta da Costa das Aguaneiras –, in order to understand the impact that terroir and the type of vinification have on the final result of a wine. Afterwards, it is time to make the blend. In the end, the visitor still bottles and labels his own bottle. However, those who want to do other types of visits and simpler tastings just choose, as the offer ranges from a simple guided tour, to visits with wine tasting and yet another special, private experience, with tasting of so-called ‘superb wines’. ‘.
These tastings reflect the wine portfolio of Lavradores de Feitoria. In the Identity tasting, the idea is to share the history of the company and its name, while tasting the white, rosé and red Lavradores de Feitoria’. In the Concept tasting, the wines chosen are the white Lavradores de Feitoria, the red and the Três Bagos Reserva red, all of them blended, in which each of the Lavradores brings part of itself and its wine heritage. The Planalto tasting is only made up of white wines, being from the higher and flatter areas that the grapes of the white Lavradores de Feitoria, the white Três Bagos Reserva and the white Três Bagos Sauvignon Blanc come from. As its name implies, the Terroir tasting has wines that reflect the region where the white Vinha da Meruge grapes, the new Vinha do Sobreiro red and Quinta da Costa das Aguaneiras red grapes come from. At the highest level, where the tasting is called Soberbo, is the Vinha da Meruge white and red pair, the Três Bagos Grande Escolha red and the Três Bagos Grande Escolha Prolonged Stage red.
The Lavradores de Feitoria visitor center and wine shop are open from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Regular visits take place from Monday to Friday at 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. In the case of private visits and the ‘Winemaker for a day’ experience, there is flexibility in hours, always depending on availability and with mandatory prior appointment, which must be made (and confirmed) with the wine tourism manager Eduardo Ferreira, through the e-mail -mail winetourism@lavradoresdefeitoria.pt or mobile number 968 667 660, up to 48 hours in advance.
‘A La Mesa’ dinners are back at Cockburn’s Cellars
25/10/2022The second edition of the initiative combines the tradition of Port wine with the flavors of Argentine, Brazilian and Japanese cuisine.
The “A La Mesa” dinners are back at Caves Cockburn’s – one of the most recognized Port wine houses, owned by Symington Family Estates –, in Vila Nova de Gaia. For the second year running, the initiative will combine, on the 4th and 5th of November, from 8:00 pm, the tradition of Port wine with the delicacies of Argentine cuisine, prepared by the Argentine chef Maurício Ghiglione, from the Belos Aires restaurant, served in a table with 50 people, surrounded by more than 10,000 oak vats, a unique and exclusive setting. This year, dinners have special circumstances, as they will be prepared ‘for four’.
On the 4th, Argentina will meet Brazil, with the presence of guest chef Rafaela Louzada, representing the restaurant Gruta. On the 5th, chef Ruy Leão, from SHIKO – Tasca Japonesa, will bring Japanese influences to the Cockburn’s lodge. Dinners include an initial moment in which appetizers and couvert will be served. Then, the flight attendants will be able to taste a menu in four moments, created and prepared by Maurício Ghiglione and by one of the two chefs, at the table of the day. The various dishes will be cooked over an outdoor fire, accompanied by wines from Cockburn’s and the Symington family.
The initiative is open to 50 participants and costs 60 euros per person, with the limited ones already available on the Eventbrite.pt platform (https://alamesa.eventbrite.pt/). Entrance to the event can be made through Rua de Serpa Pinto 346, 4400-307 Vila Nova de Gaia. Cockburn’s Cellars have a parking space, so it’s free.
Culture and Art in Torre de Palma
18/10/2022This year 2022 is the centenary of the birth of the writer José Saramago. Torre de Palmaassociates itself with the José Saramago Foundation to honorthe life and work of the writer,who reports his passage through this property in the book ‘Viagem a Portugal’ and launches aspecial program between the 4th and 6th of November that can be consulted on the websitehttps://www.torredepalma.com/ofertas/where you can find other interesting wine tourismprograms.In addition, on the 5th of November, the exhibition ‘Back to the Steps That Were Data’ opens,also at the Torre de Palma Wine Hotel, which will be complemented with a presentation andlecture by theDirector of the Sérgio Machado Letria Foundation.For more information and reservations, contact us by emailreservas@torredepalma.comor byphone +351 245 038 890 or WhatsApp +351 936 004 264.
There’s Jazz in Mind the Glass!
12/10/2022Red wine tourism, also in the city. It is already next Thursday, October 13th, at 10 pm, that we will receive the intimate concert by Gabriela Braga and Cláudio Ribeiro.
The duo presents a repertoire that starts from the bases of jazz and meets the great Brazilian compositions. From Chico Buarque to Duke Ellington, all important composers for their formation as musicians will be honored.
It will be a pleasant evening, full of improvisation and beautiful melodies, between wines and snacks!
MIND THE MUSIC, featuring Scat Bossa
October 13; 10 pm
Mind the Glass | Wine, Bistrot, Bar
Gomes Teixeira Square – PortoConsumo mínimo: 5€