Symington wins four awards in the Best of Wine Tourism 2024 

The Best of Wine Tourism 2024 are now known and there are four Symington family projects that have won awards. After having already secured its Global Winner distinction in 2017, the property located in Pinhão (Douro) once again secured the award. In addition to this award, as a Regional Winner, Cockburn’s Cellars, Graham’s Cellars and also the Merenda na Vinha activity, which takes place at the award-winning Quinta do Bomfim, are added. 

Bomfim: the Symington family’s most awarded wine tourism project. There are seven awards that Quinta do Bomfim has received since 2017. Owned by the Symington family for five generations, the farm is the home par excellence of the renowned Dow’s Port wines, with several activities available for its visitors. Between guided tours, two award-winning restaurants, wine tastings and vineyard tours, Quinta do Bomfim added, in the summer of this year, a new experience, which is now award-winning, as is the property. Merenda na Vinha – winner in the ‘Architecture and Landscape’ category – is characterized by being an idealized and fully equipped space for visitors to relax, whilst tasting a picnic menu offering regional products. 

Surrounded by vineyards, overlooking the Douro River and created with small terraces, the Merenda na Vinha space brings together all the elements so that visitors can enjoy this light meal. In addition to appropriate tables for snacks to be enjoyed in the greatest comfort, the new picnic area has blankets for more relaxed moments and is also complemented by a bar service – which allows tasting wine by the glass, as well as cocktails. 

Remember that in addition to two Global Winner and two Regional Winner distinctions in the Best of Wine Tourism, Quinta do Bomfim also has three awards in the TOP 50 World’s Best Vineyards (in the years 2019, 2021 and 2022). 

Cockburn’s and Graham’s Cellars highlighted: The two Symington family cellars open to visitors, located in the historic area of Vila Nova de Gaia, also shone in this edition of the Best of Wine Tourism. Cockburn’s – which is part of the largest Port wine aging warehouse, and also has a traditional cooperage where a team of seven coopers works – won the “Regional Winner – Art and Culture” distinction. Graham’s Cellars – which also stood out in this year’s TOP 50 World’s Best Vineyards (together with Vinum Restaurant), as well as in 2022 – secured the award in the “Regional Winner – Wine Tourism Services” category. This year, the space marked a decade since its renovation and reopening to the public. Over the last 10 years, Graham’s, which welcomed more than half a million people, has been reinforcing its position as a reference in the wine tourism sector in Portugal, providing visitors with the possibility of discovering the history of the Douro wine region, while enjoying the Symington family wines and discovering the methods used in their production. 

Soalheiro publishes book ‘Manta de Retalhos’

Quinta de Soalheiro published the book ‘Manta de Retalhos’, a tribute to the more than 180 families of the Soalheiro Winegrowers Club, the territory of Monção and Melgaço and Alvarinho. The book will give rise to two photography exhibitions that will take place in Porto and Lisbon. The first will open on November 29th at Galeria Fernando Santos, on Rua Miguel Bombarda, in Porto, and can be visited until December 10th.

The book ‘Manta de Retalhos – Rostos do Alvarinho’, written by João Bernardino and Kitato (Luís Octávio Costa), is a portrait of the Clube de Viticultores do Soalheiro, based on the idea that the greatness of Alvarinho de Monção and Melgaço is made locally, by many hands, in a patchwork where each plot has the face of the caretaker. The winegrowers were photographed during a vineyard cycle, leaving testimonies about the connection to Alvarinho, resulting in an exclusive edition that has prefaces by professors Álvaro Domingues and Gonçalo Maia Marques.

The uniqueness of Monção and Melgaço is due to the natural conditions, a valley surrounded by mountains, and the collective effort of the people who cultivated Alvarinho. Knowledge passes from generation to generation and each plot is cared for like a garden by these families, who, even with other professional occupations, dedicate their free time to obtain additional income. Alvarinho is one of the most expensive grapes in the country, guaranteeing the sustainability of agriculture and the preservation of this unique landscape, which, seen from above, reminds us of a patchwork blanket, each with the history of a family, like Soalheiro.

«We are very grateful to our winegrowers, who today are part of this family of families that is Soalheiro. Without them, our wines would not be what they are today and the dream would not continue. This book is a way of honoring the careful care for the grapes and the unwavering commitment to Soalheiro», says the Cerdeira family, founders of the first Alvarinho de Melgaço brand.

The recent launch of the book ‘Manta de Retalhos’ was attended by a full house, where the book was distributed to winegrowing families and the Soalheiro team. The bilingual publication, with a circulation of 1000 copies, will be available free of charge, in full, from November 29th on the website www.mantaderetalhos.pt and can be consulted physically at Soalheiro and at the two presentation Photography Exhibitions of the book, in Porto and Lisbon.

Fado Night at Casa Museu Interativa de Borba

Fado Night at the Casa Museu Interativa de Borba The Casa Museu Interactiva de Borba organizes another of its activities and invites the public to a ‘Fado Night’ with friends, wines and regional snacks. The event will feature the presence of musicians Carlos Arvanas, Rute Sousa, José Geadas on viola and António Barros on Portuguese guitar. The date of the event is scheduled for December 1st, starting at 9pm, at the Casa Museu Interativa de Borba. Entry requires a minimum consumption of €10 per person. To reserve your place, interested parties can contact us via telephone +351 925 076 864 or email:

geral@emrezio.pt.

Remember that the Casa Museu Interativa de Borba is a cultural space located in the city of Borba, in Alentejo, with an interactive museum part that provides visitors with an educational and enriching experience. Unlike traditional museums, it uses technology and interactive resources to involve the public more actively in learning and appreciating the exhibitions. This innovative approach promotes visitor participation while promoting local culture and the historical and artistic heritage of the Borba region

Quinta Dona Sancha presents new features in a night of glamour 

 Growth in the supply of monovarietal wines, to which new harvests are added and with an eye on the future with wine tourism, are the bets for 2024. In 2023, Quinta Dona Sancha expands its Wine Collection with the launch of a new monovarietal – Quinta Dona Sancha Touriga Nacional 2019 – alongside the new harvests. The news will be presented on October 27th at Pousada de Viseu, at the 2nd Quinta Dona Sancha Gala, an event that marks the growth of the brand and its estate. 

 The farms, in Silgueiros, will have an additional 9 hectares of vineyard planted with rootstock[1] in 2023. In the period of one year, the total area increased. 6 varieties were grafted – Bába, Tinta Pinheira, Tinto Cao, Tinta Carvalha, Encruzado and Grava Cao – into an area already planted, with the aim of preserving the region’s indigenous grape varieties, which have a high oenological potential. The project continues to grow, with wine tourism expected to open soon. 

According to Rui Parente, producer and CEO, «it is a great pleasure to bring together, at an event in Viseu, the people who contribute to the growth of this project, from distribution and restaurant partners, friends, family, to the winemaking team, field team, commercial, everyone represents a prominent place and this celebration has that same thing, of recognition and gratitude». For the person responsible, it is of absolute importance to «respect, praising what this unique territory has to offer», referring to Dão and the Silgueiros Sub-Region. 

With the curricular experience of the oenology team, made up of Paulo Nunes, Diogo Santos and Filipe Oliveira, which encompasses the areas of consultancy, oenology and viticulture; exploring in depth the genesis of plants that were once predominant in the region became a more consolidated objective. The aim is to maintain the «application of ancient viticulture models, which were successful in their time, transporting them, in the light of science, to the present day», they say, mentioning the project to recover ancient Dão grape varieties through planting of some varieties in significant quantities. 

Estremus 2019 launch limited to 3863 bottles

Produced only when exceptional quality requirements are met, producer João Portugal Ramos has just presented the new harvest of the house’s most emblematic wine, in a limited edition of 3863 bottles. Born and raised in the shadow of the Castle of Estremoz, the name Estremus is not just the result of the desire to pay homage to the origin – it is also a reflection of the extreme quality demanded and achieved by the winemaker who designed it.

Coming from a vineyard planted on the hillside that travels towards the castle, Estremus is defined as a rare, desired and high-quality wine, typical of harvests considered exceptional, which mark eras and elevate references to ever higher flights. The fifth edition of this top of the range Alentejo is no exception, and its history (2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017 harvests) has previously confirmed its status and qualitative positioning.

Made from a single plot, measuring just one and a half hectares, located in a higher area, 375 meters above sea level, Estremus is a field blend of Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet. The grapes come from a 22-year-old vineyard, located on limestone soil with marble stone on the surface. All factors contribute to this being the ideal terroir to make a careful selection of the best grapes that, in the end, give rise to this red of choice.

The production process of this DOC Alentejo begins with manual harvesting in small boxes, in order to preserve the quality of the fruit. After a careful selection of the berries when they arrive at the winery, the two varieties ferment together for four days in marble presses with foot treading and then transfer to a stainless steel tank where the alcoholic fermentation ends. This is followed by 12 days of post-fermentation maceration. When it comes to aging, this is done in 300 liter French oak barrels, over a period of 18 months.

Designed with the usual expertise of João Portugal Ramos, Estremus reveals itself in tasting with an intense and deep aroma, dominated by ripe black fruits such as cassis and blackberries, complexed by tertiary aromas from its aging in barrels. It has a soft attack, which is followed by an evolution characterized by acidity, volume and structure, in harmony, which gives it a long, persistent and highly elegant finish.

New schedule on ‘Mind the Glass’ 

The festive atmosphere of Christmas and the arrival of the New Year are approaching and alcohol lovers have a new ally to make their celebrations even more special. The famous wine bar and wine cellar ‘Mind The Glass’, in Porto, opens its doors every day this festive season from November 21st. The new opening hours will be from Sunday to Thursday, from 6pm to midnight; Friday, from 6pm to 2am; and Saturday, from 4pm to 2am. This change in hours will give customers more time to explore the wide selection of wines, spirits, and other beverages available in the wine cellar. 

For those who prefer the convenience of online shopping, Mind The Glass offers a virtual wine cellar with more than 600 high-quality wines and spirits, available with just one click. The selection includes both national and imported products, as well as premium waters and beers. To make the online shopping experience even more attractive, Mind The Glass offers free shipping on orders over €50. Furthermore, as a welcome gesture, new customers will receive a generous 20% discount on their first purchase at Garrafeira online, using the code ONLINE20 at the time of payment. Celebrate Christmas and New Year with style and flavor, choosing among Mind The Glass’ selection of premium drinks. 

Quinta da Côrte launches TNX DOC DOURO 2021 

In the year of celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Quinta da Côrte, in Valença do Douro, presents the “TNX DOC Douro 2021”, the first wine in what will become a collection of special editions from Quinta da Côrte, consisting of monovarietal references of excellence, to be produced in unique years, using grapes from the best plots of the farm, carefully selected by Marta Casanova, winemaker and general director of the project. Named “TNX” (Touriga Nacional in Schist), this monovarietal not only pays homage to the grape variety used in its creation, Touriga Nacional, considered the “queen of grape varieties”, planted in shale soil, the unique terroir of Quinta da Côrte, as well as marking a decade of history of the Douro producer, a special region classified by UNESCO as World Heritage. 

This new premium reference was created following a batch tasting during which Marta Casanova and the French consultant Stéphane Derenencourt, responsible for the oenology of DOC Douro wines, noticed that there was a totally different wine, which stood out from the others. A 100% Touriga Nacional wine, one of the noblest Portuguese grape varieties, in schist soil, originating from a specific plot of Quinta da Côrte, 504, which faces north, and which was planted in the 70s. After the surprising barrel tasting, Stéphane Derenencourt, consultant at Derenoncourt Consultants, created the motto for the wine from this vintage and variety to become a special reference, and a collection, in homage to the territory that saw its birth. The TNX DOC Douro 2021 reflects the work done by the producer’s team, and also the entire philosophy and essence of this very specific – and unique – terroir of Quinta da Côrte. 

«This is a very special moment for us, for the entire Quinta da Côrte team. In the year in which we celebrate 10 years of this project that I am proud to direct, several high quality wines have been presented to the market, as well as our first organic olive oil, but this wine, the TNX DOC Douro 2021,, created together with the consultancy of Stéphane Derenencourt, is a very special product and project, which inaugurates a collection of very exclusive monovarieties that we intend to launch only in unique years, as was the case in 2021, the harvest year of this Touriga Nacional that we now present, and which marks this year of celebrations in the best possible way, as well as representing our tribute to this grape variety, on shale soils, so typical of our region, and particularly of our Quinta’s terroir”, says Marta Casanova, winemaker and general director of Quinta da Côrte. «This moment became even more special with the fact that we had the presence of Philippe Austruy, owner and promoter of this magnificent adventure that has been producing wines here at Quinta da Côrte, in the presentation in which it was possible to bring together the entire Quinta family da Côrte, on an unforgettable day, in which many were present, and witnessed the essence of this project, the essence of Quinta da Côrte», he adds. 

The choice of this harvest to produce TNX is due to the fact that 2021 was, in general, an atypical and surprising year. If, on the one hand, there were records of previous years, which were very hot and dry, characterized by the growing impact of climate change, this year turned out to be one of the coolest during the vine’s growth cycle and during the harvest. The heat waves that have become a habit in the Douro did not occur and it ended up being a cool and mild summer. Therefore, there was no need to rush the cutting of the grapes due to signs of dehydration or water stress, but rather to slow down, which allowed the plants to make the most of the water available in the soil. 

After the harvest, which began on September 14, 2021, manual selection followed. All viticulture is precision, done by hand, surgically, plot by plot, berry by berry, always aiming for maximum quality. Most of Quinta da Côrte’s vineyards and plots are recorded through an application, which allows the entire cycle to be monitored with very specific parameters, namely grape variety, exposure, climate, density, temperatures, among others. In the winery, the philosophy is always that of minimal intervention, and by gravity, as designed by Pierre Yovanovitch and Marta Casanova. This single variety aged for 24 months in 500l French oak barrels until bottling in mid-September 2023 

Ready for tasting, TNX reveals a variety of aromas on the nose, from black fruit and enveloping chocolate, to spicy notes and floral touches. In the mouth it presents a great balance between structure and complexity, with a skillfully integrated acidity, which highlights its fruity richness and depth of mouth. This is a wine that stands out for its elegance, representing the pure expression of Touriga Nacional on shale soils. The suggestion for pairing is hot and comfort dishes, such as pork loin with pumpkin puree, roast beef with roast potatoes. 

To mark its 10th anniversary as a wine producer under its own name, Quinta da Côrte has been developing several initiatives throughout the year, under the motto of the four elements of nature – water, air, earth and fire – all they are linked in some way to the world of wines, and to the universe of Quinta da Côrte. The launch of TNX DOC Douro 2021 celebrates the TERRA element, by highlighting this very specific terroir, with 26 hectares of vineyards, of which more than half are made up of old vines, which allowed the excellence of this Touriga Nacional. 

Alongside the initiatives that aim to celebrate 10 years of wine production in this old Douro farm, which dates back to the mid-18th century, Quinta da Côrte has its eyes firmly set on the future, and a clear vision of the potential that the terroir has for that there is still a lot of history to write, a lot of ink to flow and a lot of red (and not only…!) to taste, the result of this Douro that still has a lot to tell. 

Limited edition, with only 658 bottles, numbered, in magnum format (1.5l) – which provides a better evolution in the bottle -, the TNX DOC Douro 2021 is on sale (RRP €450.00) in some wine stores and stores specialty, in Portugal and abroad. 

Churchill’s announces new harvests 

This week, Churchill’s presented the new harvests of its Churchill’s Estates Grafite and Quinta da Gricha Douro wines. Founded in 1981 by winemaker Johnny Graham, who represents the 5th generation of his family to produce Douro wine, Churchill’s establishes itself as an emblematic Portuguese, family and independent wine producer. 

 Churchill’s Estates Grafite Red 2020 arrives on the market, the brand’s interpretation of an elegant and classic red wine from the Douro. With around 30% of the batch aged for 12 months in French oak casks, this wine presents aromas of flowers and dark wild fruits, with soft tannins and a touch of spice in the finish. 

Also from the Churchill’s Estates Grafite line, Touriga Nacional and Grande Reserva 2015 are now launched. Churchill’s Estates Grafite Touriga Nacional is an intense and complex wine in the mouth, with aromas of wild basil and notes of fresh green peppers and spices, which reflects well the freshness that characterizes Churchill’s wines. Churchill’s Estates Grande Reserva is produced from old vines in the Douro region. A robust and complex wine with dark fruit flavors, supported by firm tannins and well-integrated notes of aging in wood. It is a wine with excellent aging potential. The Churchill’s Estates Grafite line is produced with indigenous grape varieties from the Douro region, with the aim of expressing the unparalleled richness of this extreme and unique terroir in the world. The name graffiti is a tribute to the artistic signature of the winemakers, who are dedicated to producing these wines in the most natural way possible. 

Also anticipating its arrival on the market, the brand presented Quinta da Gricha 2020. Produced exclusively with grapes from Quinta da Gricha, this wine expresses the unique characteristics of this ‘terroir’. Quinta da Gricha is the home of Churchill’s in the Douro, in the heart of Cima Corgo. With mills dating back to 1852, and benefiting from a north-facing exposure, Gricha produces wines where power and structure merge with the wildest character and beauty of the ‘terroir’. The signature profile of Gricha wines is the vibrant combination of freshness, minerality and natural acidity. 

Taking advantage of the occasion, the house’s winemaker Ricardo Pinto Nunes spoke of a very intense 2023 harvest, but with great expectations for the results of the wines that are now aging. «At Churchill’s we started harvesting on August 23rd, with Douro wines. The grapes for Port wine began to enter the cellar on September 1st. At the beginning we had very hot and stable weather, but during the month of September we had periods of intense rain that forced the cutting rhythm to be constantly adapted depending on climatic instability», explains the winemaker. «But the truth is that we are very excited about the potential of the wines this year, especially those harvested before the second wave of heavier precipitation». 

The new harvests of Churchill’s Estates Grafite and Quinta da Gricha wines hit the market in November and can be found in restaurants, specialized wine stores or in Churchill’s wine tourism spaces. 

Quinta de Chocapalha launches Arinto Antigo

With a deep respect for ancestral methods, representative of traditions that persist to this day, the newcomer Quinta de Chocapalha Arinto Antigo was born. The new reference for the already emblematic family project, in the Alenquer area, represents a return to its origins in a region where Arinto speaks loudest.

Coming from old vines, over 30 years old, and exposed to the north, the single variety from the 2020 harvest is the result of a long experimental period led by winemaker Sandra Tavares da Silva, daughter of the producer couple Alice and Paulo Tavares da Silva, who sought to explore the versatility of the white grape variety, giving it the stage it deserves.

The return to the origins, taking into account the winemaking legacy of the Lisbon Wine region, translates into a white wine whose fermentation took place for 28 days at low temperatures, with skin maceration or tanning, with the process ending in used French oak barrels. The aging took place in the same barrels for 24 months and in contact with the fine lees, a period to which was added another 12 months of aging in the bottle.

The dedication, both in the vineyard and in the winemaking process, resulted in a golden-colored white, with an intense and complex nose, marked by notes of petroleum, quince and flint, and in the mouth the enormous freshness and density that they go hand in hand with a texture punctuated by balanced and persistent tannins. At the moment of parting, the very long finish remains, with the structured acidity standing out and making a case for future memory.

Arinto Antigo, the house’s most recent reference, never ceases to be a tribute to the grape that is chosen by this family project – for example, the first Arinto harvest dates back to 2008. The respective launch also takes place at a time when Quinta de Chocapalha celebrates 10 years of existence as a modern winery with straight lines, built in the wine-growing landscape of Alenquer to blend in and get lost in the landscape.

Casa do Forno at Torre de Palma Wine Hotel brings together 2 Chefs and 1 Perfumer in the 7th Edition: Miguel Laffan, André Nunca Cordeiro & Lourenço Lucena 

Join the Torre de Palma Wine Hotel, on November 19th, for another family, intimate and comfortable lunch with Torre de Palma wines. The resident Chef, Miguel Laffan invited two other chefs to join him in the kitchen. Miguel Laffan discovered the beauty of the natural landscapes, meadows and castles in Alentejo, which inspired him to win the first Michelin star in this region. This strong connection and knowledge of the Alentejo led him to create PALMA – a family experience, of sharing and well-being in which the genuineness and generosity of the land is what stands out. There, in Alto Alentejo, he found local producers with great passion, around homemade sausages, pure cheeses, or carefully selected pasture animals, and thus PALMA by Miguel Laffan was born, at the Torre de Palma Wine Hotel. 

 Chef André Nunca Cordeiro, who will also dedicate himself to this lunch, graduated from the French school and inspired by the world, owns the Essencial Restaurant in Lisbon, a minimalist project, where the decoration is stripped of excess and the dishes are simple, in order to leave shine the “star” ingredient of each one. Lourenço Lucena is the only Portuguese member of the French Society of Perfumers. By arguing that we should pay more attention to what we see, hear and feel, he prefers to say that he is a sensorialist. He has the gift of knowing how to combine things harmoniously. In the perfumes he creates, he combines aromas. In the projects he signs, he coordinates the different arts. At 50 years old, Lourenço Lucena has already organized dinners with menus tailored to an odor, created perfumes for brides in Santo António and, recently, developed another for the Belcanto restaurant, the two Michelin Star by José Avillez – in addition to having his Acqua di Portokáli, inspired by Algarve oranges. 

 For more information and bookings, contact us by email reservas@torredepalma.com or 245 038 890. Places are limited and subject to reservation.