DÃO IN CELEBRATION: QUINTA DO CASTELO WELCOMES THE BEST IN WINE TOURISM

There are many surprises in store on the night of the APENO – Ageas Seguros 2025 National Wine Tourism Awards, which this year will be held in the Dão region. But there are secrets that can already be revealed. Quinta do Castelo is the venue for the gala and the dinner has been designed by chef Henrique Ferreira, one of the region’s most renowned and talented chefs.

This year, the APENO – Ageas Seguros National Wine Tourism Award travels to the heart of the Dão region and once again meets the community and local traditions of the Portuguese regions it has visited, following good sustainability practices as usual. This time, Nelas, in Viseu, is the city chosen for the great national wine tourism festival. On May 30, starting at 6pm, Quinta do Castelo will be transformed into the stage for the National Wine Tourism Award, with a gala dinner prepared to perfection by renowned chef Henrique Ferreira, owner of the Tertúlia restaurant at the Hotel Puro Dão in Nelas, and with a long career in some of the best national kitchens.

“As well as rewarding the best wine tourism companies and professionals, the idea is once again to highlight the region that hosts the National Wine Tourism Awards, and to surprise with its elegance, details, creativity and professionalism, wines and, of course, gastronomy. All in one evening that promises to be magical! After a search of the region, Quinta do Castelo turned out to have the ideal conditions to host the event, and Henrique is a chef who works very well with the products and flavors indigenous to the Dão, with a modern and creative eye. I’m sure the guests will also be won over by their stomachs,” says Maria João de Almeida, President of the Portuguese Wine Tourism Association.

Located on the Beira plateau, between Serra da Estrela and Caramulo, Nelas stretches across the Dão and Mondego valleys and is recognized as the heart of the Dão Demarcated Region. It is in this vineyard-covered setting that we find Quinta do Castelo, an ideal venue for organizing events. As well as having a restaurant renowned for its tasty regional cuisine, Quinta do Castelo stands out for producing its own wines – Casa do Castelo – from its 8 hectares of vineyards and a well-equipped wine cellar. “It’s an honor and a privilege to host the National Wine Tourism Award, which is a benchmark event, the big party that highlights the best in wine tourism in Portugal! Hosting this ceremony gives us a huge responsibility, but it also goes hand in hand with what we try to do best, which is to welcome our visitors with great quality. Wine tourism is a key part of our house and of the sustainable development of wine-growing regions, as well as a very important factor in enhancing our cultural and gastronomic heritage,” says Pedro Morais, manager and head of Quinta do Castelo.

As for the menu, it is already being marinated in the head of chef Henrique Ferreira, who has proudly embraced the challenge of preparing the ceremony’s meal inspired by the traditional flavors of the region. “I’m very flattered to have been the chef chosen by both the municipality of Nelas and APENO to prepare the dinner for the National Wine Tourism Award. As they say, I’m a son of the land, I know the aromas and flavors of the region very well and I’m going to give them my interpretation. That’s why it’s with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I’m going to cook the best I can to highlight the gastronomy of our region,” says Henrique Ferreira, who wants every detail of this meal to convey a sensory journey through the past and the present, through the Dão and its people. “I’m not going to reveal the menu just yet, but I can guarantee that each dish served on this special evening will tell its own story, just as it does in wine tourism,” says the chef.

Chef Henrique Ferreira, a native of Santar, began his career in gastronomy at a young age, helping out in his great-uncle’s restaurant. After studying catering, he worked in top kitchens such as Quinta das Lágrimas, Tasca da Esquina and Paço dos Cunhas de Santar, where he consolidated his career. He also worked at the Estoril Open and with renowned chefs such as Henrique Sá Pessoa and Vítor Matos.

In 2009, he joined the GlobalWines group, where he headed several restaurants and, in 2016, became the group’s Executive Chef, coordinating the kitchens at Quinta de Cabriz, Paço dos Cunhas and Quinta do Encontro. Between 2020 and 2023, he was F&B Consultant at the Quinta do Medronheiro restaurant and, in 2022, he worked as a consultant at the Wine Bistro, Mind The Glass in Porto. He is currently responsible for the Tertúlia Project, which opened in 2023 at Tertúlia Gastronomia in Nelas, a space that celebrates the gastronomy of Dão and Portugal, with a wine list focused on the region.

Quinta do Castelo, on the other hand, is a family estate with around 12 hectares, 8 of which are dedicated to vineyards. The estate grows grape varieties such as Tinta Roriz, Jean, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Pinheira and Touriga Nacional.
Inspired by previous generations and their passion for wine, the owners have modernized and innovated the viticulture and winemaking processes, resulting in Casa do Castelo wines. In addition to wine production, Quinta do Castelo offers a restaurant serving typical Beira cuisine, using local ingredients and pairing dishes with the wines produced on the estate. The space also offers areas for events, including large gardens and a hall with capacity for up to 300 people, making it an ideal venue for large parties and special gatherings.