Miguel Leal and ML-Private Tours nominated for the wine tourism guide of the year award by the Wine travel Awards

The Wine Travel Awards (WTA) is a recognized digital platform that awards annual awards, including in the field of Wine Tourism. This is a way to attract attention, publicize people, regions, wines and local products from all over the world.
Miguel Leal, from ML-Private Tours is one of the nominees for this award «This nomination is a recognition of the work developed by ML-Private Tours in Portuguese wine tourism. Portugal is increasingly sought after for the quality of its wines and gastronomy, it is essential to continue to develop quality services without ever forgetting our roots, we have unique wines and unique landscapes such as the douro valley and we only have to be proud of what is ours », says Miguel Leal, founder and administrator of ML-Private Tours.

Miguel Leal’s connection to the world of wine dates back to his childhood, in a small family wine estate managed by his grandfather and father in the north of Portugal, in the Vinho Verde region, where he helped with the harvest, bottled and labeled wines.

After graduating from the University of Porto with a degree in international relations, Miguel started his career working in family businesses for many years. In 2011, the appeal of wine went in another direction, through his own company, ML-Private Tours.

Booking tours: reservas@ml-privatetours.com / https://www.ml-privatetours.com/
Telm: +351 93 617 44 44

Wine Tourism and Art in Alentejo

ALVEX is the result of the acronym of AL(entejo) V(irtual) EX(tremadura), and the result of the collaboration between the Center for Art and Culture of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation (FEA) and the MEIAC (Museu Extremeño e Ibero-Americano). of art
Contemporary) in dialogue with the artist Maite Cajaraville. An exhibition that will be open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, from the 19th of February, at the Centro de Arte e Cultura, in Évora. Those who travel to Évora also have a good opportunity to visit the wine tourism at Adega Cartuxa, belonging to the FEA, before or after visiting the exhibition.

Curated by Natalia Piñuel Martín and co-curated by José Alberto Ferreira, the artistic project ALVEX is an extension of VEXTRE, created by the Extremaduran artist for exhibition at MEIAC in 2021. It is originally presented as a digitally designed sculpture where it is possible to evaluate parameters economic, demographic, urban, modality, employment, among others, in the Spanish region of Extremadura. The Portuguese version adds another sculpture dedicated to the Alentejo, also designed and produced by Maite Cajaraville, where the collection and detailed analysis of the socio-economic data of the Alentejo is translated into an artistic language that invites reflection on the constraints of the present and the possibilities future of a region.

Thus, the 3D physical part and the virtual expanded reality part of ALVEX will be displayed at the same time, putting viewers in front of two silent realities divided by a border. An augmented reality (QR) device will add readability spheres to each region, access to complementary information and the possibility of including visitors in the exhibition.

On the 16th, 17th and 18th of February, students and teachers will be able to follow the 3D printing of the piece, in ceramic, and dialogue with the artist and the other creative members of the team about the entire design and materialization process. Participation is free, and appointments can be made via email servicoeducativo@fea.pt or telephone contact 266 748 350.
«It is necessary to arouse curiosity for technological experimentation in society and in artists, facilitating a technological, scientific and creative transfer to society as a whole, and to promote a change of mentality that motivates critical thinking about the rural environment and that awakens the possibilities of survival and pride in belonging”, says Maite Cajaraville, an artist from Extremadura.

For the curator Natalia Piñuel Martín, «talking about the work of Maite Cajaraville means claiming one of the pioneering artists of digital art in Spain. His trajectory is a continuous work in progress, integrating non-fiction narratives in different projects that work around media art. A fundamental characteristic throughout his career is the ability to reverse imaginaries and social conditioning through interaction with the public, using current devices of our reality from the contexts of contemporary art. With VEXTRE and ALVEX, it takes steps further, building sculptures of the future and creating an expanded Extremadura and Alentejo that reflect the interests and concerns of the present in these territories». The exhibition can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, with free admission to the Art and Culture Center in Évora. For additional information, consult the FEA website https://www.fea.pt/home

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at PicoWines

Cooperativa Vitivinícola do Pico-Picowines suggests the Terras de Lava Rosé 2020 wine to celebrate love at the most romantic time of the year. Terras de Lava Rosé 2020, a wine made from pressed Syrah and Merlot grapes, has a light salmon hue and an elegant aroma that combines notes of cherries, currants and fresh strawberries with a maritime background.
This wine is the perfect companion for light dishes such as fish, seafood or sushi or as an aperitif. Terras de Lava Rosé 2020 wine is available at a recommended RRP of €10.90 in the various wine cellars in the country.

Another good idea is to take your loved one to visit the Cooperativa da Ilha do Pico, where wine tourism activities are gaining more and more strength. See activities at: https://www.picowines.com/enoturismo/

The Pico Island Winery Cooperative (CVIP) was founded in 1949.
21 founders. After a period of preparation and organization, followed by the construction of the headquarters, the Adega Cooperativa starts its production in 1961 with the noble varieties, Verdelho, Arinto and Terrantez do Pico. The first CVIP wine, named “Pico”, was launched on the market in 1965. There were some obstacles to the production of Pico wines, and in a context of wanting to recover a past that was already out of splendor and glory, the Pico cooperative emerged. in Madalena and, in 1972, it became obvious that wine would also have to be produced from red grapes and American grape varieties, for reasons of profitability, new wines emerged that also marked the history of Pico. The entry of winemaker Bernardo Cabral, in 2017, marks a new stage in the life of these wines, as the first single varietals are introduced, taking over the volcanic terroir of Pico wines. Currently, Cooperativa do Pico is led by Losménio Goulart, who has been concerned with promoting the wine production process, making it increasingly a reference of high quality.

Torre de Palma celebrates Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to relax in Alentejo with your partner. To celebrate this date, Torre de Palma suggests the following wine tourism program: Welcome drink in the Torre de Palma wine tower at sunset (subject to weather conditions); 1 bottle of Torre de Palma wine in the room with fruit and chocolate; Dinner for two at PALMA Restaurant with a Special Valentine’s Day Menu designed by Chef Miguel Laffan (available from the 11th to the 14th for lunch and dinner, and on other days menu on request; 2 Nights accommodation with breakfast included; Free access to the SPA (indoor pool, jacuzzi and Turkish bath) Guided tour of the Torre de Palma winery and bicycles for tours around the property The Valentine’s Special Program costs from €510 in a double room.

Anyone who wants can customize their program with different activities to choose from (massages, horseback riding, wine tasting, among others). Participants in this program can enjoy these activities with a 15% discount.

Conditions: On weekend nights (Friday and Saturday) the value of €70 is added to the program according to the selected room type. Program valid from the 11th to the 20th of February 2022. You can cancel your reservation up to 7 days before the check-in date, free of charge.

To purchase this program, it is necessary to make a prepayment at the time of booking. It cannot be combined with other promotions and is only valid for direct reservations with the Hotel. For more information and reservations, contact Torre de Palma by emailreservas@torredepalma.com, telephone +351 245 038 890 or WhatsApp +351 936 004 264.

Adega José de Sousa presents a new red

The red Porco Bravo Reserva is the new wine launched by Adega José de sousa, in Reguengos de Monsaraz. Inspired by the character of this robust animal and with a very refined palate, this wine is the result of a blend of typical Alentejo red grape varieties and is available exclusively at Pingo Doce supermarkets. «The Porco Bravo wine represents the great charisma and symbolism of bravery and courage of these animals since ancient times. This association with the attributes of the animal, so characteristic of our Alentejo, aims to reflect the expression of our territory and the unique structure, balance and richness present in this wine», says the administrator of José Maria da Fonseca with the Commercial and Marketing department, Antonio Maria Soares Franco. Coming from granitic soils and the result of a blend of Aragonês, Trincadeira, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet, this red fermented in stainless steel vats, followed by a 6-month aging in new French and American oak wood.

With a ruby color, Porco Branco Reserva has aromas of dried figs, chocolate and cigar tobacco, spices and a ripe fruit typical of the region. The palate reveals cigar tobacco notes with fine and velvety tannins, but with good structure and a very balanced acidity. Its aftertaste is long, rich and elegant. Recommended P.V.P. with VAT: €9.99
Remember that Adega José de Sousa has existed since 1878 and was acquired by José Maria da Fonseca in 1986, in order to fulfill the old dream of producing wine in Alentejo, in a property full of prestige and history. Located in Reguengos de Monsaraz, it is here that a tradition started by the Romans over 2000 years ago is kept alive. Adega José de Sousa has 114 clay amphorae, where an ancient and very rare fermentation method is carried out. In addition to the traditional cellar, below ground level, with amphoras and two wine presses for treading, it also has a modern cellar, with 44 stainless steel vats and all the necessary technology for the vinification of reds and whites. At Adega José de Sousa, some ancestral winemaking techniques are still used, the most emblematic of which is the use of mulch in the fermentation of the grapes. Adega José de Sousa also has a wine tourism unit, which is open for guided tours, tastings of wines, wines and snacks and also has the possibility of receiving groups for lunch.

Soalheiro is Vegan certified

After being the first wine of the brand to adopt the sustainable bottle, Soalheiro Alvarinho Clássico is also the first in its portfolio to incorporate vegan certification.
2021 was a year of uncertainty in the vineyard, with challenges that forced winegrowers to take special care and adapted to the conditions of each moment of a year, which for viticulture was always unpredictable. Even so, the more than 150 families of local producers who work side by side with Soalheiro, despite the irregular conditions to which they were subjected, were based on a deep knowledge of the place and the time that passes from generation to generation to, this year difficult, to obtain grapes with unique characteristics such as the year in which they were born, with the usual quality, giving rise to a fresher and ideal harvest to work in the cellar, a characteristic increasingly valued by Soalheiro: precision.

After the debut of the eco-efficient bottle last year, which has since expanded to almost all other references, this year it is the first wine of the brand to receive vegan certification. Despite having been recognized for many years, this recognition stimulates the organization of internal procedures, reflecting them externally and, at the same time, ensuring consumer confidence. Reinforcing its positioning as a more inclusive wine, fully adapted to the demands of the most diverse consumer profiles, this recognition is added to the certifications already held by the brand, namely in research and development, environmental, among others.

For Luís Cerdeira, manager and winemaker at Soalheiro, «sustainability and conservation of the essence of production processes is part of our nature, the result of our respect for the Territory and for what it offers us. We have already embraced the organic certification of our vineyards, which has also allowed us to increase knowledge and biodiversity on the plots. Environmental certification is a reflection of the development of a collective conscience by our entire team. And the vegan certification now attests to what we have been accomplishing for several years, and which reinforces Soalheiro’s character as a brand that bets on knowledge to promote innovation and inclusion». In conclusion, he also states: «it is essential to continue working on the differentiating profile of Alvarinho and, at Soalheiro, we have tried to do so with a focus on consistency and innovation, trying to translate into each wine the respect for the work of the winegrowers and for the territory, recognizing in the certifications an engine of continuous improvement in the company and of transparency for the consumer».

Malhadinha’s first sparkling wine launched

The first sparkling wine from Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, the Bruto Natural Rosé, has just been launched, a project that the Soares family had already coveted for several years at the time when the Baga vines were planted on the property, a variety used to balance other wines. thanks to its freshness and acidity.

The new Bruto Natural Rosé is a sparkling wine from a single year, 2016, with Baga, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Miúda varieties. Developed using the traditional method common to the best sparkling wines and champagnes in the world, this Bruto Natural Rosé bottle aged for five years, having been degorged in 2021 in only half of the bottles available. This sparkling wine has a dry profile, as its name implies, and the ideal and preferred profile of great connoisseurs.

Herdade da Malhadinha Nova is a 23-year-old project in the Alentejo, in Albernoa, Beja. The first vineyard was planted in 2000 and, since then, the Herdade has established itself in the production of wine, having started the transition to an organic regime in 2016, with official certification awarded in 2020. Malhadinha Nova also started the hotel project 14 years ago. years, with a small house with 10 suites, but in 2020 it increased the tourism offer to six houses, with a total of 30 rooms, positioning itself on a level of luxury and exclusivity.

Malhadinha Nova is also committed to sustainability and self-sufficiency, with complete independence in the production of grapes and olives. The livestock, horticultural and stud farming areas are also developed and in transition to a fully self-sufficient future. Another novelty is the sale of ground flour through the new oat, wheat, dewlap and rye plantations.

The image, the bottle and the label represent a binomial of the Herdade: on the one hand, the brand already recognized by consumers, the image of the “spotted cow” that so characterizes the project, is present in the seal next to the neck; on the other, the golden concentric rays, which illustrate the sundial, the passage of time, the elements of nature and the seasons.

JMF with a special program for Valentine’s Day

To celebrate the most romantic month of the year, the Wine Tourism spaces of José Maria da Fonseca – Casa Museu José Maria da Fonseca, located in Vila Nogueira de Azeitão, and Adega José de Sousa, located in Reguengos de Monsaraz – created a special program . Until the 28th of February, all couples can enjoy a guided tour, followed by a special wine tasting paired with chocolates and the offer of a bottle of wine.

The program is valid for a minimum of 2 people and includes a guided tour, tasting of 2 wines paired with artisanal chocolates and an offer of a bottle of red wine. Subject to availability and with advance reservation. Price per couple: 35€* (VAT included). JMF booking in Azeitão. Reservations: enoturismo@jmfonseca.pt | +351 212 198 940 Booking visits to the José de Sousa Winery: Reservations: josedesousa@jmfonseca.pt | +351 918 269 569

Graham’s assinala o Jubileu de Platina da Rainha Isabel II

Graham’s, the renowned Port wine house owned by the Symington family, and holder of a royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth II, has bottled an exceptionally rare Tawny Port produced in the year the monarch ascended to the throne: 1952. Over the last For 70 years, the wine has evolved in oak casks that were wine-vintaged in Graham’s cellars, in Vila Nova de Gaia, until reaching the peak of maturity. Three generations of the Symington family have followed the development of this wine throughout Elizabeth II’s seven-decade reign – the longest of any British sovereign.

Graham’s 1952 Single Harvest Tawny Port was initially bottled in 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, in a restricted edition of individually numbered bottles. After an additional decade of aging in casks, the wine has acquired exceptional grace, delicacy and balance. Graham’s Director of Enology Charles Symington selected the remaining batch of this wine for the exclusive launch of just 70 bottles (75cl) and a few ‘jeroboams’ (large format bottles: 4.5L).

Each bottle is presented in a purple box, with a statement about the restricted edition of the wine that commemorates the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The wine will be available at the VINUM restaurant, as well as at Graham’s Cellars. Only a limited number of bottles will be available for sale at select wineries.

According to Charles Symington, “this is a truly memorable wine. Mesmerizing aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossom and almond merge with subtle flavors of caramel and honey, all balanced by citrus acidity. It is impressive to see how this wine has gained even more over the last decade, since the last time we bottled it to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne», says the winemaker.

Johnny Symington says: “It is an honor for us to be once again releasing a limited edition of Graham’s 1952 to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Elizabeth II. The wine is a testament to the extraordinary feat of reaching 70 years of reign. This year we celebrate another significant milestone: the 650th anniversary of the Luso-British Alliance, the oldest alliance between two nations — still in force. As a family of Portuguese and British descent, it is very gratifying that in a year of this significance, we are celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a wine that has long been shaped by the relationship between the two countries», concludes the group’s president.

CVR Bairrada announces 2nd edition of the event HERE IN BAIRRADA

In the vineyard, pruning marks the beginning of a new cycle. It is also what we expect for the year that has just begun; We expect that 2022 will bring us a strong slowdown in the pandemic – if possible, its end – and a return to face-to-face events. It is with this in mind that the Bairrada Wine Commission (CVB) announces the return of AQUI NA BAIRRADA (ANB). After a two-year break, it once again celebrates the wines, gastronomy and culture of Bahia in this event scheduled for the 7th and 8th of May, in Anadia.

This event is the largest exhibition of sparkling wines, wines and flavors in the region. It debuted in September 2019, a date that coincided with the launch of the new identity and brand Bairrada. The Covid-19 pandemic stole its spotlight in 2020 and 2021, and on this return, in 2022, there are news: one of them is the change of the date on the calendar, with the transition to the month of May; there are others, but yet to be revealed. The venue remains, with a stage at the Anadia Sports Pavilion, and admission is free. The purchase of the official glass of Bairrada (€3.00) is reserved for those who want to taste the wines and sparkling wines present at the wine show or at the table of the local restaurants.

The Bairrada Wine Commission (CVB) thus once again challenges the producers of the demarcated region to put their nectars to the test, from great references to their latest labels. Among sparkling wines, whites, rosés and reds – all with certification of Denomination of Origin DO Bairrada or IG Beira Atlântico –, emphasis will be placed on the diversity and quality of the nectars, as well as the typicality of the Bairradino terroir, whether we were not there at the time of year. normally dedicated to the harvest, with the vineyards and cellars occupying the center of attention of those who dedicate themselves to such a noble activity. The affirmation of Bairrada’s identity is also made with its gastronomy, where the suckling pig will be king, accompanied by the famous Mealhada bread and other delicacies, some sweet.

The organization of AQUI NA BAIRRADA is in charge of the Wine Commission of Bairrada, Rota da Bairrada and the Municipality of Anadia, with the support of Tourism of the Center of Portugal and the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho.