The Portuguese Wine Tourism Association has chosen the magician Mário Daniel to present and perform at the gala of the Best Wine Tourism Awards. After the awards ceremony, the party continues with DJ RICCA.

Since its first edition, APENO has been organizing the National Wine Tourism Award party with great enthusiasm and creativity. This year, the modus operandi remains the same.

The chosen location for the party is Quinta dos Anjos, a rural tourism site located five kilometers from Santarém, and will feature magician Mário Daniel as the headline act, a reference in this field, both nationally and internationally. “Minutos Mágicos,” in prime time on SIC, was one of his most well-known and audience-leading programs, recipient of several awards. He has also been the face of various institutional brands, sold out various live shows across the country, released books and magic games, and is a regular presence at major corporate events both domestically and abroad. In the United States, he has participated in various television programs and graced the famous stage of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, presenting various shows and causing a sensation with his magic tricks among the American audience, including renowned magician David Copperfield. “We are delighted to welcome Mário Daniel to our stage. No one can resist his friendliness and good humor, his enormous power of communication, and of course, his enormous talent for performing magic. He was the perfect choice to present and perform at our Wine Tourism gala, a very attractive and equally magical sector,” says APENO President Maria João de Almeida. Accustomed to participating in corporate shows, Mário Daniel also enthusiastically embraced the challenge of animating the gala. “Wine tourism has gained much relevance in recent years, and it’s fantastic to see how Portugal has evolved in this sector and how APENO has done significant work. It is with great pleasure that I will perform at the show,” says the magician.

After the awards ceremony, which will take place throughout the night, guests will be guided to another area of Quinta dos Anjos, where the party will continue with DJ RICCA. Ricardo Rodrigues, also known as DJ RICCA, began animating high school and beach parties at the age of fifteen, and has continued throughout his life, becoming a specialist in playlists ranging from 80s classics to Deep House. A great wine enthusiast and convinced wine tourist, he now divides his time between the communication agency (PressMedia) he founded over 22 years ago, and the pleasure of playing music at private parties, corporate events, and beach sunsets. “I’ve always preserved this musical side that gives me immense pleasure. What I want is for the guests of the National Wine Tourism Award to relax and enjoy the beat. It will certainly be an excellent end to the party.”

This will be the third edition of the National Wine Tourism Award, already considered the benchmark event in the wine tourism sector. The Main Sponsor is Ageas Seguros, with Alentejo being the excellent region providing fundamental support for the realization of this party. “With the support of the Alentejo Regional Tourism Entity, which has supported us since the second edition, this party gains even more significance and relevance; after all, it is the ‘queen region’ of Wine Tourism in Portugal, the one with the most wine tourism and the greatest diversity of offerings,” explains Maria João de Almeida, President of APENO.

In addition to sponsorships, the Municipality of Santarém also joins in, and with institutional support from IVV (Institute of Vine and Wine) and CVR Tejo, along with companies participating in various ways, such as Abreu Advogados, Alug’Aqui, Âncora Gold, Biosphere, Gifts4Wine, GRACAL, Grupo Amorim, LETRATEC, MCoutinho, Qualifica OriGIn, Quinta dos Anjos, Schott Zwiesel, and YonWine.

The voting for the National Wine Tourism Award APENO / Ageas Seguros 2024 is already underway and runs until May 10, 2024, through an online platform. The panel of over 250 jurors includes recognized wine and tourism journalists, official wine and tourism entities, chefs, sommeliers, and APENO associates (official bodies vote in different regions, and sector professionals and associates vote for other people and projects).

The National Wine Tourism Award APENO / Ageas Seguros 2023 distinguishes 15 categories: Best Wine Tourism in Portugal; Best Professional; Best Stay; Best Restaurant; Best Chef; Best Sommelier; Best Tasting Room; Best Tourism Company; Best Inclusive Project; Best Sustainable Project; Best Store, Best Art and Culture, Best Innovation and Technology, and Best Hospitality. See categories and jurors here: [link]

In addition to these categories, this year APENO will also award 5 ‘Merit and Incentive’ Awards to honor the effort and good practices of companies or individuals who have stood out for their work.