Quinta da Aveleda launches guided bicycle tour to discover the history of Casal Garcia

21/10/2025Quinta da Aveleda has launched a new tourist experience that combines a guided tour, wine tasting and bicycle ride, allowing participants to discover the centuries-old history of Casal Garcia and explore the estate's vineyards and gardens.

The world-renowned Vinho Verde brand Casal Garcia now offers a unique experience to visitors to Quinta da Aveleda. The initiative, called “Casal Garcia Experience”, offers a guided bike tour of the estate’s gardens and vineyards, lasting approximately one hour.
During the tour, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the brand’s history, which spans more than 80 years, understand the wine production process and explore the connection between the vineyards and production. The programme also includes tastings of some of the brand’s most iconic drinks.
The experience is designed for groups of at least four people and is suitable for the whole family. Priced at €25 per person, it combines outdoor leisure with knowledge about the production and history of Casal Garcia.
Reservations can be made by calling +351 255 718 200. According to the organisation, the initiative aims to convey the ‘joy that drives the production of Casal Garcia wines, from their origins to worldwide recognition’.

Blandy’s Wine Lodge Receives Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travellers’ Choice Award

18/10/2025Blandy’s Wine Lodge, an icon of wine tourism in Madeira, has been recognised among the top 10% of establishments globally by Tripadvisor.

Blandy’s Wine Lodge, located in the heart of Funchal, celebrates an important milestone by being recognised with Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travellers’ Choice Award. This prestigious award highlights the top 10% of establishments worldwide, based on genuine visitor reviews over the past 12 months.

With a history dating back to the 17th century and seven generations dedicated to the production and preservation of Madeira Wine, the Lodge is one of the island’s main wine tourism destinations, attracting around 150,000 visitors annually. Visitors have the opportunity to explore ageing warehouses with over 650 barrels of wine, learn about the art of cooperage, visit the historical museum and participate in guided tastings that reveal the unique flavours of Madeira Wine.

The recognition reflects the dedication of the team and the loyalty of visitors, as highlighted by Blandy’s Wine Lodge: ‘We are deeply honoured to receive the 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards. This award is a testament to the passion and commitment that have defined our work for seven generations.’

Kristen Dalton, CEO of Tripadvisor, also congratulated the Lodge: ‘Being among the highest-rated businesses globally means you have created a memorable experience for your visitors. We hope this recognition continues to drive your success in 2025 and beyond.’

This award reinforces Blandy’s Wine Lodge’s role in promoting Madeira Wine and consolidating Madeira as a destination for unique, world-class experiences.

Cabeça de Toiro challenges consumers to “break away from the herd” with a creative competition and exclusive prizes

16/10/2025The Cabeça de Toiro brand, owned by Enoport Produção de Bebidas, is launching the “Sai da Manada” (Break Away from the Herd) competition, which challenges consumers to show their creativity and compete for prizes such as a wine cellar and a rucksack with accessories. The initiative runs until 31 October 2025 and promises to reward the most original answers to the question: What does stepping out of the herd mean to you?

Cabeça de Toiro wants to reward those who think outside the box. The new “Sai da Manada” competition, promoted by Enoport Produção de Bebidas, invites fans of the brand to share their creativity by simply participating online. To enter, simply purchase two bottles of Cabeça de Toiro (750 ml), keep the receipt, and answer the question ‘What does it mean to you to stand out from the crowd?’ on the brand’s official website (www.cabecadetoiro.com).
The most original answers, in line with the spirit of the brand, will be evaluated by an internal jury, which will award a total of 30 winners, divided into two phases — one in September and another in October. Each month, five participants will win a wine cellar for six bottles, and ten will receive a backpack with wine accessories, including a corkscrew and anti-drip ring.

The competition, open to residents of Portugal aged 18 and over, does not involve a draw — winners will be chosen based on creativity and suitability to the brand identity. Each participant may enter multiple times, provided they use different receipts, but can only win once per address.
Entries must be submitted by 31 October 2025, and the first winners will be announced on 1 October, followed by a second announcement on 1 November on the brand’s website.
With this campaign, Cabeça de Toiro reinforces its bold and irreverent positioning, encouraging consumers to assert their individuality — because, as the brand’s motto says, stepping out of the herd is to forge your own path.

Cozido à Portuguesa returns to JNcQUOI Avenida

14/10/2025JNcQUOI Avenida's iconic “Cozido à Portuguesa”, reinvented by Chef António Bóia, is back on Avenida da Liberdade.

Since 28 September, and on the last Sunday of each month, the restaurant’s lunches have taken on the flavour of tradition, combined with the sophistication and excellence that characterise the establishment.

The most emblematic dish of Portuguese cuisine is presented here as an experience of refinement. The JNcQUOI version focuses on a careful selection of meats and sausages, prepared and salted in the restaurant’s own kitchen, accompanied by white beans, potatoes, vegetables and the unmistakable cozido rice, the restaurant’s signature dish. The meal also includes cozido soup, on a menu available for £45 per person.

Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by email (bookatable@jncquoiavenida.com) or telephone (+351 219 369 900). The next editions are already scheduled for 26 October and 30 November.

At the helm of JNcQUOI’s kitchen since 2016, António Bóia is considered one of the great masters of Portuguese cuisine. Born in Santulhão (Vimioso), he graduated from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu school in France and worked in some of Paris’ most renowned restaurants and hotels. He returned to Portugal in 1992, having worked on projects such as Alcântara Café, Hotel da Lapa, Penha Longa, Ritz Four Seasons and Expo-98. Internationally recognised, he is a member of the jury of the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS) and a disciple of Escoffier, accumulating distinctions that reinforce the prestige of his career.

With the return of ‘Cozido à Portuguesa’, JNcQUOI Avenida once again asserts itself as a stage for unique gastronomic experiences, where tradition and modernity meet at the table.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

 

ODE Market returns with autumn edition and unmissable wine workshop

09/10/2025ODE Winery, in Vila Chã de Ourique, reopens its doors for another gathering of flavours, music and community. On Saturday, 11 October, ODE Market Autumn promises a day full of entertainment, with dozens of exhibitors, food, wine, workshops and live music. The event also includes the workshop “Wine in the Waves of History”, with author and educator Izabela Kaminska, who invites the public to immerse themselves in the history of wine and discover the secrets of natural fermentation.

Autumn arrives with good reasons to celebrate in the heart of Cartaxo. On Saturday, 11 October, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., ODE Winery will host ODE Market Autumn, an edition that promises to bring the community together around the vineyard, sharing and good cheer. Admission is free and the invitation is open to everyone: families, friends and curious visitors are expected in a relaxed atmosphere, amid music, aromas and flavours.
Throughout the day, the public will be able to discover dozens of exhibitors, including local producers, artisans, and independent brands, who transform each stall into a space for meeting and storytelling. For the younger ones, there will be a dedicated children’s area, while adults can participate in a wine workshop, which is one of the highlights of the programme.

The musical entertainment will be provided by Ju Pras Amigas’ DJ set, from the Música Sem Capa project, and a concert by the Mario Lerias Trio, ensuring a vibrant soundtrack to accompany the festive atmosphere. On the gastronomic side, the Cellar Door restaurant will be open all day, complemented by a varied selection of snacks and street food from local partners. And, of course, ODE wines and other beverages will always be available to toast the season that invites celebration.
Among the most eagerly awaited activities is the workshop “Wine in the Waves of History”, led by Izabela Kaminska, author of the recently released book Wild Yeast. In two sessions, at 2pm and 4pm, Kaminska offers a sensory and historical journey through the world of wine, sharing curiosities and experiences while serving some of her favourite wines from ODE Winery — including a special bottle, normally out of catalogue.
The workshop will be held in English and has an intimate format, designed for those who want to learn and taste. Part of the registration fee (€5) can be used as cashback on the purchase of bottles during the event, making the experience even more engaging.
With this edition, ODE Winery reaffirms itself as a space for socialising and wine culture, where wine is the starting point for new discoveries, friendships and memories — celebrating the best that autumn has to offer.

Sublime and Quinta da Vacaria restaurants launch three gastronomic experiences

08/10/2025Between October and November, the Sublime group's restaurants outside the Comporta resort will host three exclusive dinners and lunches, designed for lovers of fine dining and great wines.

The Sublime group is preparing three unmissable gastronomic experiences, where the combination of culinary creativity and the excellence of Douro wines promises to elevate the senses. Each event offers a unique pairing with wines from the historic Quinta da Vacaria, one of the oldest estates in the Douro, founded in the 17th century. They will take place between October and November at Jacaré da Comporta, Sublime Comporta Beach Club and Sado, with menus specially created to pair with Quinta da Vacaria wines.
The first event takes place on 11 October at Jacaré da Comporta at 8 pm, where the gastronomic journey begins with bruschetta with burrata, honey, walnuts and basil, accompanied by Ah Galego! 2024, and continues with Carpaccio de Lírio, capers and rocket, paired with Quinta da Vacaria Reserva Branco 2022. Tagliatelle al ragù alla bolognese is served with Reserva Tinto 2021, and dessert — apple and toasted almond Tarte Tatin — ends the evening with Quinta da Vacaria 10-year-old Port.

This will be followed on 25 October by a seaside lunch at the Sublime Comporta Beach Club, starting at 2 pm. The menu features sea bass tostada with Reserva Branco 2022, Balfegó tuna carpaccio with Rosé Touriga Nacional 2024, and as the main course, grilled black pork secretos with asparagus migas, accompanied by Reserva Tinto 2021. The sweet finale is a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, served with 10-year-old Port.
The last experience takes place on 9 November at the Sado restaurant, also in Comporta, with lunch scheduled for 2 pm. The menu begins with crab tartlet and the irreverent Oh Pires! 2024, followed by octopus salad and Rosé Tinto Cão 2024, and continues with Bacalhau à Sado and Viosinho 2023. For the meat dish, the classic Bife à Sado pairs with Reserva Tinto 2021, and chocolate mousse closes the lunch, in perfect harmony with Porto Quinta da Vacaria 20 years.
Each meal costs €80 per person, with wine pairing included, and reservations can be made by calling +351 211 452 423.
These three exclusive experiences celebrate the best of both worlds — the authenticity of Portuguese cuisine reinterpreted by Sublime chefs and the timeless elegance of Quinta da Vacaria wines, a living heritage of the Douro that continues to surprise with its quality and tradition.

Quintas de Melgaço launches 2nd edition of QM Patriam: a tribute to the soul of Alvarinho

07/10/2025Quintas de Melgaço presents the second edition of QM Patriam, a wine that honours the heritage, tradition and versatility of the Alvarinho grape variety, the greatest symbol of the Monção and Melgaço sub-region.

Quintas de Melgaço has just launched the 2nd edition of QM Patriam, a wine that once again affirms the producer’s commitment to valorising Alvarinho and the territory that gives rise to it. As with the inaugural edition, this new reference is the result of combining several vintages – 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022 – in order to express the complexity, freshness and identity of the grape variety.
With more than 500 members, including winegrowers and producers, Quintas de Melgaço’s mission is to put a community’s dedication to its terroir into the bottle. QM Patriam is therefore more than just a wine: it is a symbol of heritage and wine-growing culture, reflecting the accumulated knowledge of generations and the harmony between ancestral practices and modern oenology.
Visually, it has an intense citrus colour and a clear appearance. The aroma stands out for its fresh floral notes and a subtle touch of dried fruit, which adds depth. In the mouth, it is smooth, voluminous and consistent, with elegant acidity and a long, persistent finish.

The winemaking process involved gentle pressing of the whole grapes, followed by controlled decanting for between 12 and 36 hours. Fermentation took place over 15 days, partly in second and third year barrels and partly in stainless steel. Ageing continued in stainless steel vats, with controlled temperature and batonnâge of the fine lees, complemented by barrel ageing, reinforcing the complexity of the wine.
Signed by winemaker Jorge Sousa Pinto, QM Patriam 2nd edition is a versatile gastronomic wine, ideal to accompany cod, fish, white meat or even red meat dishes. To best emphasise its freshness and elegance, it should be served between 10ºC and 12ºC.
With this new edition, Quintas de Melgaço reinforces its role as guardian of the authenticity of Alvarinho and offers connoisseurs a wine that is, above all, a tribute to its origin.

Granvinhos launches new wines from Quinta de S. Salvador da Torre

30/09/2025Granvinhos has just launched three new wines from Quinta de S. Salvador da Torre, in Viana do Castelo, reinforcing its presence in the Vinho Verde region.

The focus is on valorising the Loureiro grape variety and creating wines that respect the territory’s identity, in partnership with winemaker Anselmo Mendes. Two years after acquiring the Quinta, the first new wines have hit the market: Quinta de S. Salvador da Torre Alvarinho Loureiro 2024, Quinta de S. Salvador da Torre Loureiro 2024 and the top-of-the-range Quinta de S. Salvador da Torre Vinha dos Castanheiros Loureiro 2023. These references reflect a commitment to quality, sustainability and the promotion of local heritage, positioning the brand as a new protagonist among Vinho Verde wines.

Lagoalva bets on Pet Nat to win over new consumers

22/09/2025After the success of its debut, Quinta da Lagoalva is launching the second edition of its Pet Nat white sparkling wine. A disruptive wine, ideal for beginners and appreciated by the more experienced, which once again affirms the Tejo as a region of innovation and quality.

It was in the summer of 2023 that Quinta da Lagoalva, one of the oldest and most prestigious estates in the Tejo wine region, decided to take a risk by launching a sparkling wine in the Pet Nat style, an abbreviation for Pétillant Naturel, a French name for an ancient winemaking method in which the wine is bottled before fermentation is complete, creating a natural effervescence. The result was an immediate success, which led to a fourfold increase in production for the 2024 harvest: from 1,300 to 5,000 bottles.
The new Lagoalva Espumante Pet Nat white 2024, with Regional do Tejo certification, is once again an innovative proposal in the portfolio of the Holstein Campilho family house. Designed for a curious and uncomplicated public, the wine aims to win over new consumers by offering a lighter, fresher and more accessible alternative to many alcoholic drinks. It also appeals to the more daring oenophiles, who find this cloudy, citrusy sparkling wine a different experience full of character.
The recommended price is €10.90, in a 750ml format. But the creative restlessness of Pedro Pinhão, director of oenology and recently awarded Winemaker of the Year for the Tejo wine region, has led to the production of a small number of magnums (1.5 litres), not yet on the market, which will serve as a test for future editions.
The blend combines two of Portugal’s most emblematic white grape varieties: Arinto (80%), praised for its acidity and freshness, and Fernão Pires (20%), the most widely planted white grape variety in Portugal and a symbol of the Tejo region. The grapes are harvested early to preserve their natural aromas and flavours. After pressing and clarification by flotation, the must ferments in stainless steel at 16ºC. Almost at the end of fermentation, with a density still around 1012, it is bottled with carica and finishes the process in the bottle, where it ages for nine months.
The result is a slightly cloudy citrus-coloured wine with complex citrus notes, dry, fresh and with vibrant acidity, which should be served between 8 and 10ºC. Perfect with summer meals, appetisers or simply to toast the sunset.

Vila Galé celebrates two years of family tourism in the heart of the Alentejo

18/09/2025The Herdade Clube de Campo Vila Galé, on the outskirts of Beja, is marking two years since the opening of the Vila Galé Nep Kids and Vila Galé Collection Monte do Vilar units, reinforcing an innovative concept of integrated family tourism in the Alentejo.

With three distinct but complementary units, Herdade Clube de Campo Vila Galé is consolidating its position as a destination of excellence in family and nature tourism. Vila Galé Alentejo Vineyards & Olive stands out for its connection to wine tourism, with experiences such as wine and olive oil tastings, wine dinners, gastronomic workshops and outdoor activities such as mountain biking, jeep safaris and carriage rides.
Vila Galé Nep Kids, dedicated exclusively to families with children, is the group’s first hotel with entry restricted to adults accompanied by minors. With 80 family rooms, it offers a full range of children’s activities including a water park, trampolines, carousel, cinema, children’s spa and specialised daily entertainment.
The now repositioned Vila Galé Collection Monte do Vilar combines sophistication and tranquillity in a reserved but family-friendly environment. Guests have free access to Nep Kids and the unit is equipped to host social and business events, with dedicated rooms and outdoor spaces prepared for celebrations.