Azores Wine Company restaurant unveils new identity

06/04/2026Five years after the launch of the wine tourism project on the island of Pico, the Azores Wine Company’s restaurant has adopted its own name and is now called LATITUDE, establishing itself as a gastronomic destination offering haute cuisine with wine at the heart of the experience.

The Azores Wine Company (AWC), a wine-making and wine tourism venture founded by António Maçanita and Filipe Rocha on the island of Pico, is embarking on a new chapter with the launch of LATITUDE, the name now given to the winery’s restaurant, five years after the venue first opened.

The change comes to consolidate a gastronomic offering which, from the outset, has stood out for its connection to haute cuisine, its celebration of Azorean produce and the central role of wine in the experience. More than just a restaurant, LATITUDE establishes itself as a space designed to explore the uniqueness of Pico’s wines through the latitude of these Atlantic islands, bridging territory, culture and identity.

Led by Rui Batista, a native of the Azores, LATITUDE celebrates ingredient-driven cuisine, rooted in seasonality and the provenance of its ingredients, with a focus on fish from the Azores and incorporating produce from various islands across the archipelago. Organically grown fruit and vegetables, local seaweed and lamb from Santa Maria form part of an approach that respects tradition, reinterpreted using contemporary techniques. The crockery and some decorative elements also come from regional craftsmanship.

Located in the highest part of the winery, the restaurant offers stunning views of the sea and the islands of Faial and São Jorge. The space is divided between a counter overlooking the open kitchen, where four- or six-course menus are served, and the Mesa Pico, a ten-seater communal table designed as a work of art by Mircea Anghel, where ten-course dining experiences take place.

At the heart of the concept lies wine, which guides the various tasting experiences. Among the ten-course experiences, highlights include ‘Latitude 38º27’’, dedicated exclusively to wines from Pico, including rare finds from the AWC wine cellar; Islands, which brings together wines from volcanic archipelagos such as the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and Sicily; and Today is the Greatest Day!, an offering that brings together some of the house’s most iconic wines, including bottles from the Azores Wine Company’s cellar.

For those opting for the bar, the six-course experiences include pairings with wines from different regions where António Maçanita develops projects – from the Alentejo to the Douro, via Pico, Madeira and Porto Santo – or offerings focused exclusively on the island’s wines. There is also the four-course Atitude menu, which can be complemented with various themed wine pairings.

With LATITUDE, the Azores Wine Company reinforces Pico’s position as a premier wine tourism destination, where wine, gastronomy and landscape merge into an immersive experience that celebrates the volcanic and Atlantic identity of the Azores.

Symington Celebrates Easter with Gastronomic Experiences

03/04/2026Offers at Bomfim 1896 and Matriarca invite guests to celebrate the occasion with tradition, wine and family moments.

Symington Family Estates is marking Easter with two distinct gastronomic experiences, designed to celebrate this season of togetherness and sharing, both in the heart of the Douro Valley and in the city of Porto.

At Bomfim 1896 Restaurant, located at the historic Quinta do Bomfim in Pinhão, the celebration takes shape through the programme “Easter at the Estate – Wine Tasting, Egg Hunt & Lunch at Bomfim 1896”, combining gastronomy, wine and activities for the whole family.

With the Douro as its backdrop, the restaurant presents a special menu honouring the traditional flavours of the season. The experience begins with a selection of starters, paired with Altano Rosé 2024, followed by dishes such as charcoal-grilled cod with a cornbread and herb crust or roasted kid goat with oven-baked rice, accompanied by wines including Casa de Rodas 2023 and Quinta do Ataíde Vinha do Arco 2017. The meal concludes with a trolley of traditional desserts, served with a glass of Dow’s 10 Year Old.

The menu is available in three- or four-course options, priced between €75 and €90, with an optional wine pairing. Throughout the day, guests can also enjoy a Special Easter Tasting, featuring three Port wines paired with chocolates, as well as the traditional egg hunt for younger visitors.

Meanwhile, in Porto, Matriarca restaurant presents an Easter lunch at The Dining Room, set in an elegant atmosphere at Praça Carlos Alberto. The menu explores classic Easter flavours, beginning with onion soup, followed by cod with feijoada of cod roe and coriander, and roasted kid goat with fondant potatoes, finishing with sponge cake and Serra cheese. Each dish is paired with a selection of wines, including labels such as Vértice Cuvée, Pequeno Dilema 2023, Post Scriptum 2023 and Graham’s 20 Year Old.

The menu is priced at €80 per person, with an optional wine pairing for €45, including couvert, water and coffee.

With these two offerings, Symington invites guests to celebrate Easter through experiences that combine gastronomy, wine and tradition, creating moments of sharing both in the Douro landscape and in the urban setting of Porto.

Lavradores de Feitoria Promotes Wine Tourism Experiences

03/04/2026Tastings, tours and immersive programmes invite visitors to discover the region during the holiday season.

Lavradores de Feitoria is offering a range of wine tourism experiences to enjoy the Easter holidays in the Douro, inviting visitors to explore the region through wine tastings, guided tours and immersive programmes overlooking the iconic terraced vineyards.

With its visitor centre at Quinta do Medronheiro, in Sabrosa, this project — which brings together 20 estates across the three Douro sub-regions (Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior) — presents a diverse offering designed for those seeking tranquillity, connection with nature and a deeper link to wine.

Among the available options are guided winery tours with wine tastings, including the sampling of three labels from the brand’s portfolio. For more discerning enthusiasts, premium tastings are also available, showcasing top wines such as Meruge white and red, and Três Bagos Grande Escolha.

The experience can also be enjoyed in a private format, with a personalised tour and tasting of higher-end wines, reinforcing the exclusive nature of the offering.

For those looking for a more immersive experience, the “Winemaker for a Day” programme allows participants to actively engage in every stage of wine creation. Lasting approximately two and a half hours, the experience includes visits to the vineyard, winery, barrel room and bottling line, as well as blending, bottling and personalising a bottle to take home. The programme also includes a tasting of wines from special vineyard parcels.

Set against a landscape recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the characteristic serenity of the Douro, these experiences offer a distinctive way to celebrate Easter, combining wine, nature and authentic moments in one of Portugal’s most iconic destinations.

Ravasqueira Recommends Three Wines for the Easter Table

02/04/2026Alentejo wines designed to accompany the Easter meal from start to finish.

Ravasqueira presents three wine suggestions to celebrate Easter with family, highlighting labels that reflect the authenticity of the Alentejo and the rich gastronomy of the season. Designed to accompany the entire meal, the selection includes Reserva da Família Branco 2024, Reserva da Família Tinto 2024 and Late Harvest 2023.

At a time marked by reunions, tradition and shared moments at the table, the brand showcases wines sourced from selected vineyard parcels in Arraiolos, where the terroir — composed of clay-limestone soils with granite and schist influences — contributes to balanced and expressive profiles.

Ravasqueira Reserva da Família Branco 2024, made from Alvarinho and Viognier, presents a fresh and elegant profile, with notes of ripe citrus and marked minerality. Its smooth texture and balanced palate make it a versatile choice, ideal for starters, fish dishes or lighter moments.

For main courses, the recommendation is Ravasqueira Reserva da Família Tinto 2024, a structured wine combining Touriga Nacional and Syrah. With an intense colour and aromas that blend ripe black fruit with floral and spicy notes, it reveals polished tannins and good depth, making it well suited to richer, more complex dishes typical of the Easter table.

The experience concludes with Ravasqueira Late Harvest 2023, produced from Viognier. With a rich aromatic profile featuring notes of honey, quince jam, ripe citrus and tropical fruit, it offers a sweetness balanced by vibrant acidity, making it ideal to accompany desserts or cheeses — or simply to extend the meal.

With this selection, Ravasqueira reinforces the connection between wine, territory and shared moments, inviting guests to celebrate Easter with proposals that combine tradition, elegance and the identity of the Alentejo.

Easter with the Family at Vila Galé Hotels

02/04/2026Hotel group offers stays and special menus for the festive season.

Vila Galé invites families to celebrate Easter with a diverse range of experiences across several destinations in Portugal, from city breaks to countryside retreats, as well as beach and mountain settings. The offer combines accommodation, themed gastronomy and activities designed for all ages, in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

For the festive season, the hotel group is offering stays from €52 per person, in a standard double room, promoting a short getaway that blends comfort with moments of rest across different regions of the country.

Gastronomy also takes centre stage, with special Easter menus prepared by the hotels’ restaurants. These proposals highlight the traditional flavours of the season, with a contemporary twist, designed to bring family and friends together around the table.

On Easter Sunday, selected hotels across the group will also offer brunch options starting from €32.50 per person, with highlights including Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos, Tomar and Serra da Estrela, all featuring menus specially created for the occasion.

For younger guests, Vila Galé is also organising the traditional Easter egg hunt, an activity designed to entertain children and make the experience even more memorable for families.

With this programme, Vila Galé reinforces its focus on complete and accessible experiences, inviting guests to celebrate Easter with moments of sharing, leisure and gastronomy across a variety of destinations in Portugal.

Easter Tastings and Toasts at Porto Cruz

01/04/2026Venue in Vila Nova de Gaia celebrates wine, pairings and music.

Espaço Porto Cruz, in Vila Nova de Gaia, is marking Easter with the “Easter Wine Tasting” event, taking place on 3 and 4 April, inviting wine lovers to celebrate the occasion with tastings, pairings and entertainment.

Over two days, the venue on the Gaia riverside will become a meeting point for enthusiasts, offering the opportunity to discover a selection of wines, sparkling wines and fortified wines from various brands within the Granvinhos group, including Dalva, Quinta de S. Salvador da Torre, Porto Cruz and Quinta de Ventozelo. The experience also features pairing suggestions with cheeses and chocolates, thanks to the presence of partners Queijaria Portuguesa and Chocolate Boutique, creating combinations designed to enhance different wine profiles. Accompanying the tastings, music will also be part of the programme, reinforcing the festive atmosphere of the event.

Admission includes a tasting glass, to be used throughout the event and which participants can take home as a souvenir. The ticket also grants access to a 15% discount voucher for wine purchases at the Espaço Porto Cruz shop during the event. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or directly at the venue on the days of the event.

Cockburn’s launches two new premium tasting experiences in Vila Nova de Gaia

01/04/2026The historic Port wine house presents the ‘Bicentenary’ and ‘Seleção dos Tanoeiros’ experiences, two exclusive tastings that explore the brand’s connection to tradition, ageing and craftsmanship.

Cockburn’s, one of the most iconic Port wine houses, has just expanded its wine tourism offering with the launch of two new premium tasting experiences: the ‘Bicentennial Experience’ and the ‘Coopers’ Selection’. Designed for small groups, both experiences focus on a personalised and immersive approach, offering a closer connection with the brand’s history and authenticity.

The new tastings take place at Cockburn’s visitor centre in Vila Nova de Gaia, home to the house’s largest ageing cellar, housing 4,250 Port wine casks and occupying a significant area of the town’s historic quarter.

The ‘Bicentennial Experience’ invites participants on a sensory journey through Cockburn’s most representative styles, bringing together wines such as Fine White, Quinta dos Canais Vintage, Vintage 2015 Bicentennial Edition and 20-Year-Old Tawny. The tour includes a visit to iconic areas of the cellars, such as the cooperage, the vintage wine cellar and the vast warehouse of casks and vats. One of the highlights is the ritual of opening a Vintage bottle with a flame, accompanied by pairings designed for each wine. The experience lasts approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and is available for €65 per person.

The ‘Coopers’ Selection’, meanwhile, is even more exclusive. Held inside the cellar, alongside the barrels where the wines are ageing, this tasting features four wines chosen directly by the estate’s coopers — professionals who monitor the development of the vats on a daily basis and know every barrel in detail. The experience includes a private guided tour and a tasting of Cockburn’s Special Reserve, LBV, 10-Year-Old and 20-Year-Old, and is available for €150 per person.
According to Zélia Reis, Wine Tourism Marketing Manager at Symington Family Estates, ‘there’s nothing quite like tasting a wine in the place where it comes to life. We wanted to create experiences that offer a more authentic and personalised insight into our history and our cellars’.
Bookings for both experiences are mandatory and must be made at least seven days in advance, via the Cockburn’s visitor centre or by email.

Armamar Kid Goat Takes Centre Stage for Easter at Cantina de Ventozelo

31/03/2026Special menu celebrates traditional Douro flavours with a focus on seasonality and local produce.

Cantina de Ventozelo, in the Douro, is marking Easter with a special menu where Armamar kid goat takes centre stage, reinforcing its commitment to a cuisine rooted in tradition, comfort and a strong connection to the territory.

Available from 3 to 6 April at lunchtime, the Easter Menu invites both guests and visitors to immerse themselves in the season’s typical flavours, through a proposal created by chef José Guedes, which highlights local produce and seasonality.

The gastronomic journey begins with a partridge broth with mint, followed by a starter of broad bean salad with chouriço and fresh cheese, preparing the palate for the main course: Armamar kid goat with oven-baked rice and creamed greens from the garden — an emblematic dish that pays tribute to Douro tradition. The meal concludes with a classic pão de ló served with buttery sheep’s cheese, a combination typical of the Easter season.

According to chef José Guedes, Cantina de Ventozelo remains a space that values “emotion at the table, honest food and respect for the rhythms of the land”, an approach that is also reflected in this festive menu. The use of ingredients sourced from the estate’s garden and from small local producers reinforces a commitment to low-impact cuisine deeply rooted in the region.

Housed in the space where meals were once served to agricultural workers, Cantina has evolved into a farm-to-table restaurant, breathing new life into traditional Douro recipes and the authenticity of the region.

The Special Easter Menu is available by prior reservation, which can be made via email at cantina@quintadeventozelo.pt, inviting guests to celebrate the Easter season in a setting where tradition, wine and landscape come together at the table.

Easter Between Vineyards and the City

31/03/2026From Quinta do Bomfim to Matriarca, Symington Family Estates invites guests to celebrate Easter with gastronomy, wine and moments of sharing across two distinct settings.

Symington Family Estates is preparing to mark Easter with two gastronomic experiences that reflect different atmospheres, yet share the same essence: celebrating around the table, with family, wine and tradition. Between the unique landscape of the Douro and the elegant setting of Porto, these experiences have been designed to turn the occasion into a truly memorable moment.

At Bomfim 1896 Restaurant, located at the historic Quinta do Bomfim in Pinhão, the celebration takes on a more immersive character through the programme “Easter at the Estate – Wine Tasting, Egg Hunt & Lunch at Bomfim 1896”. Surrounded by vineyards and overlooking the Douro River, the setting invites guests to enjoy a full day where gastronomy, wine and tradition come together.

The special menu pays tribute to the traditional flavours of the season, beginning with a selection of starters paired with Altano Rosé 2024. This is followed by signature dishes such as charcoal-grilled cod with a cornbread and herb crust or roasted kid goat with oven-baked rice, paired with wines including Casa de Rodas 2023 and Quinta do Ataíde Vinha do Arco 2017. The experience concludes with a trolley of traditional desserts, accompanied by a glass of Dow’s 10 Year Old, extending the celebratory spirit at the table.

Beyond lunch, the programme also includes a Special Easter Tasting, featuring three Port wines — Graham’s Blend Nº5, Dow’s LBV and Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim Vintage — paired with chocolates. Families can also enjoy the traditional egg hunt, designed for younger guests, making the experience inclusive and suitable for all ages.

Meanwhile, in Porto, Matriarca offers a more urban experience, yet equally rooted in tradition. At The Dining Room, in Praça Carlos Alberto, the Easter lunch unfolds in an elegant and welcoming atmosphere, with a menu that revisits classic Portuguese flavours.

The meal begins with onion soup, followed by cod with feijoada of cod roe and coriander, and roasted kid goat with fondant potatoes and baby onions — dishes that take centre stage in this celebration. To finish, the traditional pão de ló with Serra cheese brings the experience to a close, accompanied by carefully selected wines such as Vértice Cuvée, Pequeno Dilema 2023, Post Scriptum 2023 and Graham’s 20 Year Old.

With these two offerings, Symington further reinforces its approach to wine tourism across both rural and urban settings.

Symington Wines are official partners of the Lisbon Living Room Sessions

30/03/2026The Altano, Graham’s and Quinta da Fonte Souto brands are partnering with the Lisbon Living Room Sessions series of intimate concerts, reinforcing Symington Family Estates’ connection to culture and authentic urban wine tourism experiences.

Symington Family Estates has become the official wine partner of the Lisbon Living Room Sessions, a series of intimate concerts held on the last Sunday of every month at different private homes in central Lisbon. The initiative combines music, intimacy and surprise, with the location of each session revealed just days before the concert, creating a unique experience for the audience.

As part of this partnership, Altano Douro White and Altano Rosé wines, Quinta da Fonte Souto Red and Quinta da Fonte Souto Rosé, as well as Graham’s Blend No. 5 Tonic Port, will accompany each session, blending naturally into an atmosphere that celebrates sharing, authenticity and the coming together of different cultural expressions.

For Rita Veiga Bulhosa, Events & Activations Manager at Symington Family Estates, the association with the initiative comes about organically: “We believe that events linked to art and culture are of the utmost importance to us, as an integral part of our legacy. Supporting initiatives such as the Lisbon Living Room Sessions is a natural way to reinforce our commitment to creativity, authenticity and the sharing of meaningful experiences.”

Ricardo José Lopes, founder of the project, emphasises that this partnership marks a new chapter in the Lisbon Living Room Sessions, which are celebrating their eleventh anniversary. “This partnership stems from a natural affinity: two entities that believe in time, care, closeness and the patient building of something that endures, grounded in origin and authenticity. Together, we celebrate the meeting of wine and music in the creation of memorable experiences.”

The Lisbon Living Room Sessions thus establish themselves as a meeting point for music, wine and community, promoting artistic talent in an atmosphere of discovery and intimacy, whilst Symington reinforces its positioning as a brand linked to culture and the appreciation of distinctive experiences.