Casa de Santar Wines in TAP Executive Class
03/02/2026Casa de Santar wines have been included in the TAP Air Portugal Executive Class wine list since the beginning of 2026, reinforcing their international visibility.Casa de Santar Vinhos announced its integration into the wine offering of TAP Air Portugal’s Executive Class, a partnership launched at the start of 2026 that contributes to strengthening the brand’s international positioning and the renown of the wines from the Dão region.
Currently, passengers of the Portuguese airline’s Executive Class can enjoy the Casa de Santar Reserva Tinto 2020 on board, a wine that expresses the elegance and identity of the Dão. Starting in March, the wine list will be expanded with the inclusion of Casa de Santar Reserva Branco 2023, recognized for its freshness, balance, and distinctive character. Both references are signed by winemaker Paulo Prior.
According to Miguel Rodrigues, commercial and marketing director of Global Wines, the group that owns Casa de Santar Vinhos, this presence represents a new recognition of the quality of the brand’s wines. “Integration on TAP flights allows us to take the Dão region and the Portuguese winemaking tradition to thousands of passengers on international routes, reinforcing the link between Portuguese wine and the travel experience,” he highlights.
The partnership with TAP Air Portugal is part of a strategy to enhance and internationalize Casa de Santar, contributing to the promotion of national wine heritage to a cosmopolitan and diverse audience.
Quinta do Quetzal launches new monovarietal
29/01/2026Quinta do Quetzal has just launched a limited edition monovarietal wine, produced from a single plot in Vidigueira, which seeks to faithfully express the terroir of this sub-region of the Alentejo.Quinta do Quetzal officially presented the Terroir Cabernet Sauvignon Vinha do Coronel 2021, the latest wine in its Terroir range, a collection of monovarietals from single plots, designed to highlight the relationship between grape variety, vine, and territory.
In this edition, the choice fell on Vinha do Coronel, the single-variety plot that stood out the most in the 2021 harvest. Produced exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, the wine is classified as DOC Alentejo and reflects the specific characteristics of this steep slope, marked by schist soils and the Mediterranean climate with some continental influence of the Vidigueira region. According to the project’s winemaker, José Portela, the particular conditions of the vine – namely the soil, the slope, and the climate – allowed for an balanced expression of the variety, with natural freshness, solid structure, and evident minerality, faithfully translating the character of the terroir.
The harvest was carried out manually, followed by a careful vinification process, with controlled fermentation and 18 months of aging in French oak barrels. The wine can be enjoyed now, although it shows potential for bottle aging over the coming years.
The Quinta do Quetzal project also integrates a sustainable approach to production, based on a modern and underground winery, designed to allow for gravity-flow vinification, reducing mechanical intervention on the grapes and promoting more stable maturation. For Reto Jörg, administrator of Quinta do Quetzal, this wine represents the estate’s vision of wine as an expression of the territory, in a dialogue between tradition, innovation, gastronomy, and contemporary art, pillars that have defined the project since its foundation.
Founded in 2003, Quinta do Quetzal is located in Vidigueira, in the Alentejo, and is recognized for the production of wines that enhance the region’s identity, combining winemaking rigor with a strong cultural and artistic connection.
Pipadouro records three consecutive years of growth
27/01/2026Pipadouro closed 2025 with a new record for passenger numbers and occupancy rates, consolidating three consecutive years of growth in the luxury river tourism segment on the Douro River, driven by strong international demand and a continuous commitment to premium services and personalized experiences.Pipadouro, an operator specializing in luxury river tourism on the Douro, ended the year 2025 with 2,353 passengers, representing growth of approximately 14% compared to 2024, when it recorded 2,064 passengers. This performance allowed the company to achieve, for the third consecutive year, a new occupancy record, reinforcing its position in the premium tourism segment in Portugal.
Throughout 2025, 486 programs were held aboard the classic yachts Friendship I and Pipadouro II. In line with the defined strategy, the company reduced the number of regular departures, registering significant growth in exclusive programs. Tailor-made experiences established themselves as the brand’s main product, followed by the “One Day on the Douro” (Um Dia no Douro) program.
The passenger profile confirms Pipadouro’s strong international projection, with clients from 24 nationalities. The United States solidified its position as the main source market, representing 56% of total passengers, followed by Brazil (14%) and Portugal (10%). The top 10 markets also include the United Kingdom, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, and Austria, with the latter two being new relevant markets for the operation.
According to Ana Clara Silva, Operations Director at Pipadouro, the results reflect a consistent strategy. “Our growth stems from a combination of passion, rigor, strategic vision, and professionalization. 2025 was the year this positioning was clearly consolidated in the market,” she highlights. Among the main milestones of the year was the launch of Pipadouro Excellence, a package of premium services designed to elevate the luxury river tourism experience on the Douro. This concept includes features such as butler service, onboard babysitting, massages, live music, à la carte chef, private driver, professional photographer, certified local guide, and wine educator, allowing for the creation of fully personalized experiences.
Another highlight was the debut of Exclusive Nights, a series of six nighttime events aboard the yacht Friendship I, anchored in Pinhão. These experiences combined live music with wine and gastronomic offerings, including Port wines, still wines, and creations by local producers, introducing a new cultural and sensory dynamic in the region during the night period.
In 2025, Pipadouro also launched the “Douro from end to end” program, created to mark the 269 years of the Douro Demarcated Region, proposing a full crossing of the river, from Barqueiros to Barca d’Alva. The initiative reinforced the connection between tourism, heritage, culture, and landscape, asserting the river as the central element of the experience in the territory.
The year was also marked by recognition from the sector, with Pipadouro winning the APENO – Ageas Seguros National Wine Tourism Award in the Best Tourism Company category, and being internationally distinguished with the People’s Choice Award at the Best of Wine Tourism Awards, promoted by the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, in the Best Innovative Experience in Wine Tourism category.
For 2026, the company enters with a strategy focused on geographic expansion and sustained growth, maintaining authenticity as a central pillar. “The essence of Pipadouro remains: intimate, authentic experiences deeply connected to the territory,” states Ana Clara Silva, adding that the ambition also involves reinforcing the company’s role as a link between quintas (wine estates), producers, partners, and visitors, with the Douro River as the central axis of the experience.
Registrations open for Graham’s Blend Series Cocktail Competition
22/01/2026Registration is now open for the 5th edition of the Graham’s Blend Series Cocktail Competition, an international initiative that challenges bartenders from various countries to create cocktails using Port wine, with the global final scheduled for May 2026 in Porto.Graham’s Port, a historic Port wine brand belonging to Symington Family Estates, has announced the opening of registrations for the 5th edition of the Graham’s Blend Series Cocktail Competition, an initiative seeking to promote creativity and innovation in contemporary mixology through Port wine. The competition proposes a contemporary approach to this fortified wine, challenging bartenders and mixologists to develop original cocktails using Graham’s Blend Nº5 White and Graham’s Blend Nº12 Ruby Port wines.
The first phase of the competition is already underway, and Portuguese professionals can submit their applications until February 13, 2026, via the brand’s official website. Applications must include the name of the cocktail, a brief description of the creation, the detailed recipe, and a photograph.
Following the close of registrations, the competition will advance to the National Competitions, which will take place between February and April 2026. From this phase, eleven finalists will be selected by an international panel of expert judges to compete in the Global Final, scheduled for May 10 to 12, 2026, in Porto.
The international final will span three days and provide participants with an immersive experience in the universe of Graham’s, featuring activities in Vila Nova de Gaia and the Douro Valley, the birthplace of Port wine. The global winner will receive a cash prize of 2,000 euros, a stock of Graham’s Blend Nº5 and Blend Nº12, as well as an invitation to represent the brand in a dedicated Guest Shift.
According to Charlotte Symington, a fifth-generation member of the Symington family and Marketing Director at Graham’s, the competition has contributed to a new way of looking at Port wine, highlighting its versatility and its ability to engage with contemporary mixology, particularly among younger generations.
In addition to Portugal, national competitions will take place in the United Kingdom, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Iceland, Brazil, and Canada, reinforcing the international dimension of the initiative.
CVRA and AICEP join forces to boost exports
20/01/2026The Alentejo Regional Viticulture Commission (CVRA) and AICEP have launched the ‘Export as a Value Driver’ program, a strategic initiative marking the launch of the Alentejo Wines Strategic Plan 2026–2031 and which aims to double the region's exports by 2031.The Alentejo Regional Viticulture Commission (CVRA) and AICEP – Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade have established a strategic partnership to strengthen the internationalization of Alentejo Wines, through training programs focused on structuring their presence in foreign markets, taking advantage of new opportunities, and increasing export competitiveness.
This initiative marks the start of the actions foreseen in the Alentejo Wines Strategic Plan 2026–2031, which defines as one of its main objectives the ambition to double the region’s exports over that period.
The program, named “Export as a Value Driver – CVRA & AICEP”, introduces a new approach from Alentejo to international markets, based on sustained growth, the qualification of the offer, and the creation of value. The program already began on January 13th, on the Rota dos Vinhos do Alentejo (Alentejo Wine Route), and targets wine producers and companies in the region with different levels of export maturity, ranging from operators in the initial phase of internationalization to companies with already consolidated experience.
According to Paulo Rios de Oliveira, Board Member at AICEP, “internationalization requires strategic vision, deep knowledge of the markets, and execution capacity”. The official highlights that, with this program, AICEP reinforces its commitment to supporting Alentejo producers in building a more structured, competitive, and sustainable value-generating international presence.
Luís Sequeira, President of the CVRA, also highlights the importance of the initiative in a context of growing demands in foreign markets. “Exports assert themselves as a critical axis of development for the Alentejo wine sector. This partnership reinforces internationalization as a strategic pillar, placing the region on a clear trajectory of international expansion and economic appreciation,” he states.
The program is based on a logic of continuous training, integrating practical training on exporting and access to international markets, analysis of the main global trends in the wine sector, sharing of best practices by experienced producers, and direct support from AICEP’s national and international network. This integrated approach aims to align the internationalization of Alentejo Wines with the long-term objectives defined in the Strategic Plan 2026–2031.
It is worth recalling that the Alentejo Wines Strategic Plan 2026–2031 results from an extensive and participatory process, establishing a clear ambition to project Alentejo as one of the great wine regions of the world, through a holistic approach that integrates wine, gastronomy, olive oil, culture, and territorial authenticity.
Currently, Alentejo leads the national market for certified wines, representing around 40% of the total sales value among the 14 Portuguese wine regions. With a vineyard area of 23.3 thousand hectares, about 30% of the region’s production is destined for export, with emphasis on markets such as Brazil, Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Poland.
Lisbon hosts the 4th National Meeting of Wine Tourism Professionals to debate sustainability and innovation
20/01/2026The Iscte Executive Business Education, in Lisbon, hosts on January 29th the fourth edition of the National Meeting of Wine Tourism Professionals (ENPE), an event that brings together experts, companies, and institutional entities to discuss the future and challenges of a sector in strong growth.Organized with the aim of promoting training, networking, and the sharing of best practices, the meeting focuses this year on central themes such as the human factor in sustainability, digitalization, and the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the wine and tourism business.
The president of the Portuguese Association of Wine Tourism (APENO), Maria João de Almeida, highlights the importance of continuing this forum: “This meeting aims to continue the prestige that the event has already conquered, serving as an essential platform for professionals to reflect on the opportunities in a sector vital to the Portuguese economy.”
In turn, Carla Salsinha, president of the Regional Tourism Entity (ERT) of the Lisbon Region, highlights the role of the region in the national context. “Events like this are fundamental to consolidate Lisbon as a destination of excellence in wine tourism, integrating innovation and sustainability into our tourism offering.”
For José Crespo de Carvalho, president of Iscte Executive Education, the partnership with the sector is strategic. “By hosting the 4th ENPE, we reaffirm our role in training executives and promoting digital transformation and innovation in the Portuguese business fabric.”
The morning program includes panels dedicated to sustainability and digitalization. All panels are of extreme relevance and cover themes such as the presentation of support lines, analysis of success stories from Spain (Codorníu) and Argentina (Catena Zapata), as well as the presentation of the WineTourism App.
The official lunch of the meeting will take place at the I.Terrace restaurant, the rooftop restaurant located within Iscte Executive Education, providing a moment of socializing with a view over the city of Lisbon.
The afternoon period will be dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to Wine Tourism, with a session led by specialist Márcia Santos, who will address practical tools, productivity, and ethical challenges of this technology. The closing of the event will be in charge of the APENO Board of Directors, with the presentation of the conclusions and the association’s upcoming events.
For more information, visit the website via the link: https://tinyurl.com/mr3x5b9m
More information:
Vanda Lança Alves – PR Director APENO
apeno@enoturismodeportugal.pt
Tel. 960 481 009
CR&F marks 130 years with the launch of the XO Cask Strength brandy
17/01/2026In the year it celebrates 130 years of history, CR&F launches the XO Cask Strength, a rare and limited brandy, from a single cask from the Vinho Verde region and bottled in its purest form, without any alteration.CR&F has presented a new special edition to mark its 130-year history: the XO Cask Strength brandy, a limited edition of only 365 numbered bottles, from a single cask and bottled directly from the cask. This launch pays homage to know-how, mastery, and time, values that have defined the brand’s identity since 1895.
Discovered by the house’s oenologists during one of their selection journeys, this brandy had been reserved since 1980, awaiting the right moment to be revealed. Originating from the Vinho Verde region, it benefits from a terroir marked by a fresh, humid Atlantic climate and granitic soils, factors that contribute to delicate aromatic profiles, high acidity, and great complexity.
The CR&F XO Cask Strength presents itself as a pure and unaltered brandy, bottled in its most authentic expression. Visually, it reveals an amber-gold color with greenish reflections. On the nose, notes of sea breeze, bitter almond, and saline nuances stand out, wrapped in hints of iodine and salted caramel. On the palate, it is iodized and intense, with well-marked salted caramel, a long finish, and a harmonious integration of the wood.
The edition is also distinguished by its luxury presentation. The crystal bottle is housed in a wooden box, lined with sustainable leather, integrating historical elements of the brand such as the seal, the cord, the signature of the three founders, and the old CR&F logo, where the dragon—a symbol of strength and tradition—stands out. Each box also includes a fragment of the very cask where the brandy aged, transformed into a numbered piece, reinforcing the exclusive character of the edition.
This launch is part of the celebrations for CR&F’s 130th anniversary, marked under the motto “Made with time. Lived with memories.”, underlining the brand’s connection to history and the Portuguese families that helped build its legacy. Currently integrated into the João Portugal Ramos Group, CR&F continues to establish itself as a reference in the brandy universe, with a prestigious position in the national and international market.
Quinta do Bomfim enters TOP 50 Best Wineries and ranks in TOP 100 World’s Best Vineyards
15/01/2026Quinta do Bomfim, from Symington Family Estates, has been distinguished for the first time in the TOP 50 Best Wineries, promoted by Forbes magazine, and has been included in the TOP 100 World's Best Vineyards, reinforcing the international recognition of the Douro's winemaking heritage and the continuous management of the Symington family.Quinta do Bomfim, a property of Symington Family Estates located in the heart of the Douro, has recently been distinguished in two international benchmark rankings in the wine and wine tourism sector. The property makes its debut in the TOP 50 Best Wineries, promoted by Forbes magazine, reaching the 31st position, and also ranks in the TOP 100 World’s Best Vineyards, where it occupies the 66th place.
This double recognition highlights not only the quality of the wines produced at Quinta do Bomfim but also the experience offered to visitors, positioning it as one of the most complete and distinctive wine tourism proposals in the Douro region. At Quinta do Bomfim, visitors can tour the vineyards and the winery, explore a small museum with objects and memories of the Symington family, as well as enjoy the gastronomic offerings of the estate’s restaurant, on a journey that intersects wine, history, and territory.
The World’s Best Vineyards competition is now one of the main international references for evaluating wine tourism experiences, taking into account criteria such as the quality of the visit, the beauty of the landscape, the history of the properties, and the connection to local culture. The TOP 50 Best Wineries distinguishes wineries that excel simultaneously in wine production and hospitality, valuing aspects such as innovation, sustainability, and the ability to create memorable experiences for visitors.
Among the award-winning experiences associated with the Symington family, the Vesúvio & Bomfim Experience stands out, recognized within the Best of Wine Tourism in the category of innovative experiences. This proposal invites visitors to discover two of the family’s most emblematic estates – Quinta do Vesúvio and Quinta do Bomfim – with a highlight being a train journey along the Douro Line, which combines landscape, tradition, and storytelling around the wine and the region’s cultural heritage.
These distinctions add to other national and international recognitions awarded to the Symington family’s properties, reinforcing the role of Quinta do Bomfim as an ambassador for Douro wine tourism and the group’s commitment to valuing the viticultural heritage, innovation, and long-term management that characterizes the family’s history in the Douro.
Quinta de Pancas completes portfolio with Special Selection Chardonnay 2024
12/01/2026Quinta de Pancas has presented the Special Selection Chardonnay 2024, the new wine that concludes the recent overhaul of the brand's portfolio, developed by WineStone, reinforcing the Atlantic identity and elegant profile of the wines from the Lisbon region.Quinta de Pancas, one of the historic estates in the Lisbon region, has just launched the Special Selection Chardonnay 2024, a wine that marks the completion of the renewal process of its portfolio, led by WineStone. This new launch underscores the Quinta’s strong connection to its terroir, where Atlantic influence plays a decisive role in the freshness and character of the wines.
The grapes that gave rise to this Chardonnay come from a 31-year-old vineyard planted in clay-limestone soils at about 250 meters of altitude, conditions that favor a balanced, fresh, and elegant expression of the variety. According to the company, these characteristics are reflected in a wine that combines complexity and regional identity.
With a bright greenish-citrine color, the Special Selection Chardonnay 2024 presents an elegant and complex aromatic profile, marked by notes of lemon, apple, and pineapple, complemented by mineral hints and subtle toasted and buttery nuances. These result from careful winemaking, with fermentation in French oak barrels and 10 months of aging on the lees, a process that contributes to the wine’s depth and balance.
On the palate, the wine reveals itself as structured and intense, with well-defined acidity, evident freshness, and a long, persistent finish, characteristics that reinforce the positioning of the Special Selection range within the universe of Quinta de Pancas wines.
For David Baverstock, chairman winemaker at WineStone, this launch represents more than just a novelty in the portfolio. He emphasizes that the Special Selection Chardonnay “perfectly expresses the identity of Pancas’s vineyards and terroir,” while consolidating a new chapter in the brand’s assertion, based on freshness, elegance, and complexity.
Casal Garcia marks the festive season with Fruitzy as a light alternative to traditional sparkling wines
10/01/2026Casal Garcia is once again highlighting the Fruitzy range during the festive season, a period that represents about 35% of the product's annual sales, establishing itself as a fruity and low-alcohol alternative to traditional sparkling wines in Christmas and New Year's celebrations.The Casal Garcia brand is marking the festive season with the Fruitzy range, a proposal that has been gaining relevance among Portuguese consumers and positions itself as a lighter alternative to traditional sparkling wines. The month of December represents about one-third of Casal Garcia Fruitzy’s annual sales, reflecting the growing preference for beverages with a fruity profile and lower alcohol content in celebration contexts.
According to the brand, the bottle format inspired by sparkling wines, combined with an appealing image and a fresh, accessible profile, contributes to the product’s suitability for new consumption habits. Currently with six flavors available, such as strawberry and passion fruit, Casal Garcia Fruitzy has consolidated its market presence in just three years, assuming leadership of the category among some of the main food retail operators.
According to Isabel Barbosa, Brand Manager for Casal Garcia, consumers are increasingly looking for fruity options with lower alcohol content, especially during social and celebratory moments. “Casal Garcia Fruitzy, with its light, fresh, and versatile profile, adapts well to sharing moments that bring different generations together at the table,” she states.
With the tagline “Low in alcohol. High in fruit.”, the Fruitzy range has an alcohol content of 5.5% and an aromatic profile aligned with current trends that favor refreshing, versatile beverages suitable for different consumption occasions throughout the year. Nevertheless, it is during Christmas and the end of the year that a significant sales peak occurs.
For Ana Sampaio, Marketing Director at Aveleda, the product’s profile, packaging, and versatility explain its transversal consumption throughout the year and among diverse audiences.