Symington suggests wines for spring

With the arrival of spring, the days become longer and sunnier, inviting moments of conviviality with family and friends. To celebrate this season, Symington suggests four wines ideal for enjoying this time of year: two still wines and two Ports.
Among the still wines, Contacto Loureiro 24 stands out, from the Lima sub-region, combining freshness, citrus and floral aromas and a long, vibrant finish. Contacto Alvarinho, produced in the Monção and Melgaço sub-region, reveals a mineral and elegant profile, with citrus notes and a complex, creamy structure.
In Port, Symington presents Graham’s Blend Nº5, the first white Port created specifically for mixology, which stands out for its fruity and floral notes and is ideal for cocktails such as the classic port tonic. Cockburn’s Tawny Eyes, aged in wood, reveals generous aromas of honey, caramel and vanilla and can be enjoyed neat or mixed.
These wines are available in the main national wine shops and supermarkets, guaranteeing unforgettable moments this spring. Symington Family Estates, the producer of these references, has more than five generations dedicated to Port and Douro wine, and is one of the main vineyard owners in the region. With 28 estates spread over 2490 hectares, the company is committed to sustainable viticulture and is internationally recognized.

In 2019, it became the first Portuguese wine company to obtain B Corp Certification, reinforcing its position as an ethical and sustainable benchmark in the sector.

Cantina de Ventozelo aposta em pratos sazonais para a primavera

Spring has arrived at Cantina de Ventozelo and with it a new wave of flavours and aromas that exalt the best of the Douro region. From riverside herbs to Douro oranges, the first broad beans of the year and river fish, the Quinta de Ventozelo restaurant continues its commitment to seasonality and local produce. This philosophy, reinforced since 2024 with the arrival of chef José Guedes, will continue in 2025 with monthly proposals that celebrate nature and local knowledge.

With an active organic vegetable garden and a network of small local producers, the Cantina is a stage where the ingredients dictate the rhythm of the menu. “The flowering of the almond trees signals the start of a new cycle in the Douro, the arrival of a new season. In spring, the abundance of produce reaches its peak in Ventozelo, so it will be the vegetable garden that will guide the gastronomic proposals for the coming months,” emphasises the chef. Peas, broad beans, artichokes, courgettes, fennel and chard – all picked at the right point of ripeness – are among the ingredients already making their way onto the plate.

Until the end of March, the focus will be on river fish and riverside plants, with dishes such as River Fish Rice or Pickled Shad featuring prominently on the menu. In April, it will be the Douro orange’s turn to shine, with dishes such as Lúcio Perca with fennel cuscos and Orange Tart. In May, the gardens and vegetable patch of Ventozelo will be at their peak, bringing dishes such as broad bean rice with chorizo and Boticas trout with herb flooring, as well as soups, salads and fresh vegetable stews. June will be the month of honey, culminating in desserts such as Honey Pudding, which sweetly closes the spring cycle.

More than just a restaurant, Cantina de Ventozelo is a reflection of the Douro landscape and its rhythms. ‘We continue to live off the emotions at the table, the record of comfort and honest food, with the utmost respect for the rhythms of the land and a focus on low ecological impact,’ says José Guedes, who is already anticipating new products for the following seasons, with emphasis on products such as beef heart tomatoes, grapes, olives and game meat. Each month, a new chapter is written at Cantina de Ventozelo – always with a Douro flavour.

Global Alliance unites nine wine regions to promote growth and sustainability

The Comissão Vitivinícola Regional Alentejana (CVRA) has announced the creation of The Global Artisan Vintners Alliance (Global AVA), an initiative that unites nine wine regions from around the world with the aim of energising and strengthening each of them. Among the founding regions are the Livermore Valley Wine Community, in California; Texas Hill Country Wineries, in Texas; Chilecito, in Argentina; Dalmatia, in Croatia; Chinon, in France; Alentejo, in Portugal; Vale dos Vinhedos, in Brazil; Badacsony, in Hungary; and Ensenada, in Baja California, Mexico.

The Global AVA aims to create a sustainable partnership that fosters collaboration between winemakers, wine associations, government representatives, tourism and economic development organisations, as well as business associations. For Francisco Mateus, president of CVRA, the Alentejo’s participation in this alliance represents a strategic step, allowing the region to evolve and share its sustainable practices. ‘We believe that this partnership will increase the presence of Alentejo wines on international markets and give greater visibility to our producers and the terroir with its unique characteristics, further enhancing what our region has to offer,’ he says.

As well as promoting the exchange of knowledge on winemaking and sustainability, the Global AVA also provides for student and trainee exchanges, facilitating the sharing of good practices in economic development and wine tourism. The initiative will also enable the organisation of joint marketing campaigns, increasing the global presence of the participating regions.

Wine regions interested in joining the Global AVA can find out more from Brandi Lombardi (executivedirector@lvwine.org) or visit the alliance’s social networks.

WineStone with new investments

The WineStone group has invested 15 million euros in a new large-scale bottling and logistics center in Vendas Novas. This investment, which is part of the company’s ambitious growth plan until 2030, aims to increase its capacity to respond to both the domestic and export markets. Located in the Vendas Novas Industrial Park, the new logistics center will have an initial covered area of 21,000 m² and a total area of over 55,000 m², incorporating new filling lines, robust storage capacity and operating conditions that guarantee high quality standards.
Beginning operations in early 2026, the Logistics Hub combines advanced technology and innovative solutions that optimize production and logistics processes, reflecting WineStone’s commitment to sustainability and efficiency. With the operations of its consolidated assets – which include Ravasqueira, Quinta de Pancas, Quinta do Retiro Novo, Quinta do Côtto, Paço de Teixeiró and Krohn – the company is reinforcing its expansion strategy, while at the same time valuing its employees and contributing to local economic development by creating new jobs. “With this strategic investment, we have completed another decisive stage in our plan and we continue to fulfill our purpose, which is to take the brands most admired by consumers from Portugal to the world. This WineStone Hub, which stands out for its advanced technology and operational excellence, will be fundamental to, on the one hand, responding more efficiently to the needs of our national partners and customers; and, on the other, expanding our capacity in a sustainable way, guaranteeing a consistent and efficient presence in international markets with top quality products,” says Pedro Pereira Gonçalves, WineStone’s CEO. He adds: “Throughout 2024, we have consolidated the integration of our assets, reformulated our brand portfolio and deepened relations with the markets in which we are present. We are committed to solidifying our position in this global sector, and it is with great pride that we announce this investment which stands out for its innovation, technology and sustainability.”
With this move, WineStone is positioning itself as one of the main players in the wine industry in Portugal, driving internationalization and ensuring products of excellence for consumers, both domestically and abroad. The new Logistics and Bottling Hub represents a decisive step towards expanding and strengthening WineStone’s presence in the competitive wine sector.

Bomfim 1896 with Pedro Lemos celebrates Easter

Exceptionally open on Sundays, Bomfim 1896 opens its doors to serve the traditional Easter lunch with an exclusive menu signed by Chef Pedro Lemos
The Bomfim 1896 with Pedro Lemos restaurant, located in the idyllic Quinta do Bomfim in Pinhão, opens its doors on Easter Sunday to celebrate this very special day in a traditional setting that harks back to the memories of family kitchens in the Douro.
It was under the motto “tradition at the table” that Chef Pedro Lemos prepared an exclusive menu, available only on this day, full of regional flavours and delicacies, which will include different gastronomic moments. A unique experience, on a day when the restaurant will only be serving this special menu, without the usual à la carte options.

The traditional Easter lunch will therefore begin with a selection of starters, including ‘Grãozada de sames’, ‘Tripas e feijocas’, roast vegetables and ‘Carapau de escabeche’. For the main course, and in keeping with the centuries-old tradition of eating kid at this time of year, the chef suggests roast kid with oven rice, with codfish with loose crumbs as an alternative dish. And because Easter is, par excellence, a time when sweets take centre stage, some of the most traditional Portuguese desserts such as Pudim dos ecos, Picado de abelha, Toucinho do céu, Torta de laranja and Queijo amanteigado should not be missing.

Lunch will have two wine pairing options, with the seal of quality of the wines produced by the Symington family, the first consisting of Altano Bio Rosé or Altano Reserva Branco, Pombal do Vesúvio or Post Scriptum and, to finish, Graham’s 10 year old Port (€25 per person). The second pairing option includes Vértice Cuvée or Pequeno Dilema White, Quinta do Vesúvio and, for dessert, Graham’s 20 Year Old Port (€40 per person).

Bookings for Easter lunch at Bomfim 1896 are available for €70 per person (choice of one main course) or €90 per person (choice of two main courses).

For bookings and more information: bomfim1896.com // info@bomfim1896.com // (+351) 254 730 360. Address: Quinta do Bomfim, 5085-060 Pinhão, Alijó, Portugal

Quinta do Paral Celebrates Easter with Alentejo Traditions and Inaugural Annual Event

From 18 to 21 April, Quinta do Paral, in the heart of the Alentejo plains, is promoting an Easter celebration that promises to unite tradition, culture, music and gastronomy in an exclusive and memorable programme.
Under the motto ‘Our Land, Our Soul’, Quinta do Paral is launching the first edition of an annual event dedicated to Easter, honouring its Alentejo roots in an atmosphere of sharing and authenticity. The premiere of this initiative will feature two very special guests: singer Luís Trigacheiro, a symbol of the new generation of Portuguese music with roots in the Alentejo, and renowned chef Vítor Sobral, an ambassador for national gastronomy.
Over four days, between 18 and 21 April, visitors will be invited to immerse themselves in a programme that combines hospitality, local flavours and unique cultural moments. The highlight of the celebration will be the traditional Easter Sunday lunch on 20 April, filled with regional delicacies. On Monday 21st, Quinta do Paral will open its doors for a picnic in the countryside, recreating one of the most beloved traditions of Easter in the Alentejo – an outdoor lunch, in conviviality and communion with nature.

The event on 21 April will cost 70 euros per person, including lunch in the countryside with a traditional picnic and a vertical wine tasting, with 4 whites and 4 reds from Quinta do Paral (vintages from 2017 to 2020). The presence of Luís Trigacheiro promises to give even more soul to the celebration, with stories from his Easter childhood and his voice echoing the region’s identity. This collaboration marks the beginning of a link between the artist and Quinta do Paral, joining forces to valorise the authentic Alentejo and its traditions.

Vítor Sobral, known for highlighting Portuguese cuisine in all his projects, will also be present at this celebration, bringing with him the flavour of memory and communion, pillars of the Easter experience.

The full programme includes a Welcome Drink, double occupancy accommodation, breakfast, a celebratory welcome surprise in the room and dinner with wine pairing on one of the nights (18th, 19th or 21st April). The minimum age for participation is 16.

Lisbon hosts ‘Só Castas’ event dedicated to the richness of Portuguese grape varieties

On April 11 and 12, Lisbon hosted the ‘Só Castas’ event, an initiative that brought together winemakers, industry professionals and wine lovers with a focus on Portuguese indigenous grape varieties.
The event took place at the Tivoli Hotel Conference Center, on Avenida da Liberdade, and stood out for the diversity of activities centered on the world of wine. The first day was marked by a conference with keynotes and specialized lectures, where current and relevant topics for the wine sector were discussed.
Throughout the two days, participants were able to enjoy a tasting area for single varietal wines, as well as commented tastings led by renowned experts, who shared technical knowledge and sensory experiences. One of the most eagerly awaited moments was the ‘Grape Variety Duel’, which pitted Portuguese and Spanish grape varieties against each other in guided comparison sessions.
The event also included the ‘Palco Raras’ space, entirely dedicated to the most distinctive and lesser-known Portuguese grape varieties, promoting their recognition and appreciation.
‘Só Castas’ stood out as an initiative focused on the diversity and identity of Portugal’s wine heritage, reinforcing the role of indigenous grape varieties in differentiating Portuguese wines.

JNcQUOI awarded a Sol by the Repsol guide

JNcQUOI Avenida in Lisbon – the Amorim Luxury group’s first restaurant – was awarded a Sol in the Portuguese edition of the Repsol Portugal 2025 Guide, the renowned Spanish gastronomic guide that is making a comeback. The Repsol Sol 2025 awards gala took place at the Convento de São Francisco in Santarém. The restaurant led by Chefs António Bóia and Filipe Carvalho honours the essence of Portuguese cuisine through a menu based on a sharing concept that combines classic and timeless dishes such as Tuna Steak or Paletilla, which are already the hallmark of JNcQUOI Avenida, with other more daring and unusual suggestions.

Opened in 2017, JNcQUOI Avenida revolutionised the city of Lisbon by presenting an innovative and disruptive concept in Portugal – food meets fashion: in a single space spread over three floors, JNcQUOI Avenida has a bar, restaurant and Fashion Clinic shop. More than a brand, JNcQUOI is a lifestyle where you can enjoy an exclusive, personalised and memorable experience in a single location.
The Portuguese edition of the Repsol Guide 2025 relied on the contribution of several field inspectors, spread across the country, who visited a number of previously identified venues with the aim of evaluating the service and the experience, always from the customer’s perspective. The result is a selection of relaxed restaurants of exceptional quality.

The Repsol Guide was published in Portugal between 1996 and 2007. After a break between 2007 and 2024, the guide is back for a new edition, in digital form, which brings together the best restaurants in Portugal, classified with one, two or three suns. There will also be an emphasis on sustainable sun, to which not only the visit by the inspectors but also a more technical evaluation contributes. JNcQUOI Avenida is open Sunday to Wednesday from 12h00 to 00h00 and Thursday to Saturday from 12h00 to 02h00.

Joana Cruz: the great host of the National Wine Tourism Award 2025

We’ve already reported that the APENO/Ageas Seguros National Wine Tourism Award 2025 will be held at Quinta do Castelo in Nelas on 30 May, with a dinner designed by renowned chef Henrique Ferreira. But we haven’t mentioned who will be hosting the ceremony: Joana Cruz, a name that needs no introduction, much loved by the Portuguese and who, when she’s away from the RFM microphones, is probably travelling. This time, her destination will be the heart of the Dão.

On 30 May, starting at 6pm, at Quinta do Castelo in Nelas, in the heart of the Dão wine-growing region, the stage for the APENO/Ageas Seguros 2025 National Wine Tourism Award will be entirely ‘Joana’s’. The pun refers to the latest programme that one of the country’s most beloved broadcasters, Joana Cruz, is doing on RFM, from 7pm to 10pm, every day of the week. And she represents the host Joana, the same one who responded positively to APENO’s invitation to present the ceremony that honours the best projects, companies and professionals that stood out in the wine tourism sector in 2024.

The stage at the National Wine Tourism Gala 2025 will be Joana Cruz’s. A stage that the broadcaster will share with all the award winners and also with APENO. “I was delighted when Joana accepted our invitation. As well as being an excellent professional and having a marvellous voice, Joana has the energy and good humour needed to be an excellent host at any self-respecting ceremony. It’s a full house. Our gala has everything to gain from a presenter like Joana Cruz, who will certainly surprise and bring a very special energy to our party,” says Maria João de Almeida, president of the Portuguese Wine Tourism Association (APENO).

With a career spanning more than 20 years in the world of communication, Joana Cruz is currently one of our country’s best-loved voices. Although the Portuguese immediately recognise her from her role as an entertainer on RFM, where she has been for many years, the truth is that her career also includes television appearances, namely in entertainment formats on SIC, TVI and Canal Q.

When she’s away from the microphones, it’s very likely that Joana is out of the country, travelling all over the world, one of her great passions, as well as her niece and her dog Simão.
“It was with great pleasure that I agreed to be present at this gala, which brings together in one evening three themes that give me great joy in life: the beauty of our country and this region in particular, the Dão, an opportunity to breathe fresh air and good wines to accompany it. I’m sure it will be an evening that will bring back good memories and the desire to return more often, because no matter how much I travel, I always conclude that there’s no country like ours,‘ says Joana Cruz
As well as travelling, Joana’s commitment to public health issues, namely breast cancer prevention, a personal experience she had recently and shared in her book ’Escolhi Viver‘ (I chose to live), is the other side of her. She also promotes physical exercise and yoga as a way of ’stretching the skeleton”, as she describes on the RFM website.

This year’s National Wine Tourism Award, which celebrates and distinguishes the best of what is being done in Portugal in the connection between wine, the territory and the tourist experience, will be attended by Joana Cruz, who will add sparkle and authenticity to a ceremony that once again promises to be unforgettable.

JMF Muscat dating from 1924 awarded a prize

Moscatel de Setúbal Superior 1924, produced by the historic José Maria da Fonseca winery, was voted Best Fortified Wine of the Year by Revista de Vinhos. The honour was awarded at the 21st edition of the ‘Essência do Vinho – Porto’ event, which took place at the Palácio da Bolsa, bringing together experts and connoisseurs of the sector.

With oenology by Domingos Soares Franco, this special commemorative edition of the 1924 Moscatel de Setúbal stood out in a blind tasting conducted by the ‘TOP 10 Portuguese Wines’ jury, made up of half a hundred tasters from 14 nationalities, including journalists, critics, sommeliers and importers. A total of 65 samples were assessed in the red, white, rosé and fortified categories, previously selected by Revista de Vinhos.

This centenary vintage was chosen by the sixth and seventh generation of the Soares Franco family to mark the 190th anniversary of José Maria da Fonseca, the oldest producer of this type of fortified wine. For António Maria Soares Franco, Co-CEO of the company, this recognition reinforces the brand’s commitment to excellence and longevity. ‘The 1924 Moscatel de Setúbal Superior is a unique vintage that reflects the depth and values we stand for. This award reinforces our path and commitment to the future,’ he said.

José Maria da Fonseca has a unique heritage of Setúbal Muscatels, and the Adega dos Teares Velhos is a veritable treasure trove of historic vintages, preserved with the aim of keeping the region’s cultural and oenological heritage alive. Founded in 1834, the producer celebrated its 190th anniversary in 2024, marking the date with a renewal of its corporate image and logo.

A leader in the production and commercialisation of table and fortified wines in Portugal, José Maria da Fonseca exports to more than 70 countries. The company also stands out for its environmental commitment, pioneering ISO 14001 environmental certification in the Portuguese wine sector. In 2021, it installed a solar photovoltaic system for self-consumption and became the first national wine producer to be certified by the FAIR’N GREEN benchmark, which certifies good sustainable practices.

With a portfolio that exceeds sixty brands and covers the country’s main wine-growing regions, such as the Setúbal Peninsula, Alentejo, Douro, Dão and Vinhos Verdes, José Maria da Fonseca continues to innovate, preserving its heritage and surprising the market with high-quality wines. Remaining a 100% family-run company, currently managed by the seventh generation, the producer is reinforcing its status as one of the most emblematic names in the Portuguese wine sector.