portugal grape escape
DESCRIPTION
Grape Escape Portugala short overview of Portugal as a destination for Wine travellersTRANSCRIPT
PORTUGAL – AN UNDISCOVERED
GRAPE DESTINATION
By Susanna Tocca
MD of DOC DMC
Introduction
About Portuguese Wines and Wine Regions
Linking Wine and Travel
The perfect Hideaways for “Grape Escapers “
Portugal also has “Wine Conference Hotels”
Wine events – Incentive Highlights
DOC DMC is a company that offers services around wine and promotes Wine Tourism in Portugal
My experience comes from Tourism in first place, this knowledge I am now using to develop wine tourism services in Portugal.
Portugal has an excellent potential considering landscapes, wines and infrastructure , for Winetourism !
It is a small country where several wine regions can be discovered within a few
Days .
We realised that the main reason for this is that it is not promoted enough !
Portugal has a long standing tradition in wine growing. The first denominated area in the world was defined in Portugal back in the 18th century by Marques do Pombal .
The Douro Valley is nowadays a world culture heritage landscape.
Portugal has been mainly known for its fortified wine, the Portwine and Madeira wine during decades.
Mateus Rosé was probably during long times the only portuguese table wine that was really popular abroad.
In recent years as portuguese wines got more wellknown the interest in Portugal as a Grape Escape has grown.
Wine Regions in Portugal
The Uniqueness of Portuguese Wine
• Portuguese Wines are attributed to the region they come from,
rather than to the grapes used for their production as their are
so many !• Despite its small area, Portugal occupies the 6th place in the
world as a wine producing country. • The vast number of different wines is only possible because of
the different micro-climates and soil types that allow the unique variety of more than 200 flavours of indigenous grapes that
confer specific and unique features to Portuguese wines.• Some grapes you may have heard of:
Touriga Nacional, Arinto, Fernão Pires, Castelão, Tinta Roriz,
and even Esgana Cão (Dog Distemper ) or Rabo de Ovelha (sheep tail)
Linking Wine&Travel
In order to plan your Winetrip to Portugal
a brief introduction to the Highlights and
characteristics of each region referring to
it’s Wines and Winelands.
Let’s start our trip !
Distances
Porto City
Bairrada 1h30 min
Dão 1h 15min
Douro 1h30min
Minho 45 min
Galizia – Spanish Border 2 hours
Seaside, Atlantic Ocean 30 min
Lisbon, 3h
MinhoNortheast from Porto – with superb green landscapes and elegant
Manor houses.
Some of the oldest cities of the country such as Ponte de Lima ,
Guimaraes and Viana do Castelo can be found here.
Nature lovers can raft and hike or take a bath
in it’s refreshing rivers.
Alvarinho and Loureiro grapes are the base of refresching light
green wines.
Palacio da Breijoeira, Quinta da Aveleda , Casa de Sezim are
famous brands of Vinho Verde , and at the same time ancient
Manor houses worth a visit.
Porto&Douro
Porto , capital and center of the North is one of the
Greatwine capitals of the world. Unique because of it’s portwine
lodges and World culture Heritage downtown area.
The Douro suprises with it’s authentic Landscapes and people,
excellent red and white table wines, using especially indigenous
grapes.
Needs to be felt – not just to be visited.
It’s here most of the big brands of portuguese wines
have there home: from Crasto do Quinta do Portal, from
Taylor’s to Calem, Sandemann or Grahams - they are all there.
Dão &Bairrada
Touriga Nacional the most wellknown portuguese grape,
grows to it’s best in this area. Famous wines you may know , such
as Vinha Paz, Quinta do Cabriz or Casa do Santar.
Viseu it’s largest city in the heart of the Country is worth a visit,
Caramulo Mountains offer unspoiled lanscape for every
Natur & Winelover.
BAIRRADA further in the south just near Coimbra, one of the
oldest University towns in the world. Here suckling pig is matched
with first class sparkling wines to a unique culinary experience.
Luis Pato is a famous name of this area, the Caves Aliança, with
its famous Innovative Underground Art Museum or the Palace
Bussaco Hotel a former royal hunting lodge which brings you back
to the romanticism of past times.
Continuing South
Lisbon is nowadays itself a Wine region.
The capital of Portugal is fascinating for
its localisation and history, it’s
atmosphere and climate, the nightlife.
Moreover from Lisbon 4 Grape Escape
regions are within easy reach !
Distances
Lisbon City
Alentejo 1h 30min Setubal Peninsula 40 min
Tejo 1h(Ribatejo)
Lisbon 45 min(Estremadura)
Porto 3 hours
Seaside, Atlantic Ocean 30 min
Algarve, 3h
Lisboa (Estremadura)
Northwest from Lisbon the Estremadura wine
Area, nowadays denominated Lisboa is a land
Soft green hills, with windmills and charming
Villages. Obidos a medieval World Culture
Heritage Site or Mafra na impressive baroque
Monastery are cultural attraction. Winetasting at
Quinta de Chocapalha, Sanguinhal o Cerejeira,
Quinta das Pancas or Romeira is a welcome
interruption during a bike tour or an afternoon at one
of the Atlantic hide away beaches.
TEJO (former Ribatejo) The Land above Tejo – is full of traditions,
pretty villages and small cities , from
Santarem to Cartaxo from Almeirim to Golegá
and Muge. Bull Fights and dedication to
Equestrian Arts determine daily life here.
Outstanding Quintas such as Casa Cadaval,
Quinta Alorna, Quinta Lagoalva, Falua, produce
soft, velvey and fruity Wines to match perfectly
with their typical dishes.
Peninsula de Setubal
30 minutes South from Lisbon, counts with 2
outstanding places to visit: José Maria da Fonseca a
company with over 100 years of history as well
asBacalhoa Vinhos, renowned for it’s outstanding
project combining wine and art. But there is much more
to it: Costa Azul a lush green nature park next to the
Seaside, the fishermen’s villages of Arrabida
and Sesimbra not to forget the charming Village
of Azeitão. This is the land of Muscatel Wine, which is a
Perfect match to creamy Azeitão cheese from the
romantic village of Vila Nova de Azeitão.
Alentejo
The largest province of Portugal, and the 2nd most
important for Winegrowing. picturesque white painted
Villages, endless plains, a gentle people bound to
tradition and the flavorsome gastronomy. All this to
accompany characterful white wines and the GRAND
Reds – what else can a winelovers heart whish for!
Herdade do Esporão ,Portugal Ramos , Quinta do
Carmo, Adega Mayor, there are so many who contribute
to Portugal’s wine reputation abroad!
Algarve
The reveil of Algarve as a wine area is a recent developpment.
Some very interesting properties emerged in the last years.
Quinta dos Vales is a remarkable Wine&Art project near Lagoa,
or Adegado Cantor, the Quinta do Morgado da Torre or Quinta
do Frances they all have medal awarded wines and enrich this
wellknown sun and sea destination complete a holiday on the
beach with rewarding tours to the Hinterland for winetasting!
The mediterrenean climate makes the wines of Algarve different
of every other DOC area.
Different Types of Wintouristsdifferent needs
• the professional Wine traveller• the passionate Wine traveller • the Winelover
Portugal can has a fantastic offer for all of
them !
Some outstanding projects in Portugal especially for Wine lovers
José Maria Fonseca Winery needs to be mentioned here. Situated just on the opposite side of the Tagus river this winery is not only famous for tis muscatel but since the last century it was the first producer of table wine in Portugal. It’s brand Piriquita is available in most of the portuguese Restaurants in and around Lisbon still today.
The family owned company decided to invest into wine tourism a long time ago. The manor house of its origins was transformed into a museum and since 2 years a stylish Enoround Wine dispensers makes their whole selection of wines available to visitors of this winery for tasting. With the innovative winecard system guests to this winery are available to try even the 20 year old Muscatel, thus being motivated to buy also high quality wines.
Quinta da Bacalhôa – Quinta dos Loridos , near Lisbon
Wine &Art a perfect combination
José Berardo a wellknown portuguese entrepreneur and art lover owns part of these wineries. He had the idea to set masterpieces of Art throughout the Bacalhôa Winery, so despite of winetasting the visitor can appreciate a rich collection of historical tiles as well as a replica of the chinese soldiers from theTerracotta Army , amongst others.
At Quinta dos Loridos , famous for it’s champagne production he hadthe revolutionary idea to set a huge Chinese garden in the middle of the soft wine hills of the OESTE – an area quite virgin untill today in tourism development. Quinta dos Loridos attracts thousand of visitors every weekend to taste the wines of the “Bacalhôa Vinhos empire “ and have a relaxing visit to the gardens.
Inaugurated in june 2007, at quinta vale de abraão, the Aquapura Douro Valley has become a reference in the world luxury hotels industry. 50 rooms in an entirely renovated 19th century manor house, 21 villas of pure contemporary design, a 2200m2 spa for pure indulgence and a 5 hectare woodland by the river bank await you in the magnificent setting of the douro valley.
Naturally the wine list in its 3 restaurants is quite exceptional. in either restaurant you can choose from a selection of over 200 wines, 15 champagnes and 20 bottled waters from all over the world. the douro wines make up to 50% of this list. two thirds of these are reds.
In 2009 the Aquapura was the headquarter of Douro Filmfestival whichTook place in September and was the first of its kind.
THE YEATMANN – Vila Nova de Gaia – Porto
- Defines a destination !! A fantastic wine hotel in Porto – owned by the traditional Taylor’s Winery.82 rooms facing the Douro River and the beautiful Ribeira Area in Porto – an Open Air Museum and a World Culture Heritage Area. The Outdoor pool has the shape of a Wine Decanter and each of it’s room is sponsored and dedicated to the many renowned wine producers of the country. Wine Spa and and the Gourmet restaurant and winebar complete the hospitality offer of thisProperty , entirely dedicated to Wine experience.
Coming soon - L’ANDS vineyards - Alentejo – Montemor
L’ands is Land &something more…..
A project promoted by Sousa Cunhal Turismo and Lagrimas Hotels and Emotion Group, situated in the wide plains of Alentejo. 5 internationally wellknown architects were invited to design 5 clusters of serviced villas and country houses. The owners will have the choice to own their own vineyard, and/or make their own wine using the grapes grown in the common vineyard belonging to the property. L’ands is a project for those who wish to experience life in a rural environment with all possible sophistication.
Owners can choose to rent out their houses and villas to visitors from abroad as a holiday home.
Opening during 2011
WINELANDS OF PORTUGAL
Winelands of Portugal was created by our company in order to permit visitors from abroad to discover the Best of Wineries and local gastronomy in Portugal’s DOC Areas.
The little Roadbooks come with Tasting vouchers to allow winetastings and tastingOf local Gastronomy.
In 2009 the Douro edition of Winelands Portugal was awarded the Best of Winetourism price by the Great Wine Capitals of the World.
Ideal Hideaways for Grape Escapers
Solares de Portugal
Are Bead and Breakfast accomodation, many
of them in the North around Ponte de Lima
but also in Douro, Alentejo and Algarve.
Small , max 15 rooms, personalized filosophy
Contact to the owner family who links to local
history and culture.
www.solaresdeportugal.pt
Pousadas – their are many of them throughout
Portugal ,alltogether about 40
4 different types:
historical, Nature , Charming and Design !
www.pousadas.pt
QUINTASSmall farm estates and manor houses, that
offer a very relaxed and cosy atmosphere.
According to the area often linked to Wine or other rural
production.
Some samples:
Herdade dos Coelheiros (Alentejo)
Herdade Sabroso (Alentejo)
Casa do Sezim (Vinho Verde)
Winehouse Hotel Quinta da Pacheca
Useful links: www.wonderfulland.pt www.secretplaces.com
Wine Conference Hotels
• Conferences in Grape Escape Destinations
attractive, added value, Incentivating:
In Portugal:• The Yeatman • Pousada do Freixo• Convento do Espinheiro • Hotel Mar e Ar • The Vine – Madeira • Vidago Palace
Wine events – Incentive Highlights
Wine can bring the added value to conference and Incentives:
- Teambuildings in Quintas that link history
to wine makeing- Be your own Winemaker - Gambling with wines - Piano Reserva - Wine&Jazz Matching - Themed Wine Tastings
Contacts:Rua Do Carmo 51/5C
1200-2 093 Lisboa
Tel. +351 21 324 2000Fax. + 351 21 324 2009 Gsm +351 96 4069 832
www.doc-dmc.com
!……just in case you need some advice ;-)