Magic of Atlantic Islands. Azores, Portugal.

TERCEIRA ISLAND

Terceira's port once welcomed galleons laden with spices from the Orient, and gold and silver from the Americas Even today, its historic city streets transport you back to the 16 and 17 centuries. Out in the country, flat green fields in a chessboard pattern are dotted with dairy cows, and white houses nestle against the blue sky.

Terceira's locals have been welcoming people to the island for centuries, and enjoy traditional pastimes like street bullfighting, “tourada à corda”, and modern sports such as golf.

With its seamless blend of past and present, Terceira island is indeed a perfect place to spend exciting and complete holiday.

ANGRA DO HEROÍSMO, A WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Built in the 16 century, Angra do Heroísmo was the first European urban centre, and has achieved World Heritage status as a result. Its old streets highlight the city's fine architectural heritage, as do its churches, palaces and museums, together with the fortress

that defended the city and port from pirates.

Once you've sampled the delights of Angra do Heroísmo, you should visit the historic town of Praia da Vitória. Here you'll find the gothic church of São Sebastião, built by the first

settlers, and the manor houses, churches and chapels of São Carlos, Fontinha, São Brás and Lajes masterpieces of imperial architecture dedicated to the cult of the Holy Ghost.

BEAUTIFUL, UNSPOILT COUNTRYSIDE

Terceira's unspoilt countryside complements the fine historical monuments of its towns. The island boasts green landscapes and mountain ranges that are great for walks, beyond

which you can glimpse flower-dotted fields and the blue of the sea and sky.

A walk in the hills will also unearth some of Terceira's geological wonders, like the Caldeira de Guilherme Moniz, a 15 km wide volcanic crater, and the caves of Algar do Carvão with its lava stalactites and stalagmites.

You'll also find a challenging golf course on the island, and two marinas that give Terceira a cosmopolitan atmosphere by attracting yachts crossing the Atlantic. The surrounding sea offers much for those wanting an active holiday. Fishing, diving, surfing, windsurfing and sailing are the main sports on the island and those who enjoy swimming can take advantage of Terceira's natural pools – formed when volcanic lava met the cold sea.

From May to September, Terceira is the scene of many colourful traditional festivals. The Festival of the Holy Ghost, Festas do Espírito Santo is repeated in every village, and followed by a large banquet.
While the centrepiece of the Festival of St. John, Festas Sanjoaninas , is a procession of enthusiastic crowds.

Festival season also means good food. Popular traditional dishes include “alcatra” – an exotic spicy beef stew plus black pudding and octopus, whilst local sweets are varied and delicious.

No meal on Terceira would be complete without a glass of Biscoitos wine, a local speciality with its own dedicated museum

by visitportugal

Taste and travel in great taste!

Travel, taste, discover, get the best of life and degustations here in the one of the most beautiful places in the world
Douro river Valley. An art of world best wines gem.

The stunning Douro Valley provides extraordinarily good conditions for producing red, white and port wines.
A plethora of grape varieties can be found in the Douro, including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Castelao.

Happy travelling! Happy tasting!!

Portugal. Alentejo. Nature and heritage. Relaxation.

Located in Southwest Portugal, the Costa Alentejana is a region with unique characteristics, accessible in just a few hours from any major European airport.

Very few destinations in the world combine, in such harmony, development and tradition, comfort and nature, and an itinerary of excellent sporting, cultural and leisure activities within a peaceful natural and built landscape that invites relaxation, entertainment and discovery.

The Costa Alentejana is probably one of the best-kept secrets of the traveller’s world.

Although increasingly visited by domestic and international tourists, this region has managed to preserve all the original and authentic characteristics that made it a sanctuary

of nature and relaxation.

Enjoy this leisure, taking all the time in the world.

The first step is to choose one of the many hotels in the region. Modern hotels, quiet ‘pousadas’ - a family owned boutique hotel type accommodation,  small lodgings that make hospitality a work of art.

Comfort,  variety and great taste, which extends to the table of any of the local restaurants too.

Delicious gastronomy delights! Fresh fish, selected meat, organic vegetables, irresistible desserts made from traditional popular recipes, or those from regional abbeys.

Alentejo cuisine has many regional specialities within itself and  is a result of centuries of refinement and is one of Portugal’s greatest treasures.

Open all year round

Now, choose the best time to come. It’s quite simple really. From March to November, we generally find the lowest temperature is a pleasant 11C’.

Winter occurs in the remaining three months, sun and very mild temperature, that invites us to indulge in various pleasures here: wine tasting, regional gastronomy proving in front of fireplaces, the luxury of falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the surf.

Sun is the most famous resident of the Costa Alentejana. It warms thousands of miles of unexplored beaches and illuminates a sumptuous landscape that offers unforgettable views.

Discover the region that is home to ancient Roman settlements, centuries-old castles, towns and villages full of history.
Visit the casino, the museums, the nature and wildlife parks. Discover crafts, music and culture celebrated at fairs and festivals.

On the Costa Alentejana, we like to savour life slowly, welcoming those who arrive with an itinerary of appropriate physical activities.

Golf is one of our passions. Another is to surrender the mind and body to the care of the spas in the region.

And a list of activities is actually really extensive! Fishing and diving, boat trips on the river or along the coast. Watching birds or dolphins. Hiking and horseback riding. Surfing, bodyboarding, canoeing... All dedicated to four key things: health, fun, relaxation, making the most of this breath-taking landscape, without disturbing nature anyhow.

Costa Alentejana is a natural reserve of comfort and relaxation. A land of authentic people and customs, that shunned mass tourism and which has learned to develop and modernize without losing its essence. This identity cherishes, above all else, time.

Time to live, feel, taste and learn. Come and discover it all and enjoy yourself!

by CostaAlentejana

Enjoying life in Algarve, Portugal - great fun, festivals and events!

In February each year there is a carnival being celebrated in most parts of the Algarve, but none has such a deeply rooted tradition as the Loulé Carnival.

The city fills up with colour as visitors and locals gather to watch the vibrant parade. This procession of colourful floats with over-sized puppets, samba groups and lots of music is a huge festivity in the region.

For five days, the Med Festival brings life and excitement to the streets of Loulé’s historic centre at the beginning of the summer (June). World music originating from Morocco and various southern European countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal as well as other forms of art, including handicraft exhibitions, dance performances and street theatre will keep any visitor enthralled.

A paradise for seafood lovers, the annual Festival do Marisco is held in August each year in the Jardim do Pescador Olhanense in the town of Olhão just five kilometres east of Faro and the gateway to the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

One of the most important gastronomic events in the Algarve calendar, the Festival do Marisco, is an opportunity for local fishermen to proudly display their catch on one of the hundreds of stalls that line the fishing port. Offering visitors the chance to sample some of the local delicacies, a wide range of seafood is available ranging from grilled sardines to fried shrimps and of course the traditional cataplana, a much-loved Portuguese dish. Music and folk dancing accompany the festival with performers encouraging both locals and visitors to eat, drink and enjoy the superb atmosphere.

At the end of August, Castro Marim and Silves return to the Middle Ages in a historical re-enactment.

During four days and nights the castle of Castro Marim once again plays host to kings and queens, knights in shining armour, jesters, buffoons, noblemen and ladies as the entire court takes part in a procession.

Jousting tournaments – on foot and on horseback – street theatre performances, banquets accompanied by medieval music and a handicrafts and merchandise fair complement the entertainment enabling visitors to relive the magic and mystery of times gone by.

by turismoportugal

Wines of Portugal. Portuguese wines awarded again.

Portuguese wines awarded in Germany. Of course. And ther is still so much more to taste, descover and  be delighted!

More wine tasting trips ahead!

Wines of Portugal | A world of difference | News article | Portuguese wines awarded in Germany

Portugal is the Best. Of course. Top 10 countries for 2013.

Top 10 countries for 2013 | Globe Spots

Takeover of Portugal's Largest Wine Company Defeated | News | News & Features | Wine Spectator

Hostile Takeover of Portugal's Largest Wine Company Defeated | News | News & Features | Wine Spectator

Unique Portuguese wine. Alvarinho caste.

Alvarinho is one of the greatest treasures of Portugal.
It is from the sub-region of Monção and Melgaço that Alvarinho reveals and achieves the maximum of its potential, in a unique territory, due to natural reasons related to soil and the microclimate.

It is considered by recognized experts the best Portuguese white grape and one of the best grapes in the world.

Monção and Melgaço, not far away from the Atlantic Ocean, keep themselves protected against sea winds by mountains in a natural relation that allows the perfect conjugation between the rainfall, temperature and the number of hours of sunshine necessary to the best maturation of the Alvarinho grapes.

The vineyards cultivated in amphitheaters of natural beauty are placed in a sunny location refreshed by the Minho river.

Alvarinho is a white grape from the vitis specie, which originates very small bunches, winged and compact, leading to an unproductive grape, aspect that is contemplated in the Statutes of The Region, which gives it a maximum efficiency per hectare of 60 hl against 80 hl for the other grapes.

It originates unique wines, easily identifiable, combined qualities, such as its strong temperament and personality.

With citric colour and splendid flavor, Alvarinho is exquisite, bond and robust, besides its elegance, balance and minerality. Its acidity and freshness make Alvarinho a vibrant and cheerful wine.

The alcoholic strength of Alvarinho wine is 11,5% vol., all above the traditional standards of other green wines (9%).

There are several theories about the origin of Alvarinho caste. It is said that it came from Reno, others say that it came from Greece and others (maybe the right ones) say that it came from the Northeast of Iberian Peninsula, more precisely from this Sub-region, where, all over the centuries, Alvarinho adapted itself to the soil and climate characteristics.

By the Decree-law 275/73, the tradition was confirmed and legalized in Portugal.

The designation of origin Alvarinho was assigned to the wine produced exclusively in the Sub-region of Monção and Melgaço of the Demarcated Region of Green Wines, where there are the ideal conditions of microclimate and soil to the cultivation and maturation of this unique and genuine grape.

by quintasdemelgaco.pt

Design in Portugal. Fazenda Nova - a smash hit Hotel in the eastern Algarve

For years they dreamed of selling up and moving to a place they considered a glorious secret: the eastern Algarve. Hallie and Tim Robinson, from London, viewed it as one of the world's hidden gems – a place of salt pans and sand dunes, vast white beaches, wildlife-filled nature reserves and colourful ferries seemingly taking you back in time to tiny, old-fashioned holiday islands.

Over late-night glasses of wine, they plotted and planned how they would pack up their treasures (the three children – Felix, Milo and Riley) and leave, never to return. But busy jobs, children's schooling and the stress of life got in the way. Hallie worked in fashion PR, while Tim ran a logistics business.
That was until one day early in 2008 when Tim, then 43, suffered a mild heart attack that stopped the family in its tracks. Within six months, the jobs were gone, friends had waved them off and they were in the Algarve, roughing it in the sunshine.

Three years later, they speak Portuguese fluently, their children are in local schools and they have a secluded, 10-bedroom country-house hotel called Fazenda Nova.
Fazenda Nova is 25 minutes by car from Faro airport, and a short drive from Tavira, a town that many Portuguese consider their country's prettiest, dating from the bronze age.

With a magpie eye for flea market knick-knacks and idiosyncratic antique furniture from around the world, the couple have imbued a highly polished modernist interior with their story. Old letterpresses are filled with quirky keyrings and brightly coloured tins wink from the shelves. There are toy robots and glass bottles and old shoes stays, all adding character to the polished concrete and reclaimed wood.
Some of their chairs and consoles were Portuguese pieces exported to Brazil during colonisation, which the couple have shipped back
Upstairs in the library are old copies of The Face, Arena and Smash Hits – British cult magazines founded in the 1980s by Nick Logan – Hallie's dad and business partner. Hallie first came to the Algarve as a child with her parents, and says she feels the place has been in her blood ever since.

The couple created Fazenda Nova by taking what they saw as the best of old and new: combining original features and traditional Algarve style with contemporary architecture. Family friend David Eyre – founder of London's Eagle gastropub and latterly of the Eyre Brothers restaurant in Shoreditch – has given guidance on the menu, and Kate Lewis, a former chef at the Eagle, works there alongside Ricardo Aragao, who brings years of knowledge of Portuguese cuisine.
The seasonal produce that is served in their restaurant, "A Cozinha", is supplemented by the harvest from their 10 hectares of olive groves, carob, fig and pomegranate orchards and a herb garden.
A 200-year-old bread oven has been restored to working order and is now producing loaves under the watchful eye of local women who know how it should be done.

Nine of the rooms have private gardens or terraces. There's a penthouse suite and two apartments with small kitchens. The infinity pool has views of the surrounding countryside and pod-style hammocks swing under the shade of olive trees.
Tim and Hallie have several favourite places just a short drive away, which they pointed out to me on a map: pretty 18th-century cobblestoned towns, bustling fishing ports and a system of barrier islands – the Ria Formosa – that stretches for 60 miles.
Tim directed me to what he considers his secret haven: the tiny island of Armona. As I stepped off the ferry, I could see the appeal. It is a paradise for those seeking peace, with just a few bars and shops, one-storey bungalows and chalets. There are similar islands and beaches all along this stretch, some accessible by ferry or water taxi. There's also a toytown-style train to the beautiful Praia do Barril beach.

Hallie led me to the place at the top of her list: a flea market, held on the first Sunday of every month beside the beach in the town of Fuseta. It's one of the best I've visited. At one stall, she did the haggling for me and for €30 I walked away with a stunning art deco-style crystal chandelier. And of course, she couldn't help buying a few things for herself. Then, turning the corner, we bumped into Hallie's father, bearing a series of vibrant women's magazines from the 1950s. They too were destined for Fazenda Nova.

Célia Pedroso, a Portuguese food writer and friend, took me to the fish and vegetable market in the port town of Olhão where we ogled sardines caught less than an hour previously and stalls of colourful vegetables. We picked the best piri piri peppers, bunches of dried oregano, locally produced honeys and jams, almonds and tinned sardines – all to be stuffed in my suitcase.

On Armona, Célia showed me a trick she learned as a child: digging in the sand with your heels at low tide and collecting dozens of cadelinhas, tiny sweet clams that she later cooked with garlic, coriander and olive oil.
That night, beneath a clear sky, with no light pollution to spoil our view of the endless stars, we sipped at glasses of crisp, slightly gassy vinho verde, and I began plotting my own escape to this secret coast.

by guardian.co.uk; fazendanova.eu  

Lançado primeiro pacote turístico transfronteiriço da Península Ibérica

Porto, 26 out (Lusa) -- A Fundação Rei Afonso Henriques lançou hoje, no Porto, o primeiro pacote turístico transfronteiriço da Península Ibérica, que agrupa 11 destinos do Norte de Portugal e de Castela e Leão, todos eles classificados como Património Mundial da Humanidade.

Em declarações à agência Lusa, o presidente da fundação, Silva Peneda, explicou que a denominada "Rota do Património Mundial Douro/Duero" inclui, entre outros sítios classificados pela UNESCO, o centro histórico do Porto, a cidade de Guimarães, o Douro Vinhateiro, Foz Côa, Burgos, Ávila ou Salamanca.

A rota, afirmou Silva Peneda, "serve para animar a atividade económica de duas regiões das mais deprimidas da Península Ibérica. Fundamentalmente, o objetivo deste projeto é animação da atividade económica e a criação de emprego. É disto que estamos a falar".

Um portal de internet vai apoiar a promoção da nova rota, que pode ser vendida em pacote integral ou em frações, consoante as disponibilidades de tempo e dinheiro dos interessados.

Advertindo que um projeto deste tipo "requer tempo" para solidificar, o secretário-geral da fundação, Jose Luis González Prada, escusou-se a estimar o acréscimo de turistas que a nova rota poderá trazer aos 11 destinos que a integram.

Números divulgados pela própria fundação, indicam que a região do Norte atraiu, em 2009, cerca de 2,5 milhões de turistas, a maioria (59,3%) portugueses.

No caso de Castela e Leão, a região foi a preferida por 11,9% dos turistas espanhóis que optam pelo turismo interno, tendo recebido a visita de um milhão de estrangeiros.

Discover. Indulge yourself. You worth it. Great Portuguese wines, must try.

Capturing world of great Portuguese wines.. So different. Takes tame to discover, taste and choose the favourite ones.. Sun and beach time or chilly autumn, great celebration or romantic evening or a big dinner  - there are plenty of options in Douro Valley list. Indulge.   

Reds

2007 Quinta do Vallado Douro, $37
Quinta do Vallado produces generous Douro reds, albeit with plenty of perfume and dark, tannic grip. Vallado Douro is a blend of touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta barroca, tinta roriz and sousão from mostly younger vines. There is trademark Douro ink and floral lift, with a plummy mid-palate and a long, pippy finish.

2007 Quinta do Crasto Reserva douro, $78 
Quinta do Crasto excels with tinta roriz where it forms the basis of its regular and reserve blends, as well as single-varietal bottlings in good years. This is a very big wine by Douro standards, lavishly oaked with lush fruit showing coffee, cinnamon, tar and licorice. There’s some trademark Douro minerality poking through and classy, grippy tannins. One for the cellar.  

2007 Quinta do Vale MeÃo Meandro douro, $49 
Meão’s wines combine textural precision, freshness and generosity from their upper Douro fruit, well reflected in the 2007 Meandro (the name comes from the meandering river that almost encircles the property). A combination of touriga nacional, tinto roriz and touriga franca, this is a medium-bodied wine packed with bright red berries and spicy black fruit. There are flavours of anise, violets and smoked meats.

2007 Quinta do Vale MeÃo Douro, $185
60 per cent touriga nacional, 20 per cent touriga franca, 15 per cent tinta roriz, 5 per cent tinta barroca. Based on these tastings, Meão’s Douro stands alongside Dirk Niepoort’s brace of wines as the benchmark for modern Douro reds. The wine shows a mix of briar, vanilla pod, Asian spices and minerality. The texture is detailed and layered, from low-bass to high-treble notes – tannins and acid in balance, with a satiny sheen.

2007 Niepoort Redoma tinto, $115
All the hallmarks of Niepoort’s fastidious approach to viticulture and winemaking are here. The wine is fine-boned and linear, the structure supporting wild, rustic, dark-berry flavours with mid-palate generosity and a lively, long finish. Savage and restrained at the same time.

Ports
Quinta do Vallado 10 Year Old Tawny port, $75
A fresh and spirity tawny. Light brown colour with notes of spearmint, licorice and cola. Good levels of acidity balance the praline-like sweetness. There is still plenty of primary fruit here. The finish is fresh with a lingering nuttiness.

2007 Niepoort Vintage Port, A$200
A deep purple colour, as is typical of Vintage Ports in their infancy. Despite its youth, it shows freshness and a floral lift with time in the glass. There are notes of menthol, wild herbs, flowers, with a touch of spirit and raisin. The tannin and acid balance is excellent. Great finesse.

2007 Quinta do Vale Meão Vintage Port, $130 
Less restrained than the Niepoort, with velvety exuberance and generosity. There is plenty of acid and freshness to give direction to the burst of fresh fruit. Plummy and layered, with touches of chocolate, violets, anise, bergamot and cloves. Ripe tannins and a long, silky finish. Highly recommended.

by gourmettraveller.com

Wines of Portugal. Congratulations! Marvellous.

Wines of Portugal | A world of difference | News article | Portuguese company is "Winery of the year"

Wines of Portugal | A world of difference | News article | Portuguese company is "Winery of the year"

Best buy. Wines of Portugal. A world of difference.

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Moscatel de Setúbal won International Contest Muscats du Monde

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Portuguese wines worth tasting!

Best cellars

by Tim Atkin        

The Observer

2004 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro Vinho Verde

Made at Pedro Araujo's jewel of an estate in Vinho Verde, this delightfully refreshing, delicate white is made entirely from the Loureiro grape. It's crisp, vivacious and citrus-fruity, with good acidity and a hint of apricot.

2002 Esporao Reserva, Alentejo

The wines of the Alentejo certainly don't lack flavour or ripeness. This full-bodied blend of Trincadeira, Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante is fleshy, spicy and attractively oaked, with a core of ripe raspberry fruit.

2001 Covela Tinto Colheita Seleccionada

Only a few miles from the Douro river, Nuno Araujo is making some of the most modern reds in Portugal, typified by this elegant, ageworthy, capsicum-scented red.

2003 Quinta do Vallado Douro Reserva

This concentrated, textured Douro red would challenge Barca Velha in a blind tasting. Plums and strawberries are the dominant flavours, underpinned by oak and fine-grained tannins.

Douro wine

Great Port wine always makes life just perfect. We must let ourselves indulge!)