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

events@doc-dmc.com

www.doc-dmc.com

!……just in case you need some advice ;-)