The Rise of Portuguese Wine Tourism

Written by Trond Arne Undheim

Lisbon and Porto the newest wine tourism hotspots
Portugal is emerging as one of the trendiest travel destinations right now. The Portuguese have polished their jewels: trails, B&Bs, hotels, restaurants, discos, spas and wines. Visit before the floodgates open. Start with Lisbon, then go to the plains of the Alentejo towards the south and finish in Porto, exploring the more northern valleys of the Dão and Douro Rivers. If there’s time, a swim along the Algarve coast is not bad either, but mass tourism abounds down there already. Instead, avoid the masses and retreat into the countryside and blend with the locals in two, astonishingly fresh, European cities, Lisbon and Porto.
Interestingly, in this time of economic crisis, the wine industry is the most important sector of Portuguese agriculture. Portugal’s natural resources have always been fantastic. However, to the benefit of tourists and residents alike, the quality of tourist establishments have improved immensely over the last decade. As is the trend internationally, the approach to wine tourism has evolved, too, mainly because of a new generation of vintners who eyes the international public. Browsing the The Wine and Food Lover’s Guide to Portugal by Charles Metcalfe and Kathryn McWhirter, one finds there are plenty of places to stay and plenty of good wine, and not only Port wine. “Life is good, but wine is better,” said the author Fernando Pessoa (1988-1935). Why not connect the two?

Lisbon, Europe’s westernmost and sunniest capital for sure, is aptly called “the city of explorers.” As the travel site GoLisbon says: “You’ll love Lisbon if you loved: the romantic decay of Venice, the emerging hipness of Barcelona in the 90s, the exoticism of Naples or Istanbul, the nightlife of Madrid, or the laid-backness of Rome.” Not to forget, Lisbon has established a reputation as one of Europe’s main clubbing cities. I spent a few sublime, early morning hours at the Fizz Beach Bar disco in Cascais, outside Lisbon at the mouth of the Tagus river, while the Atlantic waves (perfect for surfing) almost crash in on the dance floor. But the most undeniable attraction of Lisbon is its fish restaurants. The fish served is unparalleled in its freshness and presentation: you pick your fish while it is still alive, with Vinho Verde as a delicious wine choice. Coming out of one of them, the Cervejaria Relento, I remember thinking I will never eat fish again anywhere else. Even locals continue to be amazed. Lisbon’s mighty mix of the old-fashioned and the hip; of the historic and the modern, is also a clue to its wines. Here, tradition and innovation meet in emerging brands, vintners and wine establishments that are about to go global.

Upon mentioning the city of Porto, most people will immediately think of Port wine. But beyond wine, Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built along the hillsides overlooking the mouth of the Douro river. It is an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year history. Visit the cathedral with its Romanesque choir, the neoclassical Stock Exchange, and the Portuguese style Church of Santa Clara. The Yeatsman is a high end wine hotel that opened in 2010, aiming to have the world’s best and biggest wine cellar for Portuguese wine. The place is owned by the Fladgate Partnership, a family based management group whose principal business, the production and marketing of premium Port wines, Fonseca, Taylor’s and Croft, was established over three centuries ago in 1692. Says Claire Aukett, marketing manager: “With a Caudalie spa, a kids club with entertainment and babysitting service, and 20 parent parent discount for the second room, it is also family friendly accommodation”. Porto is also the place of many wine festivals, such as Essencia do Vinho, where I recently tasted myself through the old stock exchange full of tastily embedded wine stands in the ornate Arab Room, an oval chamber that attempted to copy Granada’s Alhambra Palace. In the outskirts of Porto, UNESCO has again awarded the Douro valley landscape for being representative of the full range of activities associated with winemaking – terraces, quintas (wine-producing farm complexes), villages, chapels and roads. The Douro Boys, five great Douro estates who joined forces five years ago in a massive PR campaign: Quinta do Vale Meão, Quinta do Crasto, Quinta Vale Dona Maria, Quinta do Vallado and Niepoort Vinhos (Nápoles), are the most visible result of that tradition at the moment.

The Portuguese wine scene is about to become famous for one particular indigenous grape, Touriga Nacional. The reason is that the tourism authorities believe it is good branding, despite the fact that there is a wide variety of local grapes here, and also international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruity, easy drinking wine style of Vinho Verde from the Minho region is the choice for a fresh, uncomplicated fish dish.
From Lisbon to Porto, to the resort towns, Estoril and Cascais on the Atlantic coast or the Algarve coast, or the two archipelagos off the coast – the Azores Islands and Madeira, from fish to monuments oto discos, Portugal is branding itself as a lifestyle choice for vacationer and wine-lovers alike. To turn Pessoa’s phrase around, “wine is good, but life is better”, or rather, the two are intertwined.

Trond’s Picks
Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (2008, $20, 88/100)
This wine is produced from old vines, from vineyards aged more than 30 years. It is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Tinta Amarela grape varieties. This is a grand wine, complex and highly aromatic. It ages in French and American oak barrels for 16 months and remains another six months in the cellar. It has a deep red color, a floral aroma with a hint of ripe, black fruit, toast and spices. The ending is very long, with hints of fruit and cedar.

Quinta do Noval Port wine (2008, $75, 91/100)
Port is a magnificent rich and long-lived dessert wine made from vines planted in along the steep terraces of the Douro River Valley of Portugal. Port is a great way to end a meal. This port has fantastic vanilla, almond, hazelnut and caramel aromas. The texture is velvety, overall, Quinta do Noval is super smooth stuff with uncanny elegance.

Quinta do Vallado Reserva field blend (2008, $50, 91/100)
The blend is from old vineyards with more than 20 grape varieties all mixed. The nose is floral with cherry and citrus zest. The flavour is very concentrated, with balsamic oak notes, fig and black plum aromas and tobacco. All in all, the wine is full bodied, firm with great structure and good acidity, yet with mature and silky tannins. There are some mineral notes and a very elegant finish. This kind of wine asserts with confidence that Portuguese red wine means business.

The Portuguese Wine Scene
Consider wine tourism as an improvement of ordinary tourism. However, there is no need to go crazy on the wine aspect of it. Wine is simply the entry point to interesting sensory experiences in nature, in the city, and in meeting people. Visiting wine country is a sure way to get a personalized trip where you have the chance to make friendships with passionate people along the way.

Source: http://www.colormagazineusa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=515

Although the Philippines is not known for being the wine capital of Asia, Clark Pampanga is the most frequently visited destination for wine lovers in Cebu, Angeles City and Manila to shop for some good vintage wine. The famous wine shop outside Manila called Clark Wine Center is the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

This wine shop in Clark is highly recommended as one of the best places to buy wine in Pampanga. Clark Freeport is just outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.

Established in 2002, YATS WINE CELLARS is a wholly-owned business unit of Hong Kong-based Yats International which owns and operates resort, wine shops, wine bars and fine-dining restaurant properties in Clark Freeport in The Philippines. YATS WINE CELLARS caters to a clientele of discerning wine lovers from all over the world. Besides a good selection of wine for everyday enjoyment, YATS offers a unique selection of aged vintage wines made available to wine enthusiasts at remarkably affordable prices. Vintages span over a century and the selection of old- and new-world wines covers all major wine regions.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com