Find vines and gourmet groves in Portugal

Portugal has long had a strong connection with gastronomy and winemaking and clients can find this heritage right across the country. Wine and olive oil are two cornerstones of Portugal’s culinary table, with its Mediterranean climate having allowed olive trees and vineyards to be cultivated for centuries. Each region offers its own flavourful twist, where clients can explore lesser-known corners in regions such as Porto and the North and the Alentejo.

 

Wonderful wine

 

The Douro Valley may earn all the plaudits for Porto and the North’s signature port wine but Vinho Verde deserves just as much of the limelight. This region is known for its light, fresh wines – especially the white variety – and this flavour is heavily influenced by the cooler climate and the fertile river valleys in the area. Your clients can visit several quaint vineyards along the Vinho Verde Route to get a taste of this unsung Portuguese viniculture. And it’s handy that given the region’s proximity to the coast, a chilled glass of vinho verde pairs well with the fresh seafood.

 

 

Farther south, the sun-soaked Alentejo region was once Portugal’s wheat-growing powerhouse. Now, those fields have been transformed into expansive vineyards and full-bodied reds and aromatic whites are what the locals love to drink. Share this local love with your clients by suggesting the Unesco-listed city of Évora, which is an excellent gateway for exploring the region’s wine, whether it’s tastings at vineyards, harvest festivals or wine cellar tours.

 

 

Olive oil excellence

 

Porto and the North isn’t just known for its sumptuous wine. The leafy mountains of the Trás-os-Montes region in the Douro Valley have been producing olive oil since the 16th century. The combination of the rocky schist plateau landscape and granitic soils make for near-perfect conditions for growing olives, with ancient villages founded on the production of olive oil in the region. These villages are a key part of the Trás-os- Montes olive oil route, a 62-mile trail that gives clients the chance to visit olive oil mills, local producers and visit the historic city of Bragança to dine on meals infused with oil and other local produce such as cheese, smoked meat and, of course, wine.

 

For more information, head to visitportugal.com

 

PICTURES: Visit Portugal; Vasco Celio; Emanuele Siracusa