Food, Wine and Travel Blog

Safe Private Travel in Portugal,  post-Corona Virus   Breaking News August 2020 The Portuguese tourism authority has, as of August 2020, launched an innovative initiative for visitors from abroad visiting the country. “Turismo de Portugal”, via RNA Seguros de Assistência, are offering a specific type of Covid-19 travel insurance for the current pandemic reality. This […]

Lisbon,  what better way to see this impressive skyline than from a rooftop bar! Lisbon is literally “booming”, more alive than ever, nearly all of the tumbling down properties have been snapped up and restored into hotels, hostels, bars, and restaurants and with these some very attractive rooftop venues have emerged. There is somewhere for […]

Sparkling Wines of Portugal There probably isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of Cava, Spain’s famous bubbly, predominately produced in the Penedes region south of Barcelona. But what about fizz produced in Spain’s neighbor Portugal – hand-made, artisan sparkling wines of superlative quality that match exceptionally well with Portugal’s varied cuisine? You would hear a pin […]

Why visit the Douro Valley? There can be few more awe-inspiring sights than a visitor’s first glimpse of the steep, terraced vineyards of the Douro. Ancient vines cover the hills, which roll down to the magnificent Douro River creating a timeless scene of small villages and whitewashed houses perched high above the valley. It is […]

Port wine traditionally comes from the Douro Valley in beautiful Northern Portugal. The wineries are called Quintas” and they line the terraced hills rising up from the Douro river, east of Oporto nearly reaching the border of Spain. The name “Port Wine” is protected by the Appellation system (Denomination of Origin), just as “Champagne” can […]

Cellar Tours Selection of Top Port Wine Vintages The magnificent fortified wines of the Douro Valley are undoubtedly some of the greatest, long-lived, and best-value fine wines available today. Indeed, Port can last for centuries and has been made for centuries – the Douro valley was defined as an appellation in 1756, making it the […]

Portugal is justly recognized as a Mecca for lovers of great seafood, always accompanied by delicious Portuguese white wines, of course! But, like any sensible people, the Portuguese have made full use of their best natural gastronomic resource: miles and miles of gorgeous coastline that supplies some of the freshest, most varied fish and seafood […]

When eating out in Portugal, you will soon notice that the cuisine is still very traditional, even the more modern, chic eateries stay close to their origins, adding an innovative, artistic touch. We have put together this useful Portuguese to English glossary and menu decoder to help you get the most out of your Portuguese […]

Portuguese Grape Varieties The diversity of grape varieties in Portugal is incredible, especially considering the relatively small area under vine. There are over 250 native grape varieties, many international ones increasingly being vinified here and very successfully. The almost infinite choice of varietals and the differentiating terroir result in fabulous, versatile wines that are just […]

Our best memory of Portuguese food was a spectacularly juicy steak served with a luscious red wine from the Alentejo, while watching an exquisite Fado performance at Cafe Luso in Lisbon. What can top that gastronomic memory? Portuguese food is fairly unknown, and what a pity as there are so many delicious dishes. Seafood and […]

Lisbon for Food Lovers, Cellar Tours recommendations: From small, family-owned restaurants offering delicious and inexpensive food to high-end cuisine, the capital of Portugal has enough options to satisfy even the most demanding of foodies. And although the Portuguese are known for sticking to their culinary traditions, Lisbon offers much more than the familiar staples of […]

Portuguese Cheese Guide Although Portugal’s most famous contribution to food and drink is undoubtedly Port wine, its superb range of artisan cheeses, with its lengthy pedigree and traditions are equally a worthy addition to any gourmet’s household. And while most visitors to this beautiful and historic country may well only bring home a bottle or […]