Showing posts with label portugal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label portugal. Show all posts

"Portuguese wine is one of a kind"

The Financial Times journalist has claimed the Portuguese wines as one of a kind. But (and there is always a “but” in great stories) they have to be more aware of their target markets in order to be more competitive.
Jancis Robinson says Portuguese wine is unique
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The journalist Jancis Robinson attended the international wine fair in Celorico da Beira, Portugal, where she opted not say her favourite Portuguese wine region, but she had a strong point to make about the quality and diversity of Portuguese wines.
One of the most influential wine critics of the world told that our wines are “very unique and interesting flavour one which you can’t find anywhere else in the world”. During the fair, the Financial Times journalist took the time to pay compliments to producers for resisting temptation to use foreign grape varieties and for accomplishing the perfect balance of oak flavour.
Although Jancis believes that the quality of Portuguese wines are improving by the hour, Portuguese producers have a huge need to understand their target markets. They need to have a competitive strategies, they need to know their strengths and their weaknesses in relation to other wines in the market.
She went on to say that the Portuguese wines can’t just been “thrown” into the markets, instead the producers need to choose carefully the product they want to put out there considering each market uniqueness’s. “They need to see the product from the point view of the consumer” said the reporter.
Also, the producers need to know about the products out there they are competing against. “They can't be always drinking their wine otherwise they will have no knowledge of their opponent”. Jancis encouraged Portuguese producers to drink each other wines and to make constructive critics.

Douro wine's exports rose 17%

Great news for Douro wines!


Exports have risen 17% in the first semester of 2014 compared to 2013. The President of Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho told the media that the Douro wines are growing due to the international and national recognition that they have been awarded is the past few years. Last year, for the first time, Douro Wine made more than 100 million euros in sales. Angola, Canada, United States of America, Germany and Switzerland are the country that have seek out more of this kind of wines.

Douro wines exports rose 17%
Douro wines exports rose 17%
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Promoting wines from Douro has been the main focus of various enterprises that deal in wine exportation. They have really done their jobs well. Of course, Douro wines doesn't owes all to marketing and promotion. Much of the success this wine are having are due to the hard work of its producers and to the quality of theirs grapes varieties. Portugal is in high demand and specially northern Portugal seems to have stricken a cord amongst tourists everywhere.

The President of IVV concludes that there might be no wine lover that doesn't have a positive impression of the DOP wine from Douro. “You just have to take a look at comments, articles, ratings and medals to see that these wines are winners everywhere."

Portuguese wine, where have you been hiding?

Liking portuguese wines seems to be a trend right now, amongst the wine lovers, critics and general press overseas. Portugal was the dorky kid with glasses and who was always trying to hang with the cool kids but never really did, but not anymore. Now, people are favoring dry, unique wines that could be Portugal road to success.
Over the last two years, portuguese wines have collected various awards and high scores in international magazines and have been complimented by the critics and wine enthusiasts everywhere; as a consequence the exports numbers grew. 

In March, last year, Matt Kramer from the magazine Wine Spectator let his readers know that he and he’s family had moved to Portugal because it is here that one could find “the most exciting wine on the planet”. Dave McIntyre, from the Washigton Post affirms that he likes to shock people, whenever he’s asked to name a list of the wine he likes the most: “I like to surprise them and put Portugal right on the top of that list”.

Douro's wine landscape
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Portugal is cool, Portuguese wines are cooler.

Portuguese wines have been around for years, why just now?

Because the wine market is tired, oversaturated and in desperate need of different experiences, for which the standardized wines of the new world countries don’t seem to be the answer.  From 2012 to 2013, the records show that the wine exports in the European countries have risen a 2.4%, while in the New World markets the exports have fallen, with countries like Australia and Argentina suffering major losses in their sales.

So, portuguese wine has now the right opportunity to stand out. Due to its unique characteristics: the know-how of its people, the great diversity of terroir, Mediterranean regions, mountains in the north and the plains down south and it overall genetics, portuguese wine becomes the richest viticulture on this planet.



A breath of freash air

Alentejo wine's country
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But Portugal is not a country of varietal wines, according to Portuguese Master of Wine, João Pires, what truly counts here is the blend.  Portugal needs to bet on producing unique wines, wines that have a personality and that may not fall in a Robert Parker’s category constrains, but are still great.

The wine market trend is to look beyond these kinds of standardized wines, “wine connoisseurs and lovers want to taste more of the dry and less extracted wines” says the Portuguese Master of Wine.


Portugal has to seizes this trend and take full advantage of its unique DNA and the capacity its wines have of surprising the entire world.

Promotion of portuguese products will be funded by the EU

The European Commission has approved 20 initiatives to promote agricultural products inside and outside the community. Portuguese wine and olive oil will receive 851 thousand € from Brussels.

The 20 approved programs will enjoy a budget of 46 million euros, half of that will be funded by the European Union. Two actions to promote portuguese products got the green light from the European Community to receive the funding required for its realization. They will receive the amount of more than $ 1.6 million, 851 thousand € of which, will come directly from Brussels.

European Union will fund the promotion of portuguese wine
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As to the portuguese programs, the Association of Port Wine, responsible for the promotion of this wine on the domestic market, will receive a total of 281.780 euros. The other action promoting portuguese products focuses on olive oil and was developed by Alentejo Regional Wine Commission and Casa do Azeite. This action will take on as a main objective the markets of Germany, UK, Sweden, Poland and the domestic market, also. The two programs will have a total of almost € 1.4 million, approximately 681 euros of which are EU funds.

The 20 programs were selected from a set of 33 projects submitted by November 30, 2013 and were a part of the first wave of presentations within the system of information and promotion of agricultural products, for the year 2014. Such actions will take place over the period of 3 years.


Programs will highlight the specific advantages of EU products related to criteria such as quality, health and safety. According to the European Union, all of the actions were aimed at promoting organic products, wine, milk, flowers, products made from cereals and rice and even products classified as PDO (Protected Denomination of Origin) or PGI (Protected Geografical Indication). The promotion of campaigns outside the limits of the EU, will aim to reach  North America, Russia, China, Middle East, Southeast Asia, India and Turkey markets.

New record for wine exports

Portuguese wine exports grew by 2.4 % in 2013, setting a new national record of 724 million of euros, according to the president of the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho in the inaugural conference of Uva d’Ouro.

This growth has encouraged domestic wine producers and distributors to participate in international events in order to establish a connection with potential importers and as a way to boost the appreciation of "Made in Portugal” wines. “Despite the fall in domestic consumption, it did not affect exports and the image of Portuguese wine out there", explained the president of the IVV, Frederico Falcão.

Barriers to export

China is an emergent market for portuguese wine
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Excluding the usual cultural barriers, the president of IVV explained that exporting requires an investment of time and capital. "You have to know the market, establish trusts, measure the result of actions, all of this could take years," recalls Frederick Falcão.

Manuela Cabral, president of the Douro and Porto Wine Institute emphasizes the cultural barriers and the different forms of closing a deal in, for example, eastern markets. There is a need to study these cultures and to find a way to make them more receptive to western products. "These different realities can be beneficial because when a wine is well known recognized in a certain country could pave the way for other portuguese wine" claims the president “and could even pave the way for other portuguese products and wine tourism too".

Relevant domestic consumption

The domestic consumption of wine fell by 5 % in Portugal especially with the decreasing sales in the horeca channel and the retail trade. "The portuguese consumer is on a basic state" said the chairman, Manuela Cabral, “but it has potential to grow."

Producers and distributors have not lost sight of trends in the domestic consumption. Despite being a sector hit by the economic crisis, about 77 % of wine sales take place in supermarkets and 33 % of retail sales are done in the format of bag in box. The president of the Douro and Port Wine Institute also noted that portuguese consumers are sensitive to consumer promotional activities.

Strengthening the Portugal brand

Sonae, together with various media organs, organized the Uva d’ouro iniciative that aims to meet the existing need of the customer to easily identify award winning wines on the shelves of supermarkets. The experience had a positive return for Sonae which saw sales increase once the awarded wines were easily identifiable.

"Wine’s category is one of the most important for a chain of hypermarkets because it’s one that creates very strong emotional bonds with customers," reinforce João Paulo, Marketing Director of Sonae. “We already know that the portuguese wine has great quality and we appreciate it” he adds further, “the creation of strong brands, as we are doing, has an important part in improving the brand 'Portugal', out there".

German Master of Wine in Portugal

The German master sommelier Hendrik Thoma came to Portugal to select the 50 best portuguese wines to sell in Germany.

Germany is on the 7 º place of export destination of portuguese wines and in 2 º when it comes to exporting still wines, with an overall market growth of 11.7 % in value. The three years goal for this market is to grow 14 % using an investment of 260 million euros.

Hendrik Thoma talked about portuguese wines
Hendrik Thoma talked about portuguese wines
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The acclaimed wine critic, Henrick Thoma, explained his relationship with portuguese wine has almost 20 years and he has predicted the explosion of quality that happen within our wine market. "The Germans have a positive view of portuguese wines” explained the sommelier, “many of them come into contact with these wines on vacation, then come home and have difficulty finding them".

The expert revealed the secret of growing the portuguese wine market share in Germany: working that which differentiate us. We should implement the notion that the portuguese ​​grape varieties are diverse and unique and that they are USP - Unique Selling Product. As long as the portuguese wines maintain an “unique style” they have no direct competitors in the German market.


Hendrick Thoma points out as their favorite the Alentejo wines, although first known Douro wines and then the regions of Dão, Bairrada and Vinho Verde.

The wine reviewer believes that the way to convince major buyers and sommeliers Germans to put portuguese wines in their restaurants is to show them the portuguese cuisine accompanied by fine portuguese wines. Many of them are unaware of our national culture and products, so the answer is to educate them and to convey an image of credibility and the idea that one can believe in portuguese wine.

Dão’s wines best harvest is in the making

Dão's 2013 harvest is the best
Dão's 2013 harvest is the best
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Everything has aligned for the 2013 crop of Dão wine’s. The climate variations which have surfaced over the past year in Portugal, may have resulted in the best crop of Dão wine of all time.

The producers of the region name the persistent rain as the main reason for the general disappointment that had settled between them, in the middle of the season.  José Perdigão, producer Quinta do Perdigão, said that the producers had to be strong to watch the rain menace their harvest.

Fortunately, near the end of the season there was a drastic change in the climate and it seems, now, that the year of 2013 will be the ideal year for this wines. For example, the white wines of Dão have an above-average quality due to the high level of alcohol which was caused by the temperature rise registered at the end of the harvest. This dehydrated grapes and concentrated alcohol, resulting in high colored and full-bodied wines.

The winery Quinta do Perdigão can be regarded as a reference for what will happen in the region. This house has experienced great success in Nordic countries and has been awarded a score of 90 points by the most influential critics so, it seems that this region will have a fantastic year.

The investment in equipment and training by small producers as well as by the cooperative association has indeed paid off.  Also, it has had a positive impact on exports numbers.  José Perdigão says Dão was never this competent or had so many reputable brands like nowadays. He believes that the key is to maintain the quality and don’t forget that this success comes only from hard work.

Portuguese Olive Oil awarded at Ovibeja

11 brands of Portuguese olive oil were distinguished at the 4th International Competition of Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Ovibeja Award - held on 20 and 21 March by Ovibeja House and Olive Oil - Olive Oil Association of Portugal.

Amongst the participants there were the countries with higher rates of olive oil exports, Portugal participated with 41 samples, Spain took 44 samples, Italy that participated with 5 samples, Chile with 4 samples and countries such as Greece, Slovenia, Uruguay and Germany. There were 100 samples in the contest in total and 11 bottles of Portuguese olive oil were distinguished along with 9 from Spain, 3 from Italy and one from Chile.

11 brands of portuguese olive oil distinguished in Ovibeja
11 brands of portuguese olive oil distinguished in Ovibeja
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In the jury - recognized by the International Olive Council – there were 19 experts representing Portuguese producing regions, 10 Spanish specialists and a representative from the major producing countries. This contest has gained notoriety due to the quality and diversity of samples of oil that gathers, which put him the 2nd place in the ranking of the "Top 50 Oils of the World".


The 4th International Competition of Extra Virgin Olive Oil prizes will be delivered on the 3rd of May at a ceremony in the Ovibeja, in Alentejo Taste Pavilion. Visitors can taste the competing oils and participate in events in order to better understand the different characteristics of olive oil.

Meia Dúzia won 1st prize at Salón Gourmet







Meia Dúzia an innovative way to present jams
Meia Dúzia an innovative way to present jams
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Meia Dúzia, an innovative brand of jams in a tube is Portuguese and took the 1st international competition in the Salón Gourmet in Madrid.

The Madrid contest jury surrendered to the flavors of these exotic combinations, extra sweet strawberry with port wine and banana from Madeira and clementine and rum eclipsed the competition of over 30,000 products and scooped the first prize at the XXVII  Salón Goumet .


Jorge Ferreira da Silva and Andreia Ferreira da Silva are brothers and co-founders of the award winning company which began creating integrated and organic fruit jams of traditional Portuguese flavors inside tubes, a concept which has proved to be a hit amongst the public.

Meia Dúzia issued a press release which mentioned the importance of the prize as the way to help improving global recognition they want to achieve as producers of gourmet jams and high quality products. The participation in the contest is aligned with on the brand’s internationalization strategy and the search for new markets, reinforcing the commitment to the Spanish market.


Vinho Verde exports to the UK rises


2013 proved to be an excellent year for Vinho Verde with a double digit rise in exports to the UK market. The Vinho Verde wine region reported that production rose and the volumes put out grew by 13% and value sales jumped to 21% to 1.3 million pounds compared to the numbers obtained in 2012.

Globally, exports of Vinho Verde wine have grown by 63% in volume and 91% in value over the last ten years which is a very significant increase and accounts for 36 % of the total business last year, explained Manuel Pinheiro, executive president of the Viticulture Comission of the Vinho Verde Region.


Vinho Verde Region
Vinho Verde Region
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Vinho Verde is a unique product. It is the result of climate characteristics of Portugal, the grape varieties mixture and the vine growing methods that accomplished the perfect blend between the aroma and pettilance. This kind of wine contains a medium value of alcohol and has great digestive proprieties because of its freshness, slight fizz and special qualities.  The red Vinho Verde wines normally are full-bodied wines with a great definition in color and rose or light red foam on top. The white wines of this region are usually recognized by the color similar to the color of lemons or grass. Vinho Verde wine is very popular in the warmer seasons, people usually prefer to drink it in the summer time due to its freshness, distinctive taste and cool personality.


The growth in the figures of the UK exports of this wine is reflective of the promotional campaign that Vinho Verde had on for the last three years. It shows that the quality message is getting through to the target audience and people are experimenting with the new wines that this region has to offer, said the president of the CVRVV. 

Innovative method expands oil shell life


Innovative method expands shell life
Innovative method expands shell life
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José Restolho, a Portuguese PhD student majored in Pharmacy from the University of Lisbon, created an ecological method to increase the shelf life of the oil.

The major innovation in this process is that there is no contact between the oil and aromatic herbs (or other substances), which extends the shelf life of the product and turns the process into a more sustainable and healthy technique. Another finding of this project was the creating of new odors. Vinegars and olive oils with scents it’s not news but there were made with new aromas like coffee and cinnamon.

The professionals believe that if the oil is going to be developed according to this method, it will reach more target markets, where before it was not included in the gastronomy.


Portugal’s exportations of olive oil are increasing. The annual numbers of oil exportation are 343€ million, which, in the agronomy sector, is only surpassed by wine exportations.

The “Smart Wine Glass”: the revolution in wine tasting is here


Smart Wine Glass - a portuguese innovation
Smart Wine Glass - a portuguese innovation
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Technology advances continue to amaze us every day. This time the innovation is connected to the wine business, where two Portuguese entrepreneurs raise above the competition and won the prestigious WBIS Business award for their project: The “Smart Wine Glass”. The ceremony was held on the second day of the “Wine Business Innovation” summit which main objective is to propel creativity and entrepreneurship in the area.

The concept behind this intelligent glass promises to improve any wine tasting experience: it will remember a wine’s name even if you don’t. As a wine professional attending a wine event, you taste several wines, interact with many of the producers and sometimes you can have difficulty remembering every single name. “We implemented a prototype of a “Smart Wine Glass” that would help people easily collect information on tasted wines and visited tables at any wine event” explained André Ribeirinho at Wine Business Innovation.

But how will this “Smart Wine Glass” actually work?

Every glass at a wine event will have a small electronic chip applied to it and every table of the wine event will have a sensor. The consumer swipes their wine glass on the sensor and it is recorded. Later on, the consumer will receive an email with all the key information: which wines they tasted, the brands they visited and where to buy them.

The Portuguese team believes that this concept will improve the lives of wine professionals: “We’re very happy with the reaction to our project. We’ve been getting excellent feedback!” said André Ribeirinho.

See it to believe it.

The “Smart Wine Glass” will be implemented for the first time at Rios Vinhos Portugal, a wine eventheld by two media giants: the Brazilian newspaper O Globo and the Portuguese newspaper Público, over the 23rd, 24th and 25th of May in Rio de Janeiro. 

Media giants promote Portuguese wines in Brazil

PÚBLICO e O Globo are going to host the event
PÚBLICO e O Globo are going to host the event
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Two renowned newspapers have joined forces in promoting the wine event, Rio Vinhos Portugal, which goal is to put Portuguese wine at center stage in Brazil’s markets. The Portuguese communications giant, Público, has team up with another giant from across the seas, the Brazilian newspaper O Globo, to put together this event at Palácio São Clemente, where up to 50 Portuguese producers are going to be present.

Rio Vinhos Portugal is going to take place between 23 and 25 of May and has the ambitious goal of attracting 5 thousand consumers and wine professionals. Portuguese wines hold a market share of 12.5% in the Brazilian market, taking up the 4th position amongst the major wine producers like China, Argentina and France. On the other hand, in 2013, over 29% of the wine traded was Portuguese.

Portugal is going to discover Brazil all over again. The event wants to show off the modern Portuguese wine market and increase its visibility overseas. The deadline for signing up for Rio Vinhos Portugal is March 14,  you can do it on ViniPortugal.

"Portuguese wines are the next best thing!"



Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO and wine know-it-all, says that "Portugal is the next place for great wine".

He talks about the excellent price/quality ratio that our wines have in the US markets. Portuguese wines bring quality that can face the wine giants in the market at a great price.

"Why have the people not discover the wines from Douro?" Gary shows off our county, it's incredible diversity of wine regions and our grape varieties. The reviews on this video were made with wines form Douro and Alentejo colorful and very descriptive only possible with Portuguese wines.




Essência do Vinho - We will see you there!

Essência do Vinho is a change to meet professionals of the area
Essência do Vinho is a change to meet professionals of the area
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Meet The Portuguese Wine team at Essência do Vinho - Porto, 27 Feb - 2 March. 

This is a great chance to discover some of the best Portuguese wines, olive oil and gourmet foods.

Our export manager Pedro Ramires will be attending the event, so if you think we can do something for you, feel free contact him on info@theportuguesewine.com or +351911962950.

The event, in its 11th edition, promises to take you through a journey into some of the best portuguese flavours and others. This year, there will be a series of themed activities leaded by top wine experts.

Some reasons why you shouldn't miss Essência do Vinho:

- The top ten Portuguese wines will be selected, by a panel of international experts

- 3.000 wines for taste and 350 producers to discover

- Last but not the least, you can meet our team and get to know our outstanding products.

We will see you there!

Wine is our best attraction

Our best kept secret is wine
Our best kept secret is wine

Our best keptsecret is wine! International specialists within the sector appointed wine as Portugal's best attraction. While sea and sun are still major features when  it comes  to choosing  a holiday destination, our wine is our invitation card.

This outcome came from a study conducted by IPDT, Instituto do Turismo, released last friday, where 37% of international operators said that wine is the best argument when promoting our tourism abroad, and 31% even pointed out that wine is closely related to Portuguese tourism.

António Jorge Costa, the president of  IPDT , said that this results from the work developed in the sector by wine entrepreneurs as well as policy makers themselves.



Vintage 2011: world domination!


Vintage 2011 - a great year for Port
Vintage 2011 - a great year for Port
The website Dinheiro Vivo made a statement that can't come as a surprise to anyone who likes Port wine : the 2011 vintage will rule the world !

Ok, we got carried away for just a second there! But what is a fact is that the port wine vintage 2011 , it's a case of successful sales around the world. With almost half of the total units sold, a total of 27 000 cases, the 2011 vintage is likely to be the most wanted item this Christmas, as the company admits to have just a few units left to sell . The peak in this win demand  normally occurs in the few days before Christmas time, there's a risk of being without the typical gift that always makes you look cool.


The usual second phase of selling these wines usually saved up for the first months of the year may not happen this time! Therefore , the motto is "grab a bottle of vintage or so goodbye until the next " .


The producers of this wine celebrate this success but without allowing themselves to be carried away as the port wine sector is still in crisis, with increasing downfall of the sales. As the owner of Graham's stated, we can be facing a turning point but the sector still has problems and we need to manage the business strategy in order to take advantage of this kind of results .


Go to a grocery store now. Run!

Alentejo: a region to discover!

Alentejo: the wine region that you have to know! 

On that note, we have a treat for you: this video, from "Rotas do Vinho" show, where you can see and hear (but not taste, unfortunately) everything.


You can use the subtitles feature in you tube by clicking on the button and selecting translated subtitles option for English, for example.




For more information on these kind of wines, click here! Enjoy!



Come wine tasting with us!

Wines of Portugal Annual Tasting in London
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On march 5th there will be held the 2014 Wines of Portugal Annual Tasting in RHS Lindley Hall, Victoria in London.With more than 130 Portuguese wine producers present this event is set to be a success.

It's a great opportunity to talk to any of the producers, taste their wines and the opportunity to explore our diversity.

For any additioWines of Portugal website or go through any social networks!
nal information you can visit

Sisab Portugal - We will see you there!

Sisab : 2014 edition
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The Portuguese Wine is attending SISAB 2014 edition!
Don't miss the chance to have a drink with our export manager  Pedro Ramires and prove the excellent wines in our portfolio! 

SISAB Portugal is the biggest annual meeting of leading export companies and entrepreneurs, including all the associated activities they may deal with, starting from food industry till garden beds, wood, seeds, transports, logistics, etc.

SISAB is going to be filled with business men/women coming from 80 countries and 12 languages loking foward to see:

• 600 national companies
• 28 Sectors
• 4,000 Brands and Products
• 16,000 Labels and Packaging
• 2000 International Buyers
• 110 Countries
• 450 States and Regions

Take a break and come have a drink with us!