"Simplesmente Vinho" (Simply Wine) is one of the most important natural wine fairs in Portugal and has established itself as a significant platform for winemakers producing authentic wines with minimal intervention. Held annually in Porto, the event brings together small, independent producers to showcase their artisanal wines.

On the way back, we had time and were on vacation, we decided to visit Tiago Sampaio. Farmer, winemaker, winemaker, oenologist, restaurateur and merchant - Tiago Sampaio, an authentic one-man show, is responsible for the creation of Folias de Baco, Ohlo no Pé and Uívo with all its flavors and pleasures. In the Alto Douro, as a child, in his grandfather's piggyback, Tiago Sampaio had his first contact with agriculture and the world of wine. In this environment he playfully got to know a craft that was born out of pure curiosity and is present in his current work area and research. In order to build a future in these fields, he followed the academic path that has enabled him to develop a career as a winemaker and oenologist. He started at the Conde de S. Bento agricultural college in Santo Tirso and then went to Vila Real for five years at university. The agricultural engineering course he completed at Trás-os-Montes gave him the pass for an internship in Oregon, USA, under the supervision of Maria Carmo Vasconcelos, who is one of the world's foremost Pinot Noir luminaries. There, Tiago spent the next five years earning his doctorate in viticulture and oenology at Oregon State University. In Oregon, Tiago internalized modern philosophies and aesthetics of winemaking without forgetting his roots in the Douro. Since returning to the local winery, he has created his project, which has garnered a lot of attention ever since. Its vineyards are predominantly in the Alto Douro, in the Cima-Corgo sub-region, where the land is rough, tough and challenging. Its vines cling to the slopes of slate and granite at an altitude of between 500 and 700m above sea level. Tiago essentially combines the traditions of his homeland with learned modern technology. Planted about 80 years ago, field blends of red, white and mixed native varieties allow Tiago to create complex wines. He has set his sights higher and is pushing the limits of his curiosity. The result is what some might not expect from such a traditional region. He is also one of the pioneers of Pet-Nat in Portugal.

Quevedo belongs to a new generation of small family wineries on the Douro. For many years these families grew grapes and made port wine for merchants in Vila Nova de Gaia. However, when Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, legislation changed so that both winemakers and wineries along the Douro could export their wines directly to retailers. And as a result of this new legislation, the "Quevedo" family brand was born.

At Conceito, we think about time and distance. Time comes from afar, as the family began winemaking in the 1940s. The distance hasn't diminished; the upper Douro has always been far from everything. Modernity has compressed all of this. Distances and time are resolved with simple solutions. Roads, driveways, neighborhoods. We had the dream of bottling the blend of sun and soil and bringing this terroir to the world. Love for our land, love for our work. Suddenly, our wines—the synthesis of our place and our dedication—were traveling the world, pouring into glasses on tables everywhere. We traveled with them and always looked forward to returning home. From each trip, we brought back a new dream, a new goal. Sometimes a friendship, sometimes a wine, a project on another continent, a new learning experience that merged with that of our land. Distances are shorter today, and time is projected into the future. In every bottle we set aside, knowing there will be more in a year, five, or ten. And then to wait those ten years and enjoy the wait, calmly savoring our conviction. Always with one foot in the Douro, always our heritage, our pride, and our responsibility. Portugal in the world, seeking new paths across the seas and taking our earth with it. In a whirlpool, time and distance blur, and all that remains is a feeling, goosebumps, a concept, in other words, Conceito. Anyone who tastes a Conceito wine will experience its essence on the palate. Our love for nature, our respect for the characteristics of the climate and soil, and our ambition to always deliver the best our land can produce are all present. Behind the subtlety of the aromas lies the wisdom of balancing experimentation with tradition, respecting old vines, trusting in the longevity of the wines and finding a refreshing profile that you not only want to taste but also drink. Our wines have a soul because they are authentic, but also because they carry the consequence of a wine project that connects us with the local community, in partnership with shepherds and farmers who encourage organic and natural production in the region. Over the years, our offering has evolved into a diverse range of red and white wines, grape varieties from various origins, port wines, and even a sparkling wine. What remains are our principles: precision, objectivity, elegance, and respect for nature and its cycles. Light wines, yet profound. Appetizing, yet long-lasting. Restrained, subtle, yet generous and sophisticated. Purity, elegance, and authenticity is our motto. It's not an empty motto. It's a life program, a blueprint, a commitment to our country, our employees, our customers, and our friends. Purity means that our wine is rooted in the vine, in the grapes to which we devote all our effort and knowledge. It means commitment to our land, to the future, to the legacy we build every day when we choose not to use chemicals, to leave a clean ecological footprint, to believe in our terroir, and to preserve it in sustainable harmony. Elegance defines our vineyards, the freshness that the altitude gives us, and the oenology that, with minimal intervention, connects the love for our vineyards with the pleasure we seek in the glass and on the table. This integration, balance, and smoothness, the refreshing touch of our wines, the desire to sip another glass and savor the refined delicacy of the aromas and flavors, are the compass that guides our work. Authenticity represents our conviction that this exceptional terroir can produce remarkable wines that transcend geographical and bureaucratic barriers, calling cards of our little corner of the Douro to the whole world. Rita is the face of Conceito. Rita is the soul of Conceito. Rita's entry into the family business, led by her mother, Carla Ferreira, was the foundation for Conceito, the bridge that allowed her to combine history with the ambition to create new brands, just as Rita herself combines youth with wisdom, technical knowledge with intuition. Disenchanted with mechanical engineering, Rita chose the path of land and wine. After training in oenology in Vila Real and Bordeaux, she chose her career path carefully, learning and working alongside some of the world's most influential winemakers in some of the world's most fascinating terroirs: Bordeaux, California, South Africa, and New Zealand. Returning to the Douro brought further growth for Rita. From oenologist, she became a leader, which enabled her to build a cohesive, ambitious, and dynamic team. Always making wines that reflect their personality. Or rather, the way their personality interprets the places. The result is unique wines: personal, passionate, fresh. Visions of the journey from the raw earth to the table, to the food, to the convivial gathering. Rita is the chief oenologist, cook, administrator, commercial director, wine ideologist, agricultural director, strategist, export director, face, body, and members of the company—Rita is the driving force of Conceito, with a can-do attitude, quick responsiveness, a sharp eye, and a sharp sense of humor. Terroir is a somewhat elusive term, but it contains indelible characteristics. For us, terroir begins to be defined by the altitude of our vineyards and our winery. Conceito has 86 hectares of vineyards. All are farmed organically, without the use of pesticides or herbicides. The vineyards are located in the Teja Valley, one of the coldest microclimates in the Douro. 86 hectares are divided into five different quintas. The acquisition began in the 1940s, and the restructuring and planting are still ongoing.

Portugal's young star, Rita Ferreira Marques, took over her family's land in the Teja Valley in the 1990s and revolutionized viticulture, which had been commercial until then. With an independent production of her Conceito wines, she not only conquered Portugal's wine glasses, but also celebrates international success.

With the kind support of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce , we invite you to a tasting with a focus on Portugal on December 1st. As you already know, Portugal has a lot more to offer than European soccer champions, including fantastic world-class wines. We also serve delicious Portuguese canned fish. There are also a few more surprises in store, including from Anabela's Kitchen and Natas Berlin - but only while stocks last!

4 days, 4 regions, countless fantastic wines. This is the conclusion in numbers of our last trip to Portugal. In this blog post we tell you what we experienced and who we met. There is news from Rita Marques Ferreira of Conceito Wines from the Douro, a discovery in Alvarinho, a new vintage from Alvaro Castro... enjoy reading and travel inside!

There are close ties between France and Portugal and there are a number of parallels: among other things, viticulture plays an important role in both countries. Not only for the self-image of its residents, but also for business and tourism. So it's no wonder that as French people in Berlin we are so in love with Portugal and its products, including wine! Antonio Madeira and Tiago Teles are two winemakers that we personally know well and value both for their exceptional wines and as good friends. Both belong to the group of “French Portuguese” who have one foot in France and the other in Portugal. Their wines "Vinhas Velhas 2013" and "Maria da Graça 2015" are among our favourites. Here we tell you why that is.

Louis Lefebvre and Béatrice d'Anselme, winegrowers from the Rhône, come to visit and serve a selection of their wines. Her son Marin, himself an aspiring winemaker and currently part of Maître Philippe & Filles, provides active support. In addition to the red wines “Carpe Diem” and “Trilogie”, which are already known from our range, there are also various white and rosé wines on the tasting table. A tasting dedicated to wine and family traditions - that can only be good!

On Friday, May 20th, Dr. Christina Jagla, a passionate pharmacist, created the herbal elixirs with artichoke and ginseng, the recipe of which came from Benedictine monks and was further refined from generation to generation in the Jaglas family of pharmacists from Wuppertal. Especially nice: the elixirs are not only good for digestion, mind, creativity ... but also really tasty! They taste great neat or on ice, but also as a long drink and cocktail, for example with ginger ale or crémant. Of course we will test both live!

Because the first edition was so successful last year, we're going into the second edition in March with our cardboard party! The concept is simple: because we are slowly needing space for our many new discoveries, we cordially invite you to taste various wines in a nice atmosphere and then take your favorites home with you in boxes with a pallet discount of up to 25%. On Friday, March 11th from 5pm to 8pm at Emser Straße 42 !

On October 16th and 17th we held a small in-house exhibition. Under the title "Festa Portuguesa" we invited 3 of the most exciting young winemakers from Portugal to Berlin: Rita Marques Ferreira, Luis Louro and Antonio Madeira. We wanted to offer our customers the opportunity to get to know the wines of the three in a relaxed atmosphere. The weather was on our side, the shop was full and the atmosphere was great, the customers were enthusiastic, the winegrowers were satisfied and of course we were too! But instead of wasting too many words, let's let the pictures do the talking...