"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.

The southern Portuguese Algarve is a magnet for tourists, but the region has so much more to offer. Find out why Algarve wines are of the highest quality, which Algarve wines are the best and the history behind them.

In September 2019 we, my wife and I, were in Porto and visited some winemaker friends. Because of the grape harvest, we were immediately harnessed. First we visited Márcio Lopes, our supplier of the Vinho Verde “Pequenos Rebentos”. In the Douro Valley, near Peso da Regua, Márcio has his second mainstay and presses Douro wines of the brands "Proíbido" and "Permitido".

The Arribas Wine Company project has its leased vineyards around Bemposta. The creators are two friends, Ricardo Alves and Fred Machado, who drive their project forward with a lot of energy, physical effort, passion and knowledge. We received a very warm welcome on a Sunday and Ricardo drove us straight to the vineyards on donkey paths in his old 4x4. At 80 or even 100 years old, the vines are very old and no longer yield much.

Wine in the Azores? And what a! Find out everything about wine growing on the Portuguese islands. We also decipher old legends and give tips for special gourmets and wine lovers.

The Douro Valley has long had more to offer than just port wine. The dry wines, the long wine history and the incomparable nature make the Douro region a dream destination for your next wine trip. Learn about the history of Portugal's long wine culture and visit these places on your Wine Route!

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.

Península de Setúbal, the Portuguese wine region also known as “Terras do sado”, is home to a variety of autochthonous grape varieties and a range of experimental wines that have also gained international acclaim. Learn more about the exciting peninsula and its wine culture!

Port is a Portuguese classic and the perfect dessert wine, but it also has a rich history and different varieties that aren't just for dessert. Find out more about the diversity of port wine now.