In 1911, Alberto Soares Ribeiro founded two canned fish factories, one in Setúbal and one in Olhão. Both closed during the upheavals after 1974. Four generations later, the family started again.

In 1930, a small grocery store opened on Rua dos Bacalhoeiros. Twelve years later, it was called Conserveira de Lisboa and sold almost exclusively canned fish. Since then, surprisingly little has changed about the shop.

Mackerel fishing along the coasts of France, Spain, and Portugal embodies a centuries-old maritime tradition. These artisanal fishing methods stand in contrast to industrial fishing. From French paternoster fishing and Spanish trolling to the Portuguese cavala tradition, each country has developed unique techniques.

"Simplesmente Vinho" (simply wine) is one of the most important natural wine fairs in Portugal and has established itself as a major platform for winemakers who produce authentic, minimally intervened wines. The event takes place annually in Porto and brings together small, independent producers showcasing their artisan-made wines.

In the picturesque Vinho Verde wine region in northern Portugal, a fresh wind of change is blowing. For a long time, this region was known primarily for its light, sparkling white wines. But today we are witnessing a true renaissance of wine culture here, which is captivating wine lovers worldwide.

On the way back, we had time and were on vacation, so we decided to visit Tiago Sampaio. Farmer, vineyard owner, winemaker, oenologist, restaurateur, and businessman - Tiago Sampaio, an authentic one-man show, is responsible for the creation of Folias de Baco, Ohlo no Pé, and Uívo with all their aromas and delights. In the Alto Douro, as a child, on his grandfather's back, Tiago Sampaio had his first contact with agriculture and the wine world. In this environment, he learned a craft playfully, which was born out of pure curiosity and is present in his current field of work and research. To build a future in these areas, he took the academic path, which allowed him to develop a career as a winemaker and oenologist. He began at the Conde de S. Bento Agricultural School in Santo Tirso and later completed a five-year university degree in Vila Real. The agricultural engineering course he completed in Trás-os-Montes gave him the pass for an internship in Oregon, USA, under the guidance of Maria Carmo Vasconcelos, who is one of the world's best authorities on Pinot Noir. 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 his home vineyard, he has created his project, which has since attracted a lot of attention. His vineyards are located mainly in the Alto Douro, in the Cima-Corgo subregion, where the land is harsh, tough, and challenging. His vines cling to the slate and granite slopes at an altitude between 500 and 700m above sea level. Tiago essentially combines the traditions of his homeland with learned modern techniques. The field blends of red, white, and mixed native varieties planted about 80 years ago allow Tiago to create complex wines. He has set his goals higher and pushes the boundaries of his curiosity. The result is what some do not expect from such a traditional region. He is also one of the pioneers in Pet-Nat in Portugal.

Quevedo belongs to a new generation of small family wineries in the Douro. For many years, these families grew grapes and made Port wine for merchants in Vila Nova de Gaia. But when Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, legislation changed so that both the winegrowers and the wineries in 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 reflect on time and distance. Time comes from afar, for the family began growing wine in the 1940s. Distance has become no less, for the upper Douro has always been far removed from everything. Modernity has compressed it all. Distances and times are solved with simple solutions. Roads, access, neighborhoods. We had the dream of bottling the combination of sun and soil and carrying this terroir to the whole world. Love for our land, love for our work. Suddenly our wines—the synthesis of our place and our dedication—went around the world and were poured into glasses on tables everywhere. We traveled with them and always looked forward to returning home. From every journey 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 country. Distances are shorter today, and time is projected into the future. In every bottle we set aside, because we know that in a year, five or ten years, there will be even more. And then to wait those ten years and enjoy the waiting, savoring our conviction in all tranquility. Always with one foot in the Douro, always our heritage, our pride, and our responsibility. Portugal in the world, seeking new ways through the seas and taking our earth with us. In a whirlwind, time and distance blur, and all that remains is a feeling, a shiver, a concept, namely Conceito. Who tastes a Conceito wine feels its essence on the palate. Our love for nature, the respect for the characteristics of the climate and the soil, and the ambition to always give the best that our land can produce, are present. Behind the subtlety of the aromas lies the wisdom to bring together experimentation and tradition, to respect old vines, to trust in the longevity of the wines, and to find a refreshing profile that one not only wants 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 a partnership with shepherds and farmers, encouraging organic and natural production in the region. Over the years, our range has developed into a diverse palette of red and white wines, grape varieties from different origins, Port wines, and even a sparkling wine. What remains are our principles: precision, objectivity, elegance, respect for nature and its cycles. Light wines, but deep. Appetizing, but long-lasting. reserved, subtle, but generous and sophisticated. Purity, elegance, and authenticity is our motto. It is not an empty motto. It is a way of life, a design, a commitment to our land, our employees, our customers, and our friends. Purity means that our wine is based on the vine, on the grapes, to which we apply all our effort and knowledge. It means commitment to our land, to the future, to the legacy we build every day when we decide not to use chemicals and to believe in our terroir. Elegance is the definition of our location, the freshness that the altitude gives us, the enology that, with few interventions, creates the connection between the love of our vineyards and the enjoyment we want to find in the glass and on the table. This integration, balance, and suppleness, the refreshing note of our wines, the desire to drink one more glass and enjoy the refined delicacy of the aromas and flavors, are the compass that guides us in our work. Authenticity stands for our conviction that this extraordinary terroir can produce remarkable wines that go beyond geographical and bureaucratic barriers, business cards from our little corner of the Douro for the whole world. Rita is the face of Conceito. Rita is the soul of Conceito. Rita's entry into the family business run by her mother Carla Ferreira was the cornerstone of Conceito, the bridge that allowed her to connect history with ambition, to create new brands, just as Rita herself connects youth with wisdom, technical knowledge with intuition. Disappointed by mechanical engineering, Rita chose the path of the land and wine. After her training in enology in Vila Real and Bordeaux, she chose her career path thoughtfully and learned and worked side by side with some of the most influential winemakers in the world in some of the most fascinating terroirs in the world: Bordeaux, California, South Africa, New Zealand. Returning to the Douro brought Rita another growth. From enologist she became a leader, allowing her to build a coherent, ambitious, and dynamic team. Always making wines that reflect her personality. Or rather: the way her personality interprets the places. The result is unique wines: personal, passionate, fresh. Visions of transport from the raw earth to the table, to the food, to the social gathering. Rita is the chief enologist, cook, manager, commercial director, wine ideologue, agricultural director, strategist, export director, face, body, member 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 define itself in the altitude of our vineyards and our winery. Conceito has 86 hectares of vineyards. All are organically managed, 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, divided into 5 different quintas. The acquisition began in the 1940s, the restructuring and replanting are still ongoing.

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

In September 2019, my wife and I were in Porto and visited a few winemaker friends. Because of the harvest, we were immediately put to work. First, we visited Márcio Lopes, our supplier of the Vinho Verde “Pequenos Rebentos”. In the Douro Valley, near Peso da Régua, Márcio has his second foothold and vinifies Douro wines under the “Proíbido” and “Permitido” brands.

The “Arribas Wine Company” project has its leased vineyards around Bemposta. The creators are two friends, Ricardo Alves and Fred Machado, who are advancing their project with a lot of energy, physical effort, passion, and expertise. We were warmly welcomed on a Sunday, and Ricardo drove us straight to the vineyards in his old off-road vehicle along a rough track. The vines are already very old, at 80 or even 100 years, and no longer yield much. 

Herdade do Portocarro is a unique wine project that was launched in 2003 by the visionary winemaker José Abreu da Mota Capitão. Halfway between the Setúbal Peninsula and the famous Alentejo wine region, an 18-hectare vineyard cultivates old, nearly extinct grape varieties alongside classic local varieties...