WINE | Restaurants and Businesses
It might not be as established as some of the more famous wine-growing regions of Portugal such as the Douro or the Dao, but the Algarve still holds plenty of surprises in store for wine lovers, with vineyards to tour, wine cellars to visit, and well-stocked wine shops to buy from.
VINEYARDS
OF DISTINCTION
The first stop in the Algarve for many visitors with an interest in wine is often Adega do Cantor( the winery of the singer) in Guia, near Albufeira. The singer in question is of course Cliff Richard, and like other celebrity winemakers such as Gerard Depardieu in France or Francis Ford Coppola in California, Sir Cliff is far more than just a figurehead.‘ Congratulations’ are certainly in order for his commitment to helping Algarve wine to be taken seriously in the past few years, bringing in pioneering Australian flying winemaker David Baverstock to add a lighter touch, and a more international appeal, to the traditionally tannin-heavy wines that used to be the hallmark of southern Portugal, and the cause of many a hangover for unsuspecting visitors.
As well as producing some excellent reds, whites and rosés in its Vida Nova range Adega do Cantor also offers a series of guided tours of the vineyards and winery, tutored tastings, and the opportunity to buy wines and a variety of merchandise from its shop. And if you are there during the summer, you might even bump into the man himself – Cliff has a villa on the estate and spends a lot of time in the winery during his regular between-tour visits.
At Quinta dos Vales, at Estombar near Portimao, the combination of wine and art takes on a different form: the wine estate is also a sculpture garden, showcasing a variety of work from local and international artists and hosting temporary and permanent exhibitions. The old adega meanwhile is used for regular wine tastings, open days and events, and there are 22-bedrooms in a selection of farmhouses, plus a nature park, making it ideal for family holidays.
Try and buy If you’ re new to Algarve wine, avoid the massproduced‘ plonk’ from the co-operatives and look out instead for some excellent wines from small independent producers such as Barranco Longo, Frances and Paxa. The actual vineyards, as yet, aren’ t open for public tours, but to try- and buy- a superb selection of wines from the Algarve and the rest of Portugal, head for Veneza near Paderne: an award-winning garrafeira( wine shop) that also happens to include a highlyrecommended rustic restaurant. Wines in the cellar-style shop are arranged by region, and the helpful staff in this family-run establishment will be more than happy to guide you through the vast array of varieties, and put together a selection of your favourites. They even offer a shipping service if you want to send a case or three back home to enjoy after your holiday.
For special occasions, you could also book a private event – a wine or port tasting, or an exclusive dinner- at the gothic underground Cave de Vinhos( wine cellar) at Vila Vita Parc hotel near Armacão de Pera. It houses more than 11,000 bottles of wine, lovingly tended to by the hotel’ s expert sommeliers. And if you are staying at Vila Joya in Galé, near Albufeira, or eating in the hotel’ s restaurant, ask for a tour of their trendy black slate wine cellar and tasting room: there can’ t be too many that throw in a spectacular ocean view for good measure.
| www. portugal-life. net | Summer 2012 | 71