From celebratory events to intimate family gatherings, the beverages we enjoy today tell a rich story of our cultural past. Coffee, tea, spirits, wine and beer are weaved into our everyday lives and Portugal is no exception. Portugal is not only an avid consumer of these drinks, but they are key players in both discovering …
Exploring Portugal’s Wines, Beers, Coffees, Teas, and Spirits Read More »
Catavino’s new space in the heart of Porto called, theLAB, will now be hosting wine tastings! Today, we’re launching two fabulous tastings worthy of checking out: Introduction to Portuguese Wine Tasting , Portuguese: Organic and Natural Wine Tasting or simply create a Private Custom Wine Tasting just for you! The first tasting is an introduction to …
After 15 years of living in Iberia, we can look back with pride at a very long and satisfying list of adventures, experiences, and travels. We’ve soared all over Europe to taste homemade foods in the comfort of people’s homes, old wines in even older cellars, swanky bars in the limelight of the cities, and …
Recently, I was enthroned into the Confraria do Vinho do Porto (Port Wine Brotherhood) as a Cavaleiro (Knight) in “recognition for my dedication and service to Port Wine.” Understandably, I was incredibly honored, but my invitation also came with several questions as to what exactly occurred. For this reason, I wanted to share a short …
How I became a Knight of the Port Wine Brotherhood Read More »
For me, the sandwich is the pinnacle of the food pyramid. Sure I love fine dining, a good seafood feast, or a perfectly prepared piece of roasted meat; but in the end, I will always long for the great sandwich. When you have 2 slices of the perfect rustic bread holding together a selection of …
Living in Portugal, it’s a challenge to come up with a solid reason to fly to London for a Portuguese wine tasting, unless I’m already there! As a result of my article “On Wine. A Tragedy.“, I was asked to give a speech that coincided with this years Wines of Portugal Annual Tasting. Considering the two gigs were …
Wines of Portugal Annual Tasting in London – Lindley Hall Read More »
Did you know that Madeira was poured during Thomas Jefferson’s toast at the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, or that it was savored at the inauguration of George Washington shortly thereafter? At one time, Madeira was so ubiquitous that it perfumed ladies’ handkerchieves; was given to military personnel for service of their country; and was frequently …
When I first became interested in wine, I actively sought out places where I could talk and ask questions. Way back then, eRobertParker had recently joined with the Mark Squires wine bulletin board to create a space for wine geeks to chat online, eventually create “offlines” . Offlines were scheduled meet ups with local bulletin board members in a set …
Interview with Mark Squires: The Future of Portuguese Wine Read More »
Last week was pretty special around here, at least for me personally. Ten years ago, I boarded a plane from Minneapolis to Madrid for 1 week, or at least that’s what my plane ticket said. Gabriella had already landed just over a month earlier and was patiently waiting for my arrival so we could start our …
I know it’s a bit obvious, but I think it’s worth restating, it’s damn cold; so cold that an unlimited supply of wool blankets and crackling fireplaces won’t eradicate the persistent, internal chill. During these trying times, I find myself reaching for liquid comfort when the mercury dips below zero, preferably from a fortified or rich red wine. The Alentejo, Dão and …
