Wine Day 2007 was a great success.

On July 1st 2007, ViniPortugal celebrated WINE DAY, the fourth consecutive year it has organized the event.
This year, the festivities were divided into three initiatives:
1) “Open Doors Wineries”, across the country;
2) Open Day at the Sala Ogivals in Lisbon and Oporto;
3) “Wine Celebration”, a weekend event held on the Leça da Palmeira beachfront, Matosinhos.

All the events were very well received by the public, exciting even more enthusiasm for preparations for the 2008 programme, which we expect will have received National Day status by then.

1) “Open Doors Wineries”

Quintas and Wineries were invited to open their doors to the public on Sunday, July 1.

To publicise the event Viniportugal launched a strong advertising campaign, not only via the ViniPortugal site, but also through the national press, publishing the names of the 70 wineries taking part in the event.
To view the list of participating wineries click here.

2) Celebrations in the Lisbon Sala Ogival de Lisboa and Oporto Sala Ogival

Grand celebrations were also enjoyed in these two tasting rooms.

Some one thousand visitors came to the Sala Ogival in Lisbon on July 1 to taste the 170 wines present from all Portugal’s wine regions. Visitors were able to try various wines with President cheeses supplied by Sopexa, and traditional cured sausages from Herdade do Freixo do Meio.

Guided tastings of vinegar were held, taken from the course, “Introduction to the Technology of Wine Production”. Portuguese olive oil was also brought to the public from Casa do Azeite, which organized a blind tasting, entitled “The secrets of olive oil”.

Visitors could also learn about cork harvesting and its importance to wine through the cork producers’ association, APCOR.

To encourage “Wine by the Glass” as a means of experimental yet moderate drinking, Schmidt-Stosberg made presentations throughout the day of the advantages of vacuum pumps to seal wine to prevent spoiling.

While the party was in full swing in the Sala Ogival, courses in “Wine Tasting for Beginners” were being held by wine expert Mário Louro in the Terreira do Paço Restaurant next door. The restaurant also served a buffet lunch, prepared under the direction of master chef Vitor Sobral.

Meanwhile in the Oporto Sala Ogival, located in the Palácio da Bolsa, the doors were open all day Sunday to show wines from all of Portugal’s winegrowing regions. Attendance was high from a public preferring to taste wines in a calm and tranquil atmosphere, and to join in games designed to teach about wine.

3) “Wine Celebration” on the Leça Seafront, Matosinhos

During the weekend of June 30 and July 1, the Wine Celebration event along the Leça da Palmeira seafront was visited by 3,000 people, who could also taste the wines of the 45 producers who were present.

Organised by ViniPortugal and Oporto wine store “Essência do Vinho”, Wine Celebration was a groundbreaking event for Portugal, whose aim was to raise the profile of Portuguese wines directly with the consumer. A lively atmosphere prevailed in the marquee erected in front of the Boa Nova Palace, buoyed by music fronted by DJ Lui-G and the magic of Mário Daniel. On the esplanade outside, visitors made the most of the fine weather and sea views as they enjoyed a relaxing wine tasting. Meanwhile chefs Marco Gomes, Antonieta Petriz and Adelaide Miranda prepared “gourmet treats” as suitably sophisticated accompaniments to the wines. Sommelier Marco Valente amazed onlookers with a display of opening wine bottles the old fashioned way, complete with saber and red-hot tongs.

Street entertainers – clowns and fire-eaters – delighted those out for a Sunday stroll on the Leça seafront. The police were also on-hand to educate the younger generation in the rules of the Highway Code and the good sense in moderate alcohol consumption, a message they could convey to their parents as well.

All those who took part in Wine Celebration, mostly young people, congratulated the organizers for the opportunity to taste wines and meet the producers and winemakers present.