Portugal - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The Symington family launch first-ever rosé wine

Published: 11 April, 2023

Premium port producers Symington Family Estates has expanded its Altano wine range to include its first-ever rosé wine.

In search of Portugal’s national treasures

Published: 17 March, 2023

Justin Keay looks at the Portuguese regions once passed over by importers.

Raymond Reynolds imports Pico Wines via zero-emission sail vessel

Published: 09 February, 2023

Pico Wines and their UK importer Raymond Reynolds have announced the first shipment of wine from the Island of Pico, the first to the UK in over 80 years.

2022 harvest puts Sogevinus ‘to the test’

Published: 28 November, 2022

Leading Port and still wine producer Sogevinus is celebrating making its way through a "very difficult and challenging harvest", which was able to overcome significant viticultural challenges, including heat intensity and the lack of rainfall, particularly when it came to lower altitude vines.

2022 Douro harvest: “We faced some of the greatest challenges that our family has seen”

Published: 12 October, 2022

Following the theme in many European wine-growing regions this year, the 2022 Douro harvest has now been confirmed as the earliest ever recorded in the region.

Symington Family Estates to host inaugural Douro sommelier camp

Published: 31 August, 2022

Symington has unveiled plans to host the first edition of the Douro Somm Camp this September - an immersive educational bootcamp for the winners of 13 national sommelier competitions across Europe.

Setúbal wines at SITT – a mandatory stop on Portugal’s wine map

Published: 19 August, 2022

The wines of the Setúbal Peninsula will take centre stage at the upcoming edition of SITT, where broadcaster and writer Joe Wadsack will lead a vinous journey into some of Portugal’s most locally celebrated wines.

Herdade dos Grous joins IWCA

Published: 13 July, 2022

Herdade dos Grous has joined the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), committing to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions annually and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Festa and the future of wine tastings

Published: 27 June, 2022

Last weekend a landmark wine festival, Festa, opened its doors for a celebration of Portuguese wine in London’s Tabacco Dock.

Paul Symington Awarded a CMG in the Queen’s Honours List

Published: 06 June, 2022

Paul Symington has been awarded a CMG (Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, published 2 June, for services to UK/Portugal relations and social, environmental sustainability in the Douro.

Arribaes: The New frontier of Iberian fine wines

Published: 08 April, 2022

It is known as Arribes del Duero in Spanish, and Arribas Do Douro in Portuguese, but now Iberian producers in this cross-frontier wine region have joined forces to create Arribaes, a new brand of low-intervention fine wines.

Portuguese wine is perfectly poised for the on-trade, says Oz Clarke

Published: 30 March, 2022

Oz Clarke, the wine writer and presenter, waxed lyrical about the wonders of Portuguese wine during a masterclass on Tuesday, explaining to the audience why the on-trade should sit up and take notice.

Portuguese wine festival, Festa, announces inaugural line-up

Published: 04 March, 2022

A ground-breaking celebration of Portuguese wine, gastronomy and culture, will be held at Tobacco Dock, in Wapping, London, from June 24-25. The inaugural edition of FESTA will pay tribute to festivals, which are at the heart of traditional Portuguese culture.

Sogevinus declares 2020 a ‘classic’ vintage

Published: 03 March, 2022

Port company the Sogevinus group has announced the launch of four classic Vintage Ports, one from each of its brands: Kopke, Burmester, Cálem and Barros.

Justerini & Brooks expands Portuguese range with three new agencies

Published: 10 February, 2022

Leading importer Justerini & Brooks will distribute three niche Portuguese wine brands in the UK, in anticipation of rising consumer demand.

Landmark Portuguese wine festival 'FESTA' to take place in June

Published: 13 January, 2022

London’s Tobacco Dock will host an inaugural consumer-led festival in June, dedicated to Portugal’s wine, gastronomy, music and arts. The event is set to coincide with the Festa de São João, a famous event within Porto’s calendar where thousands travel to the city and surrounding neighbourhoods to celebrate Porto's patron saint, John the Baptist.

Hatch Mansfield welcomes new Portuguese agency

Published: 15 December, 2021

UK importer Hatch Mansfield has expanded its portfolio with the addition of Portuguese wine brand Esporão.

Long Read: What to do about fortified wines' straitened market?

Published: 23 September, 2021

Jacopo Mazzeo looks at what regions such as the Douro and Jerez are doing to survive in a market increasingly hostile to fortified wines and explores whether these efforts are effective. Port, for instance, is heading in two diametrically opposed directions: simplification and (extra) premiumisation, with new categories that span from youth-friendly RTDs to Tawny 50yo and White 50yo. Sherry meanwhile, has just changed a number of its regulations and now embraces unfortified wine.

Fladgate Partnership heralds return to “normal”, though warm winters and hail persist

Published: 21 September, 2021

The Fladgate Partnership has welcomed the return of normal weather conditions in the Douro, with a mild summer in 2021 allowing for differentiated ripening across vineyards and lending “flavour, elegance and natural acidity to the grapes”.

UK remains third biggest destination for Portuguese wine

Published: 01 September, 2021

The UK remained the third biggest destination for Portuguese wine in the first half of 2021 in value terms, according to new export data released by Wines of Portugal.