Editor’s note: With the March being recognized for stories about inspiring women (also known as Women’s History Month in the USA), we thought it would be fitting to honor the only female master blender existing today, Ana Rosas, of the renowned Ramos-Pinto port house. A woman that oozes with, grace, passion and the warmest of […]
Women’s History Month: Exploring the Maternal Side of Winemaking Read More »
Have you heard of Prince Pedro and Inês de Castro? I’m assuming no…but you should! They’re Portugal’s real life star-crossed lovers. The two lived a forbidden affair that ended in tragedy. The backdrop to this story was the royal palace of Quinta das Lagrimas, today a luxury hotel. A stone’s throw from the charming city of
Portugal is for Lovers: Make It Your Romantic Getaway Read More »
Picnic season has arrived! Throughout the cold and rainy winter in Portugal, few people are keen to even venture outside their front door. However, once the weather turns sunny and warm, or more like blazing hot, the Portuguese head straight to greener pastures as wicker baskets overflow with fresh, local ingredients! Natural Parks of Portugal There are
How to Picnic Portuguese Style Read More »
In Spain and Portugal, the grill is an indispensable tool, whether it be a flat-top griddle (plancha), a wood-fired pit, or a traditional barbecue, fueled with a fragrant mix of charcoal and hay (like those used to grill calçots). Unlike “American Barbecue” that focuses heavily on sauces, marinades, slow-cooking, and smoke, Iberian barbecue is all
Recipes from the Spanish and Portuguese Grill Read More »
There are few cities in the world that are internationally known for their parks. Off the top of my head, I can think of Central Park in New York City, Parc Guell in Barcelona, Stanley Park in Vancouver, Griffith Park in Los Angeles, Lincoln Park in Chicago and Monsanto Park in Lisbon, but never once
The Lush Green Parks and Gardens of Porto, Portugal Read More »
Portugal might be on its knees economically, but the Portuguese wine industry is going from strength to strength. Exports are growing quietly (between 5-10% per year over the last decade), and the country is beginning to escape the shackles of being seen only as a value producer. I’m not talking about Port, which has its own
Three Dynamic Female Portuguese Winemakers Read More »
Portugal’s ultimate leftovers food has to be “Açorda” (pronounced ah-soar-duh). Growing up, if my mother had leftover “bacalhau, ” the next day, there was “Acorda de Bacalhau.” If she had leftover shrimp, then it was “Açorda de Camarao.” If she had too much stale bread lying around, then it was plain old bread “Açorda.” What
A Portuguese Twist on Thanksgiving Leftovers Read More »
Welcome to the Vi Jazz festival in Vilafranca del Penedés: balmy summer nights, free Jazz concerts galore, and abundant local wine in the historic center of this modest Catalán city of around 40,000 inhabitants. Dating back to the 12th century, Vilafranca is the economic engine and heart of the Penedés wine industry. While Penedés garners
History of Jazz in Catalunya, Spain Read More »
The past few years have been good to the Ribera del Duero wine region in North Central Spain; but much like Sonoma in California wine country, it has had to contend with a more popular older sibling, Rioja. That said, given the region’s much deserved recent international notoriety, things are changing. On a recent trip
Top 10 Reasons to Visit Ribera del Duero Read More »
Editor’s Note: Loosely based on my parent’s honeymoon back in 1969, I couldn’t resist adding a modern spin for the holiday. It’s Valentine’s Day in Madrid, and you’ve got everything for that day completely set. You’re not like those other guys who think a bouquet of roses and the whisperings of a few sweet nothings
Word to the Wise: Never Order Suckling Pig on Valentine’s Day Read More »
