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 »
I’m a huge fan of just about anything that’s multifunctional. Collapsible dining tables – you complete me. Storage stools – you steal my heart. Ovenproof skillets – I have the hots for you. Sarongs you can wear as a skirt, a dress, a shawl – oh, I can hardly contain myself! When it comes to
Madeira: The Multifunctional Dessert Wine 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 »
Prior to my migration from America to Portugal in 2011, I had often heard of the love affair that the Portuguese have with their eggs, especially when used in their sugar laden sweets. I didn’t really understand that eggs were also loved as additions to savory dishes until I got here and was pleasantly surprised
Eggs: Sweet and Savory Portuguese Recipes Read More »
What do you call a group of small, artisan wine producers at a tasting? If you’re in France or Italy, the “natural wine” moniker might well rear its head. The suggestion being that these are winemakers who eschew overtly industrial production methods, intervene less and attempt above all else to express their terroir. The less charitable may claim
Off the beaten track in Porto – Simplesmente Vinho Read More »
Last year, Catavino attended the premiere of Simplesmente Vinho and had a fantastic time. We were surprised by the off-the-cuff tasting that resulted in a group of “wine geeks” joining together in a cave, literally, on the Cais de Ribeira for a small producer tasting. Thankfully, it was a huge success and has returned for
Simplesmente Vinho: Celebrating natural wine in Portugal Read More »
A momentous 2013 has almost come to a close, and to be perfectly honest, it’s been a good year. I’ve travelled a considerable amount, moved countries and had a son. 2013 will mark one of the most memorable years of my life. However, it’s around this time that we sit with a list of what
#inCostaBrava I saw some marvelous things Read More »
Imagine traveling about an hour through pitch black darkness, going to sleep not quite sure where you are at the moment—only to find yourself a few hours later waking up to intense beauty. That’s not likely how I would’ve planned it, but in the end that’s part of what made the whole experience so memorable. The
A Tale of Two Portuguese Regions: Douro and Serra da Estrela Read More »
At 9am on a cool Friday morning in Foz, with a stunning view of the Atlantic ocean, I joined a room full of international Port wine experts to taste 56+ 2011 Vintage Port wines. These wines, in their youth, have an uncanny ability to strip enamel and burn tastebuds. And while you suffer the strength of these monsters, you
Celebrating the 2011 Vintage: A Rare Port Wine of Exceptional Quality Read More »
The term ‘natural wine’ means so much to a few, and absolutely nothing to many, and no matter your feelings (usually love or hate) about the phrase, and the wines themselves, everyone can agree it’s a hot topic in the wine world and one that needs ever more explanation and exploration. But hold on, aren’t
Natural Wine in Spain: A Fast Growing Trend Among Consumers or a Passing Fad? Read More »
After dragging travel expert, but wine novice, Duncan Rhodes around the Douro Valley for a week, Catavino was impressed with how erudite his previously untrained palate became in such a short time… or did it? The Urban Travel Blog editor reveals his top 13 tips for faking it during a wine tasting… Nimbly holding the
Bluffer’s Guide to Wine Tasting Read More »
This past Friday, I found my way down to the “Riberia” area of Porto, or rather the historic “Porto side” of the river, where a small group of both established and budding new wine makers assembled to pour their wines at “Simplesmente Vinho”. Dubbed as the first “off” event in Portugal for wine, it begged
Salon “Off” along the Rio Douro: Simplesmente…Vinho Read More »
The following effervescent legend is sponsored by our friends at CellarVie Wines which, with 400 wines from 16 countries, is a great place to buy Champagne and Cava online. Sitting just below the Christmas tree, my nephew and I cuddle tightly in a ball, as I sip upon a glass of Cava. Snuggling deep into
Elves, Fireworks and Festivities: How Bubbles found their Way into a Cava Bottle Read More »
With the plentiful information we’ve provided about Port and Douro wines, and the beautiful area they originate from this November, hopefully, you’re itching to put together the perfect wine trip to the Douro Valley. Lists of the wineries you’re dying to visit are being rapidly typed up. Maps are strewed across your kitchen table. And
Douro Wines and Portuguese Food: The Perfect Pairings Read More »
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