Portuguese Food – Wine, Olive Oils and Nuts
Right before lockdown in March 2020, I was invited to Portugal to learn more about the food and wines of the country. It was all part of the AAPI and APPITAD groups efforts to promote the country’s agri-business. According to their information packet sent to me, its purpose is the following:
Portuguese Food – Information to Export is a project in partnership between AAPI and APPITAD that aims to provide information to Portuguese businessmen and establish partnerships with international organizations, such as the United Kingdom, Poland and Croatia, in order to stimulate trade between markets.
The project consists of actions to visit the market, participation in international fairs, thematic workshops and the construction of a computer platform for networking between buyers and producers at the international level. In England, they were exhibiting in IFE and organize this trade mission with different kinds of personalities from England, Poland and Croatia.
The trip was a delicious journey through the food and wine of northern Portugal. We started with olive oil tastings in Mirandela. The olive oils were all of premium quality and most came from small family producers We visited Casa de Santo and got to see how they still press the olive oil using giant stones. Portuguese olive oils are also very competitively priced.
The trip also included a stay in the Evredosa do Douro at Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta, a luxury spa/hotel nestled in the hills of the Douro. A fabulous experience and amazing views.
Northern Portugal is known for it’s chestnuts and we visited a co-op that produces every kind of chestnut, from roasted, vacuum packed to chestnut flour.
We also visited Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima, visiting the winery as well as the Quinta and it’s beautiful chapel which was built specifically for the family.
All in all, it was a wonderful introduction to the many products that are available from Portugal as well as the beautiful scenery.
This was an all expenses paid trip sponsored by the AAPI and APPITAD