I was invited to apply to attend the first Wine and Travel Week in Porto from 20-26 February 2023. There were sessions on wine and food, mega lunches featuring Portuguese seafood and meat prepared by Portugal’s leading chefs. There was an awards ceremony for tourism which due to administrative error and clerical lack of discretionContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Portugal Charging Ahead with Wine and Tourism Strategy”
Category Archives: Travel
RKS 2023 Wine: António Maçanita’s 2020 Reserva Palpite: An Alentejo Classic?
Red wines from Portugal’s Alentejo region often nip at the heels of red wines from Portugal’s Douro region. António Maçanita’s 2020 Reserva Palpite is up there with some of the best reds from the Douro. It is a blend of Alicante Bouschet (27%), Aragonez (25%), Castelăo (14%), Tricanderia (14%), Alfrochiero (12%) and 8 % ofContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: António Maçanita’s 2020 Reserva Palpite: An Alentejo Classic?”
RKS 2023 Wines: 2020 Vinha Centenária from Azores Wine Company
The 2020 Vinha Centenária António Maçanita from the Azores Wine Company on Pico Island is a blend of Arinto dos Açores, Verdelho, Alicante Branco and Boal. 13.5% alcohol. Aroma: There is volcanic rock, salinity, oranges and pineapple. Palate: Creamy, peppery, restrained acidity, marmalade, Creamsicle with a super long finish. Food Match: Simply prepared seafood steak.Continue reading “RKS 2023 Wines: 2020 Vinha Centenária from Azores Wine Company”
RKS Travel and Wine: TAP Portugal Airlines Has its 750 mL Wine Bottles Crying
I frequently give most European Airlines a pat on the back for serving wine in economy class from 750 mL bottles instead of those obnoxious mini plastic bottles which is all the more obnoxious in the case of Air Canada which adds insult to injury by serving French wine! A national carrier of Canada servingContinue reading “RKS Travel and Wine: TAP Portugal Airlines Has its 750 mL Wine Bottles Crying”
RKS 2023 Wine: Azores Wine Company Arinto dos Açores 2018
The grapes for this wine were planted in cracks in a lava bed at the foot of a volcanic mountain. The vineyards are planted close to the ocean so you can hear the crabs sing. The vines are protected by lava rock walls known as currais. Aroma: A tad funky but not unappealingly so. NotesContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Azores Wine Company Arinto dos Açores 2018”
RKS 2023 Travel and Wine: Pico’s Museu do Vinho (Wine Museum)
The Pico Museum consists of three separate museums on the island of Pico in the Azores of Portugal. There is the Whaler’s Museum, the Wine Museum and the Whaling Industry Museum. Oh yes whaling and wine say much about the history of Pico Island. Wine has played an important part in the Pico Island cultureContinue reading “RKS 2023 Travel and Wine: Pico’s Museu do Vinho (Wine Museum)”
RKS 2023 Travel and Wine: ,
Lucas Amaral may be the youngest winemaker in Portugal at least according to his proud mother Sandra. He started at 19 and now at 21 he is building up his profile. On my recent trip to Portugal a group of us had the opportunity to meet Lucas, have lunch and enjoy his wine. Lucas isContinue reading “RKS 2023 Travel and Wine: ,”
RKS 2023 Travel: One of Those Absolutely Memorable Evenings: Adega Czar in Pico Island in the Azores!
Matters were not proceeding particularly well for many in my group of 10 that were now sitting in Adega Czar at 9940-363 São Roque do Pico in the Azores Islands of Portugal. An aborted landing and mega delays to get to Pico Island. Late nights, early mornings and some 7 flights in 4 days. AndContinue reading “RKS 2023 Travel: One of Those Absolutely Memorable Evenings: Adega Czar in Pico Island in the Azores!”
RKS 2023 Travel: My Name is Wolfgang Volk! Living in a Different Portuguese Dimension
Our group of 10 meandered into our hotel Senhora da Rosa Tradition & Nature Hotel in Ponta Delgado. It has been a long day, the day of the aborted landing at Ponta Delgado Airport. It is past midnight and we have an early morning pick up for our flight to PICO Island. We have aContinue reading “RKS 2023 Travel: My Name is Wolfgang Volk! Living in a Different Portuguese Dimension”
RKS Travel 2023: Portuguese Groundhog Day: A Bit of Terror in the Sky and Plenty of Boredom Down Below: SATA Air Azores
Part of being invited to attend Wine and Travel Week in Porto this February included a three day side trip to the Azores, Portuguese Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a bit over two hours as the crow flies but it was not a crow I was flying on but an Air Azores A321Continue reading “RKS Travel 2023: Portuguese Groundhog Day: A Bit of Terror in the Sky and Plenty of Boredom Down Below: SATA Air Azores”
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