Text José Silva | Translation Jani Dunne

This year was the second edition of a festival that is here to stay. A few changes have been made since the first one happened in 2014, and the festival was moved to the outter East wing in Alfândega do Porto, thus gaining twice the space as well as a car park for exhibitors. This makes for more and wider eating areas, and an additional central square with a lot of tables and chairs.

Besides the ever present Douro river, a landmark in a unique landscape, the weather also helped, even in the evenings, with very mild temperatures extending the enjoyable conversation while holding a glass of vinho verde.

30 Producers – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

More than 200 wines – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

We had four very intense days with the 30 producers offering tastings of more than 200 wines; at the cocktail counter, they prepared very interesting suggestions, for example a cocktail mixing a verde red of the Vinhão variety, which turned out to be amazing.

4 Intense Days- Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

Cocktail Bar – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

No wonder the queue was sometimes huge!! On top of it all, the five restaurants and the four small taverns there produced enough to cover every order, from sushi to suckling pig sandwiches, including traditional delicacies, original food, pregos (steak in a bun or on a plate), hamburgers and bifanas (pork-steak sandwich), presunto (Portuguese prosciutto), and even pão de ló (sponge cake). In the meantime, as soon as the doors opened, the commented tastings began. They were split into two rooms, always full, given the ever higher interest of a better and better informed audience. In fact, they also have the chance to try a few new things, presented and commented on by the oenologists themselves, which enables direct dialogues with the wine makers, who always have a lot to say.

Some tastings were commented by journalists specialised in this sector; this time, we were graced by the presence of two prestigious journalists from Revista de Vinhos: Nuno Garcia and the editor himself, Luís Lopes. On the other side of the exhibition site was a room where only cooking shows took place. They had as many as 20 shows in four days! I had the privilege of attending them all, and for each I suggested two wines which would harmonise with whatever the chefs produced.

Something special happened here on the first day: the presence of Emilia Jackson, the celebrated chef who finished third in Masterchef Australia. She is a friendly Australian living in London, and was assisted by the lovely Joana, who also came in third, although in Masterchef Portugal. Of course the entire audience was there, and complained to the organisation about the lack of seats.

Party Mood – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

RFM – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

To create an excellent environment, they played a very well-chosen selection of music, which was turned up in the evening to get our glasses twirling and a real party mood going, because that’s exactly what it was, the vinho verde party. RFM (Portuguese radio station) was always there, interviewing and giving out information, mostly live, and also getting many more people to the festival.

People of all ages were there, but it was mostly interesting to see young people enjoy a lot of vinho verde, munching on nibbles and mostly having fun and bringing a touch of healthy youth to the festival.

Also young was the big team producing the event, from Offe company; they were tireless, and brought skills and knowledge to the place, which makes all the difference. On Saturday, the longest day of the festival, it was already 3.30 am when the last visitors left the site…

On the last day, Sunday, the car park was “invaded” by 120 old cars, creating a beautiful environment, which also attracted a lot of people. Doors closed at 8.00pm, but it was almost 10.00 when the party actually ended! I would like to congratulate Comissão dos Vinhos Verdes, their president, and the entire team of professionals who were there all the time, playing their part in the event.

The promise of next year’s edition was broadly advertised.

Vinho Verde Wine Fest 2015 was just so, a great party for vinho verde…