Text José Silva | Translation Jani Dunne

Portuguese wines have been growing strong in the Brazilian market, not only because of the excellent work that many producers of various dimensions have carried out – thanks to the precious support of Viniportugal – but also thanks to the often passionate work of many Brazilian professionals, especially the wine waiters.

Adriane Wiest is one of those professionals; she dedicates her time to working with wines, whether as a wine waitress in restaurants, by organising wine-related events, or by training people. She fell in love with Portuguese wines a long time ago, and is very knowledgeable about them. She travels to Portugal every time she gets a chance, contacting producers and participating in festivals and contests, often as a jury. Adri was trained as a chef de cuisine and sommelier in the Europe Study Centre and created her own company, Adri Wiest Wine Education Consulting. She lives in Joinville, the biggest city in the state of Santa Catarina, in the south of Brazil.

She recently organised a charity event she called “Solidary Wine – Portuguese Wine Tasting”, in favour of people who suffer from kidney disease and are treated at Pró-Rim association.

Solidary Wine – Portuguese Wine Tasting with sommelier Adriane Wiest – Photo Provided by Adriane Wiest | All Rights Reserved

Rosé Vidigal – Photo Provided by Adriane Wiest | All Rights Reserved

In a room with excellent conditions and all the necessary instruments, Adri led about 80 people through the aromas and flavours of Portuguese wines in a very pleasant meal filled with typical Santa Catarina cuisine and with very good harmonization.

The Portuguese wines were offered by the respective producers and their Brazilian importers, supported by Viniportugal, and led by Sónia Vieira and Nuno Vale. Adri invited her friend Eduardo Silva to help out during the event; he works at Ostradamus restaurant in Florianópolis, and also knows our wines well. The profit from the tickets was entirely used for Pró-Rim to purchase baskets of basic goods for people with kidney diseases who don’t have the means to pay for treatment.

About 70 people were in this situation. In order for people taking part in the event to buy the wines being tasted, the best wine cellar in Joinville town, Rubicon Wine & Emporium, offered their support as they bought the wines to be sold at the venue and at the wine cellar, as well as offering the profit of every two bottles that were sold to purchase the baskets for the kidney-disease sufferers. Even for these charity events, Adri prioritises Portuguese wines, which she knows so well.

The wines presented at the event were:

-Covela Avesso Edição Nacional; Casa de Mouraz Dão white; Quinta Nova Pomares Douro white; Ilógico, by António Saramago; Rosé, Vidigal Wines; Porta 6, Vidigal Wines; Quinta do Convento Syrah, Vidigal Wines; Moscatel Roxo de Setúbal, by José Maria da Fonseca;

Adri and her colleague Eduardo led the tasting of the eight wines, explaining their origins, who produces them, their features, how they should be enjoyed and at what temperatures. The wines made such good matches for the Santa Catarina food.

The event was hugely successful; participants toasted fervently and also bought wines in a charitable spirit. Furthermore, they asked Adri to throw a repeat.

My congratulations to Adri Wiest. I wish that her high-quality rigorous work continues to prove successful.

Portuguese wines are thankful and will always continue to be solidary…