Bruno Fernandes scored the 2 goals against North Macedonia on Tuesday night in Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, ensuring Portugal a 2022 FIFA World Cup spot. The Portuguese player scored at 32′ in the first half and at 65′ in the second half, defeating North Macedonia 2-0.
This will be the eighth time Portugal makes it to a World Cup and the sixth in a row. Portugal played in 1966, 1986, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018.
Portugal’s manager Fernando Santos told the press in Porto:
“I have already won two competitions and I dream a lot of winning a third. I have to congratulate the players for the fantastic attitude they had. In the first 10 minutes, we couldn’t get it right, I said that this North Macedonia team knew how to play. It was not what was thought of them.”
Bruno Fernandes said:
“This game will stay in our memory because we made it to the World Cup. It was a very important match, the fans were impeccable. The atmosphere was spectacular today – people realized what we needed”.
Last week, Portugal eliminated Turkey in the UEFA World Cup playoff seminal final defeating them 3-1 in Porto on Thursday. Otavio, Diogo Jota, and Matheus Nunes score the three goals.
So, who has already qualified for the World Cup 2022, along with Portugal?
Qatar, Germany, Denmark, Brazil, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, Switzerland, Netherlands, Argentina, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Canada, Ghana, Senegal, Poland, Morocco, Tunisia, and Cameroon.
⬇️Please share your thoughts on the game in the comments below ⬇️
The head of the Portuguese Ordem dos Médicos (Order of Physicians) Miguel Guimarães stated on Monday that the government should end the mandatory face mask measure within two weeks. Guimarães told TSF radio that masks are no longer necessary in both outdoor spaces and close areas like shopping malls and public transport. This would mean children and young people would be able to return to school, after Easter break, without having to wear a mask.
Back in February 2022, Guimarães stated that the COVID-19 pandemic should be over by Spring, on March 20.
Representing the Ordem dos Médicos (Order of Physicians) Guimarães also told TSF on Monday that Ukrainian doctors are authorized to work in Portugal without speaking Portuguese. This must still be negotiated with the government, but a diploma has been published by the Order that recognizes the professional abilities of Ukrainian doctors.
Guimarães says that this is an “exceptional” measure in order to integrate Ukrainian professionals and that Ukrainian doctors should learn Portuguese. He urges the government to provide Portuguese courses to these doctors.
Jorge Roque da Cunha, the Secretary-General of the Independent Union of Doctors has supported this initiative.
The Ordem dos Médicos (Order of Physicians) is a public entity that serves as the regulatory body for medical fractionates in Portugal, established in 1898.
Lisbon is the most expensive place to rent a house in Portugal, as well as purchase property. As of February 2022, the price of renting in Lisbon is €13/m2, according to Idealista. A 75m2 apartment could cost around €975 in the Lisbon district. However, in comparison to cities like London and Amsterdam where such an apartment would cost double, Lisbon is a lot more affordable than most European cities. Lisbon is also home to the most expats, in comparison to other Portuguese cities. With 87 different nationalities in Lisbon, the capital is a diverse city that provides a high quality of life for those coming from abroad.
Although prices are rising in Lisbon, the capital still boasts a variety of housing options from penthouses to studios and apartments. You will mostly only find furnished apartments and landlords will not want to take the furniture out for you. To find a place to rent, you can choose to enlist a rental agent from a well-regarded agency. Here are some of the most popular property portals and real estate agencies in Portugal that can help you find a home in Lisbon:
ReMax
Spotahome
Custojusto
Century21
Imovirtual
Idealista
There are many factors to consider when finding a place to live in Lisbon. Will you be looking for a house to rent in the center of Lisbon or Greater Lisbon, such as Cascais and Sintra. If you live in the center of Lisbon, you will have access to affordable public transportation which might be helpful if you work in the city. If you choose to live outside of the city, having a car will be a must. Will you be renting an apartment for yourself or are you looking to live with roommates? You should also consider whether you are okay with living in a noisy area of Lisbon, as it’s not uncommon to hear neighbors arguing and people drinking outside busy streets.
When looking for an apartment to rent in Lisbon, it’s important to consider what area you are going to spend the next months or years living in. The vibrant city center is perfect for young professionals, but the closer to the center, the more expensive it is. The area of Greater Lisbon includes other municipalities to live in rather than the Lisbon metropolitan area, such as Cascais, Sintra, and Oeiras. Let’s go through our favorite places to live in Lisbon.
1. Baixa
The historic old town of Lisbon, Baixa is one of the most visited neighborhoods in the capital. If you rent an apartment in Baixa, you’ll be living in the heart of the city, surrounded by eighteenth-century architecture. Transportation is no issue here with plenty of bus and tram spots, as well as metro stations. From markets to restaurants and shops, everything will be a few minutes away. However, Baixa can get incredibly busy with tourists and locals, particularly at night. If you’re a student or a young person who loves the vibrant environment and nightlife Baixa could be perfect for you, but it might not be suitable for families looking for a quiet life.
Photo by @thewonderlandalice (Unsplash)
2. Príncipe Real
One of the trendiest neighborhoods in Lisbon, Principe Real has the best restaurant, bars, and art galleries in the city. Principe Real has a multicultural population, boasting a diversity of restaurants. However, the neighborhood is still quite peaceful with nineteenth-century buildings and plenty of green spaces. Principe Real is one of the most sought out areas to live in Lisbon, so apartments are not as affordable as in other areas of the capital.
Photo by Dário Gomes (Unsplash)
3. Alfama
Known for its picturesque streets, fado music, and the best views of the city, Alfama is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon. Many live in this neighborhood, including elderly people who have been there for decades, as well as young professionals and families. However, bear in mind that driving a car in Alfama is almost impossible in its narrow streets. Alfama is also a hilltop neighborhood, so you will have to get used to walking up steep streets.
Cascais is a dream place to live in. A 30-minute drive from Lisbon, many live in Cascais and commute to work in the capital. Cascais is a coastal town on the Portuguese Riviera, known for its stunning bays, luxurious hotels, and golden beaches. Cascais was once a fishermen’s village, still boasting incredible seafood markets, as well as local shops and restaurants. Cascais is also one of the wealthiest areas in Portugal, so homes tend to be more expensive.
A 30-minute train journey from Lisbon, Sintra‘s mountainside is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also located on the Portuguese Riviera, Sintra is known for its beautiful palaces and mansions, nineteenth-century gardens, and some of the best beaches in Portugal. Sintra is less saturated by tourism than Cascais and has a lot more affordable apartments for rent. However, it is still an exclusive vacation location, where certain real estate can often go for millions.
Photo by Miguel Bernardo (Unsplash)
House Rental Culture in Portugal
Adverts
It can feel daunting to navigate the rental culture in Portugal, particularly Lisbon. When you’re looking for a rental online, you might be shocked to find that most adverts include little information. Many might just say “T1 available in Lisbon” without the price. You will have to contact the person, usually via telephone rather than email to get more information.
Can you negotiate rent prices in Portugal?
The good thing about rental culture in Portugal is that prices are often negotiable, but this is not always the case in Lisbon. However, it never hurts to try! You might be successful at negotiating the price, particularly during winter in Lisbon, as during the months of February and October, many landlords are set on short-term rentals for tourists.
Lack of Contracts
An unusual factor about renting in Lisbon is that you might not get a contract which is not advisable. Many landlords choose not to declare their rental income in order to not pay the tax for non-tourism properties set at 28%. This is obviously illegal. What’s even worse is that as a tenant you will have no protection against rent increases, security of your deposit, and will waver all your tenant rights essentially. If you need a rental contract for a residency permit, this is also a huge issue. If landlords do choose to declare it and provide you with a contract, they will most likely add this 28% to your rent. The extra money seems to be worth the safety (and ethics).
Tenant Rights
Again, having an official contract is crucial to ensure your tenancy rights are protected under Portuguese law. If this is the case, Portugal is one of the best countries to live in terms of tenant rights. Tenancy laws in Portugal tend to favor tenants as it can be hard for landlords to evict tenants on long-term contracts. In fact, Portugal’s laws protect people living at a place for over 15 years that are over 65 years old or people living with disabilities from getting evicted. Landlords need to renovate contracts in these cases. There are also laws to protect tenants from harassment and discrimination so if a landlord is harassing you at your home or engaging in offensive behavior, this is illegal. Also, if a landlord needs to renovate a home and the tenant needs to leave the space to do so, the landlord must find temporary accommodation for the tenant in the same region. The tenant also has the right to be refunded for any paid renovations that are necessary. While in cities like Amsterdam there are rules about the number of people who can live in a home, tenants in Portugal have the right to live in a rental with their family up to the third degree and their partners. Tenants can also have three extra guests at any time.
To rent an apartment in Portugal you will need your Individual Tax Identification Number, also known as a NIF, as well as your identification documents. Only then can you sign a rental contract, known as a Contrato de Arrendamento. A rental contract in Portugal is the same as anywhere else, a document that establishes the duties and rights of the landlord and tenant. A rental contract will include the following:
The identification of the landlord and tenant, including date of birth, nationality, and civil status
The address of the house
The number and date of the house’s license
The rent amount and when it must be paid. It might also include whether the rent can be altered. If not, the rent will be altered in accordance with inflation rates.
The date of the contract
Keep in mind that while real estate agents can provide translators, rental contracts are usually in Portuguese. We recommend hiring a translator.
You will have to pay a rental deposit to the landlord as a security deposit, usually amounting to two months rent. There is no set scheme for how long your landlord can hold your deposit, like in most countries in Europe. Some tenants agree to hold the deposit in an escrow account which cannot be touched by the landlord or tenant. You could even share the earned interest on the deposit in the escrow account.
However, for many landlords in Lisbon a deposit isn’t enough and they will require a guarantor, also known as a fiador. If you can’t provide a fiador, you might be asked to many a lot more rent upfront, usually 6 to 12 months. A guarantor is someone who will be legally obliged to pay your rent if you are unable to pay the landlord. The guarantor must be Portuguese, which can be tough if you are new to the country. They must also prove that they have the financial means, usually by submitting tax returns or payment slips. However, a bank can also be your guarantor for a fee through a service called Garantia Bancária. If you still cannot find a fiador, you will need to pay those 6 to 12 months upfront. For a €975 apartment, this would amount to almost €12,000.
Want to move out of a rented apartment in Portugal?
This is uncommon in Europe, but many rental contracts in Portugal allow you to leave a third of the way through the contract. However, you still need to go through the legal steps of moving out, going through the inventory and giving notice.
If you have more than a year left on your contract, you must give 120 days notice. If you have less than a year left, usually 60 days is enough. But if your landlord has breached your contract in any way, you can end the tenancy earlier, like by not conducting important renovations. Keep in mind that your landlord can also serve notice if, for example, they want to move in themselves. The landlord would need to notify you six months in advance. If you have an open-ended contract, the landlord would need to notify you two years in advance.
You’ll also need to go through the rental’s inventory. Before you move in, you would have signed an inventory document that lists any items in the property. When you want to move, you will have to go through this with your landlord to make sure nothing is gone or massively damaged. If everything is well, you will have your deposit returned. However, once again, there is no strict date on when this must be done.
Housing Benefits in Portugal
Portugal offers a program called Porta 65, a financial support system to help pay rent for young people, people who are isolated, in one-person households or cohabitating. You can only apply for Porta 65 if you are between the ages of 18 and 35 and the support only lasts for a maximum of 12 months. Other housing benefits are available for people living under extreme poverty, including access to social housing.
If you can afford to buy a house in Lisbon, this is a better investment than renting as homes continue to increase in value. No one can know for sure if this will be the case for the next decade, but post-COVID the market value is supposed to grow even further.
You also do not need to live in Portugal or be a resident to purchase a house in Portugal. All you need is an Individual Tax Identification Number which you can obtain by opening a Portuguese bank account. Buying a house in Portugal can also make you eligible for the Portugal Golden Visa, allowing you to obtain permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 6 years. However, expect to have to purchase a house of €500,000 or at least €350,000 under certain conditions.
For more information on how to buy a house in Portugal, take a look at our International Guide to Real Estate in Portugal. From an overview of the property market, to where to buy a house, property taxes, and obtaining Portuguese residency, our guide goes into every single detail.
If you’re considering moving to Lisbon, the cost of living is something to consider. Lisbon has the highest cost of living in the country. However, it is still cheaper than most European capitals. Lisbon is 35% cheaper than Amsterdam and 40% cheaper than London. According to Numbeo, the monthly costs for a family of four in Lisbon are around €2,000 without rent. A single person’s monthly costs are less than €600 without rent.
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has allegedly been a victim of suspected poisoning at peace talks, as well as Ukrainian peace negotiators at the Ukraine-Belarus border on March 3. The Chelsea FC Owner and two Ukrainian peace negotiators have now allegedly recovered, but reportedly suffered sore eyes and peeling skin.
However, an unnamed US official has also told Reuters that the symptoms were due to “environmental factors”, rather than poisoning. A Ukrainian official also told the BBC that the Ukrainian peace negotiators were well and that the story was “false”.
The BBC was told by a source that Abramovich will continue with negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He has met Ukrainian president Zelensky and traveled between Moscow and Kyiv various times.
Bellingcat can confirm that three members of the delegation attending the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on the night of 3 to 4 March 2022 experienced symptoms consistent with poisoning with chemical weapons. One of victims was Russian entrepreneur Roman Abramovich. https://t.co/DJaZ4CoL8J
Roman Abramovich was given Portuguese citizenship in April of 2021 through a Portuguese law that offered naturalization to descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Portugal around 500 years ago during the inquisition. Over 57,000 descendants of Sephardic Jews have been granted Portuguese citizenship since the implementation of this law in 2015.
Abramovich has been one of the Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the EU and UK after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Portugal has not banned him from entering the country as he is a Portuguese citizen. However, the Portuguese government announced that even those with citizenship will face EU sanctions.
From limpets to meat skewers, Madeira‘s diverse gastronomy is a staple of Portugal’s cultural heritage. While the archipelago is mostly known for its summer climate, stunning landscapes, and tropical beaches, a trip to Madeira is not complete without quality dining experiences. Our list of the 13 best restaurants in Madeira will allow you to do just that while avoiding the low-quality “tourist traps”. Over 1 million tourists travel to Madeira island every year, but not all of them are lucky enough to know the best spots to eat at.
Located in the center of Funchal, O Celeiro opened in 1986, making it one of the oldest restaurants in the region. The restaurant features traditional wood, regional tapestries, and the iconic Portuguese ajulezo. This place serves authentic food from Madeira sourced from fresh local products. We recommend trying out their octopus and pepper steak. A meal here costs around €30.
Photo provided by restaurantPhoto provided by restaurant
2. Restaurante Il Gallo D’Oro
Located on the 5-star hotel The Cliff Bay in Funchal, Il Gallo d’Oro was the first restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star in 2004. Now, the restaurant has two Michelin stars and is known for its gastronomic sustainability. Under French Chef Benoit Sinthon, the menu is inspired by Iberian cuisine and uses local ingredients from Madeira, many even sourced from the PortoBay vegetable garden. The restaurant offers tasting menus, from 7 to 11 dishes. A meal for two people costs around €120.
3. Quinta do Furão
Quinta do Furao opened in 1993 and offers a mixture of traditional Madeira gastronomy and international cuisine, sourcing local products to create delicious dishes. This place has an indoor and outdoor area that provides a stunning view of the ocean and mountains. The menu offers a balanced blend of typical Madeira gastronomy and international cuisine, tending to use organic and local products. We recommend trying the limpets and their baked octopus. A meal for two people costs around €60.
Photograph provided by restaurant.Photograph provided by restaurant.
4. The Snug
The Snug is a trendy restaurant with a modern interior featuring cork accents and plants. The perfect spot for a large meal or a few small bites with a drink in hand, The Snug offers a varied menu attentive to all taste buds. This place is known for its Insta worthy milkshakes, juicy burgers, and mac and cheese. A meal here for two people costs around €30.
Photo provided by restaurant.Photo provided by restaurant.
5. Armazem do Sal
Located in Funchal, Armazem do Sal serves authentic dishes from Madeira with a fine dining twist in the restaurant’s three different spaces. The meals here are prepared to ensure a sophisticated dining experience with luxurious plating. You can enjoy a meal here while listening to live music and having a taste of an extensive wine list. Armazem do Sal offers various an affordable tasting menu for less than €55 which includes a starter, fish and meat dish, dessert, and more.
Photo provided by restaurant.
6. Real Canoa
Real Canoa is located near the Hotel Pestana Grand and offers traditional cuisine from Madeira with a contemporary interpretation. This place is known for its friendly staff and daily live music for a unique experience. We recommend the sirloin steak with mushroom sauce and the tuna fish on the stone. Real Canoa is extremely affordable for its quality as you can get a meal for two here for €30.
Photo provided by restaurantPhoto provided by restaurant.
7. Casal da Penha
We can get behind Casal da Penha’s motto: “We don’t cook fast food. We cook homemade honest food as fast as we can”. This family-run restaurant has a high-end interior room and two outdoor spaces to enjoy a meal under the stars. Casal da Penha offers a simple menu with traditional products, allowing them to speak for themselves. We recommend the clams fried with garlic and lemon, the limpets, and their selection of paellas. A meal for two people here will cost you €25.
8. Casa da Sogra
For a home cooked meal in Madeira, Casa da Sogra is the place to go. The restaurant’s name literally translates to “the mother-in-law’s house”. The family restaurant has one of the best views of the city of Funchal. We recommend trying their fresh prawns, monkfish, and steak topped with a fried egg. A meal here for two people won’t cost you more than €40.
Photo provided by restaurant.Photo provided by restaurant.Photo provided by restaurant.
9. Adega Tipica do Funchal
If a restaurant has a prato do dia (dish of the day), you know it’s authentic. Adega Tipica is located in Funchal and is the epitome of a Portuguese tasca (tavern). From baked octopus to migas, every dish at this place is cooked to perfections and reflects the flavors of the island of Madeira. You can get a meal here for less than €30 for two people.
Photo provided by restaurant.Photo provided by restaurant.
10. Beef & Wines
A fusion of New Zealand’s best meats and Portuguese wines, Beef & Wines offers a creative interpretation of Portuguese cuisine. But don’t let this place’s name fool you, Beef & Wine has a diverse menu from seafood dishes and risottos, along with their signature meat dishes. Beef & Wines even serves delicious vegan and vegetarian alternatives for plant-based guests. We recommend trying out the fishermen’s stew and the slow-cooked oxtail. A meal for two people will cost you around €40.
Photo provided by restaurantPhoto provided by restaurant
11. Casa Velha Funchal
Built in the middle of a green garden, Casa Velha Funchal is located in a quaint house for a homey, yet elevated feel. This place has been open for over 25 years, making it one of the best established restaurants in Madeira. Known for its high-quality traditional dishes and welcoming environment, it’s surprising how affordable their prices are. A meal here for two people will cost around €40.
12. Hemingway
Close to the stunning Capela Nossa Senhora da Penha de Franca, Hemingway has a classic interior with bright green walls and flowery wallpaper. With a friendly and young staff, Hemingway is both a local and tourist favorite. We recommend the Wellington steak and the baked cod. A meal here for two people costs around €40.
Photo provided by restaurantPhoto provided by restaurant
13. Casa das Espetadas
You cannot visit Madeira without trying the traditional espetadas (skewers). Casa das Espetadas is the perfect spot to taste this authentic dish, with an interior that reflects Madeira’s traditions and cultural heritage. You can try out a variety of different skewers, from chicken, tuna, as well as pork and cow meat. We also recommend trying out the Bolo do Caco, a special flat bread from Madeira that is baked in a fire in front of you. A meal here will cost you €40.
⬇️Please share your favorite restaurants in Madeira in the comments below ⬇️
The Azorean seismo-volcanic surveillance center (CIVISA) registered 210 minor tremors between 10 am and 10 pm local time on Saturday on the island of São Jorge in the Azores. Since March 19, there have been over 12,700 earthquakes recorded. Over 200 earthquakes of a magnitude up to 3.3 have been felt by the population.
The president of the Azorean government José Manuel Bolieiro announced on Saturday that President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is traveling to São Jorge on Sunday to show his support. The Portuguese President has said there is no reason to fear visiting the island. He told journalists in Fatima:
“The microearthquakes are an uncomfortable situation, but there is no reason to fear unsafety… There is a mid-term strategy in place to deal with the consequences and as the situation develops”.
However, authorities in the Azores are prepared to evacuate citizens due to the fear of a major earthquake or volcanic eruption. CIVISA raised the volcanic alert to level 4 of 5 on Wednesday so there is a possibility of an eruption. The last volcano eruption was in 1808 in Velas, São Jorge. There are 26 active volcanos in the Azores archipelago, 8 of which are underwater.
Around 8,400 people live on the island. Many have already left São Jorge, around 1,250 by air or sea in two days. Those living in Fajas in Velas, small pains at the bottom of mountains created by lava have been told to leave the area. The most vulnerable such as nursing home residents and those in hospitals in Velas have been taken to Calheta.
Falei com o Presidente do Governo Regional dos Açores, José Manuel Bolieiro, para ponto situação na situação na ilha de São Jorge e disponibilidade de todos os meios da República que sejam necessários, para além do apoio que Forças Armadas e @ipma_pt têm assegurado.
In January, the websites of the Portuguese paper Espresso and of the channel SIC were targets of a cyber-attack by a group of hackers known as the Lapsus Group. The hackers demanded a ransom to unblock access to the websites, while the number is unknown.
The BBC reported on Thursday that the hacker group was led by a 16-year-old from the United Kingdom who has cyber attacked multiple institutions, accumulating a fortune of 12.7 million euros. The 16-year-old used the pseudonyms “White” and “Breachbase” and has attacked institutions such as Microsoft.
London police detained 7 individuals from the group, all between the ages of 16 and 21, but later released them and they remain under investigation. It is still unclear whether “White” was one of the individuals detained.
“White” was outed on a hacker website, after an alleged falling out with business partners. His name was revealed, as well as his address, and social media pictures. Cyber-security researchers have already been tracking him for nearly a year, linking him to Lapsus and other cyber attacks.
⬇️Please share your thoughts in the comments below ⬇️
The famous wine that enchanted the world (especially the British) is here to enchant YOU! This sweet (but strong) wine is perfect for the end of a good dinner while relaxing and having a wonderful chat.
Port wine is specific to the Douro region in the North of Portugal and was what made this region famous. It’s a fortified wine, usually a sweet red wine but also coming in dry, semi-dry, and white (and now, even rosé).
Nowadays, due to how famous the wine got, there are many port-inspired fortified wines outside Portugal, but under EU law only Portuguese wines from the Douro demarcation region are allowed to be labeled as “Port”, as a way to protect the traditional and economic importance of this wine.
The difference from other non-fortified wines is its richness, sweetness, heaviness and its higher alcohol percentage, made by the addition of distilled grape spirits into the wine and the halt fermentation before all the sugar is turned into alcohol. This creates a wine that has usually 19-20% alcohol content.
It’s a very famous wine all over the world, especially in the UK and the English-speaking world. It’s usually served as a digestif, this is, after meals to accompany dessert, usually cheese, nuts, or chocolate. However, tawny and white port is many times served as an apéritif, this is, before meals.
Wine in this region has been cultivated for a very long time, with grape seeds being found in archaeological sites there and evidence for wine production dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries.
As for Port wine specifically, mentions are dating as far back as 1675. However, with the demarcation of the Port wine zone, in 1756, Port wine started to have larger importance on the country’s economy and culture.
In that year, the ‘Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro’ (General Company of Viticulture of the Upper Douro) was founded to guarantee the quality and fair pricing of Port wine in all of the region. The C.G.A.V.A.D., as it was known, also regulated which Port wine could be exported and which one would be for internal consumption, and also managed the demarcation of the protected area.
The name of the wine is thought to have been attributed in the second half of the 17th century and it refers to the city of Porto (or Oporto), on the mouth of the Douro River. This was because it was there that the product was brought to and sold to the national and international market, even though it was not produced there.
Actually, it was brought to Gaia, the city on the other side of the Douro River from Porto, but Porto was the bigger and main city.
In Portuguese, the name of the wine is “Vinho do Porto”, which literally means “Wine of Porto (Oporto)”. Due to the similarity and to the fact that the word “Port” in Portuguese is the same word as the name of the city (“Porto”), the name stuck.
The English are known to be particular fans of the Port wine, with The Queen Mother (mother of current Queen Elizabeth II) being said to have a glass of port at the end of her lunch. However, the story of England and this wine is much older than that.
It is said that in 1678, two representatives of a Liverpool wine merchant were sent to Viana do Castelo, a city north of Porto, to learn about the local wine trade. The two merchants went on a vacation to the Douro region and, while in Lamego, the local Abbot gave them what they thought was a very sweetish and smooth wine, that had been fortified with a distilled spirit. The merchants loved it so much that they bought the Abbot’s entire lot and sent it back to England, opening England’s doors to this new wine.
A few years later, in 1703, the wine started to truly get popular with the Methuen Treaty. At the time, The Second Hundred Years’ War was happening, between Great Britain and France. This meant that England was deprived from importing French wine. With the treaty, English merchants could import Port wine at a low duty tax and this smooth fortified wine appealed to the English public.
The influence that the British had on the trade of Port can be seen by the Port brands’ own names: Croft, Graham, Sandeman, Taylor’s and Offley being amongst the best known and the main ones that you can see from Porto when you look to the other side of the river, but many, many more exist! Other nationalities also got involved in the trade, with Dutch and German shippers also existing, such as Niepoort and Burmester.
But don’t think that the Portuguese didn’t get a piece of the pie! The Ferreira and Quinta do Crasto are among the best Port houses as well, and it became an integral part of Portuguese culture and pride, as well as an important part of the country’s economy.
But the British didn’t just have their hand in Port production, the Port also gained its space in British culture. It was used in the past as a medicine, with William Pitt, a British Prime Minister, saying it was given to him as a remedy for gout when he was younger. This is paradoxical since the Prime Minister then began to drink a bottle a day when he was 14 and heavy alcohol consumption is known to aggravate gout. In Anthony Trollope’s novels, elderly ladies usually drank Port wine, excusing it as medicinal.
Part of the culture it brought to Portugal was precisely its mode of transportation. The wine was produced in the Douro valley, not in Porto or Gaia, the places where it is usually associated with and where all the port lodges (or cellars) are.
To get there, where it would then be sold and exported (Gaia was the only place from where the wine could be exported until 1986), it would be transported down the Douro River in the famous ‘rabelos’, flat-bottom boats that only transported Port wine.
This traditional and cultural trip ended when in the 1950s and 1960s, the government allowed for the construction of hydroelectric power dams throughout the river, making the trip impossible in some cases.
Nowadays, the wine is transported to Gaia and Porto with trucks, and the ‘rabelos’ are used for racing and touristic tours. Some tours do part of the trip upstream until you get to some vineyards but don’t transport wine anymore.
Port Region – The Douro
Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash
The Port region is the Douro wine region (which we’ve covered in another article). It was demarcated in 1756, becoming the third wine region in the whole world to have a formal legal demarcation zone, after the Tokaj-Hegyalja region in Hungary and Chianti in Italy, in 1730 and 1716 respectively. More recently, the region became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
This region in the north of Portugal, going through the Douro River and its tributaries valleys and going to the border with Spain, has its own microclimate that is great not only for the production of grapes but also for olives and almonds.
The region around the towns of Pinhão and São João da Pesqueira is considered to be the center of the Port wine production and is known for its beautiful views and wine farms standing right next to the Douro, on “terraces” that seem to make huge stairs right into the River.
Production of Port Wine
Photo by Svetlana Gumerova on Unsplash
The Port wine’s production is also peculiar and different from other “normal” wines. First, it has to be produced from grapes grown and processed in the Douro wine region, a specific demarcated geographical region recognized throughout the world.
Then, the wine, after being produced, is fortified. This means that ‘aguardente’ is added to it, a very strong (anywhere from 25 to 54% alcohol content) spirit made out of grapes as well that you can find throughout Portugal. The addition increases the alcohol content of the wine and stops the fermentation process, leaving some sugar still.
The wine is then transported to be stored in barrels (traditionally in lodges, in Gaia), where it will be aged for as long as the intended style of Port wine is. After it, it will be bottled, sometimes aging a little bit more inside the bottle, depending on the style.
Styles of Port Wine
Ruby: this is the most produced and least-pricey Port. It’s made from red grapes and is usually aged in a steel or concrete tank to prevent oxidation and preserve its fruitiness and bright color. In the end, it’s fined and cold filtered before being bottled and it doesn’t improve with age.
Tawny: very sweet, golden-brown Port made from red grapes. It’s at least aged for 3 years (with Reserve Tawny being aged for around 7 and anything over that being stated on the label) and it has sort of “nutty” flavors, due to its exposure to oxygen while in the barrel.
White: made from white wine grapes, it can be anything from dry to sweet.
White Colheita: produced from a single grape harvest and aged in huge tanks to get a pale yellow color.
White Reserve: has to be at least 7 years aging.
Rosé: this is a new style, first released in 2008 by Croft. It’s made like a rosé wine, with its exposure to grape skin being limited as to give it the rosé color.
Vintage: made from grapes from a ‘vintage year’, sourced from different farms (or ‘quintas’) and aged in barrels or stainless steel for up to 2.5 years. After this, it is bottled and it ages another 10-40 years in the bottle, to gain complexity as the grape solids slowly decompose there.
Late Bottled Vintage (LBV): a Port that spent 4-6 years barrel-aging, when it matured and settles down. After this, it can be bottled and it is ready to drink since it doesn’t need to be decanted. It is cheaper than Vintage Port.
Crusted: sometimes also called “Vintage Character Port”, is a wine that spends at least 4 years aging on a wood barrel. It’s bottled unfiltered and cellared for 3 more years before being sold. Its name is because it creates a crust on the bottle, from not being filtered. Sometimes it can take more than 10 years for it to form, showing that the wine will keep improving with age.
Garrafeira: 3-6 years aged in wood and at least another 8 years in glass demijohns (large, narrow-necked bottles) before being bottled and sold. These days, it is only produced by Niepoort and it is described as tasting like bacon (yes, bacon), because of the oils that it can create across the glass during its second phase of maturation.
Port Wine Suggestions: Best Port Wine
If you are looking to buy a Port wine, there are many varieties to choose from, as you saw. As for the brand, these are the most known ones and the ones you can buy knowing you will get a quality wine:
Dow
Graham’s
Ferreira
Quinta do Vallado
Taylor’s
Quinta da Pacheca
Offley
Niepoort
Sandeman
However, there are many more quality wines and know that it will always depend on the style of Port and the year of production, so just try it out and see what suits you better! I hope you enjoy this wine as much as the British do and don’t forget to have your “medicinal” glass after dinner 😉
This tour in Vila Nova de Gaia allows you to explore the 1890 Graham’s Port Lodge and learn about the production of Port wine, as well as enjoy a premium wine tasting with food pairings, such as chocolate and cheese. You will also get a great view of Porto and the two-tier bridge.
Discover a family-owned Port wine cellar founded in 1918 on this 1-hour guided tour, where you will learn about wines that have been maturing for over 100 years. You will get to taste some White Port (Dry, Medium Dry, or Sweet), Late Bottled Vintage (LBV), and old Tawny Port.
The fun Magic Train takes you on a 2-hour Port wine tasting tour of Porto. Visit one of the oldest wine cellars in Portugal, stop for 2 Port wine tastings, and get to see some of the best monuments in Porto.
Portugal has eliminated Turkey in the UEFA World Cup playoff seminal final defeating them 3-1 in Porto on Thursday. Otavio, Diogo Jota, and Matheus Nunes score the three goals.
The Portuguese team reached half-time with a comfortable lead, with two goals already scored by Otavio and Mateus Nunes. However, Turkey stepped up their game by the second half, as Burak Yilmaz scored one goal at minute 65.
A penalty shot was given to Turkey, one that player Burak Yilmaz missed at 85 minutes, 5 minutes until the end of the game. If he had scored, the teams would have tied. Fortunately for Portugal, Matheus Nunes scored a goal at 90 minutes, leading to the 3-1 final score.
Portugal will play against North Macedonia on March 29 to determine if the team qualifies for the UEFA World Cup. A spot at the Fifa World Cup is on the line. North Macedonia eliminated Italy in a shocking game with a 1-0 win.
Concerning the next game against North Macedonia, Fernando Santos said in the post-play off press conference:
“Nothing surprises me. I have won finals that were going to be difficult and have lost one that I thought we would win. Finals are won. There’s only one word: winning. Entering a final thinking that it will be easier… We need to have the same respect we had for Turkey. Respect is not fear. Turkey was not as strong because Portugal respected her. We would have the same respect for Italy and we will have even more respect for Macedonia”.
⬇️Please share your thoughts on the game in the comments below ⬇️
On Wednesday the Council of Ministers approved new support that will be given to economically disadvantaged families. The most vulnerable families will be given 60 euros in April to help mitigate the increase in fuel and food prices, aggravated by the war in Ukraine. The 60 euros only applies once in April by the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security.
The financial support applies to those eligible for the social tariff for electricity. In March, Pedro Siza Vieira estimated this support would include over 1.5 million people, but the numbers are now at around 750,000 people, according to CNN Portugal. The Ministry of Labor has not confirmed the number of people eligible.
This support is said to also apply to individuals receiving the following financial aid:
Support for elderly
Social insertion income (RSI)
Unemployment
Family abandonment
Disability pension
The support can also apply to those without financial aid, but with a household annual income is equal to or less than 5,808 euros.
⬇️Please share your thoughts in the comments below ⬇️
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