Inside Algarve Magazine – Algarve News

Category: Events

“Lagoa Wine Experiences 2021” Hailed a Success

“Lagoa Wine Experiences 2021” held its last session on November 13, with demand strongly outweighing availability

The initiative “Lagoa Wine Experiences 2021” held its last session on November 13, with a special session that celebrated the World Day of Wine Tourism, a date celebrated annually on the 2nd Sunday of November.

“Lagoa Wine Experiences” was hailed a success by the organizers (Lagoa Council). The event was held for the first time this year, opening the doors of local wine estates to wine lovers, making it a great opportunity to get to know local winemakers and enjoy wine tastings in a friendly setting under the sunny Algarve skies.

Six sessions were held throughout the last four months. Each session saw participants being introduced to three winemakers and enjoying wine tastings and lunch.

Strong public interest in the Event

“Public interest in the event was massive with demand strongly outweighing availability,” the council said. A total of 223 people took part in the six sessions.

In a statement to the press, Lagoa Council said it recognizes “the great potential” of the borough’s wine sector as a means of attracting residents and tourists, as well as promoting local wines. The event also helped promote Lagoa’s “wine tourism sector, the hospitality of its hosts and wine properties that can be visited all year round”.

The last session, which was held at Quinta dos Vales, Arvad and Morgado do Quintão on November 13, was attended by representatives from the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA), the Regional Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (DRAPA), the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA) and the Association of Winemaking Municipalities of Portugal (AMPV).

Lagoa Wine Experiences 2021 with good prospects for the future

“I have to highlight the success of Lagoa Wine Experiences and the very positive reviews that the initiative received from partners and participants. I thank everyone who made this possible and those who believed in its success,” said Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação, confirming the event’s return in 2022 with “even more surprises”.

Among the participating wine estates were Quinta dos Santos, Única – Adega Cooperativa do Algarve, Morgado do Quintão, Quinta da Palmeirinha, Dona Niza Wines, Arvad Wines, Monte de Salicos and Quinta dos Vales.

Source: Algarve Resident

November 23, 2021
Festive Season at Vila Vita with Special Theme this Year

“Tropicaliente – a sensorial tropical experience in all its splendour, with warm and vibrant emotions” is this year’s inspirational motto for Vila Vita’s Festive Season

– November 23, 2021

This year, Vila Vita’s Festive Season starts with a warm inspiration of tropical experiences, with a proposition to “stir your soul and fuel those hidden deep beats in Tropicaliente style”, with Nature as one of the main inspirations for this year’s Christmas and New Year’s festivities.

The Christmas Eve Dinner at Vila Vita’s Festive Season

The traditional Christmas Eve dinner will be served on December 24, in several of the resort’s restaurants, including Ocean Restaurant (with two Michelin stars), with the Gourmet Menu (€210pp, beverages not included).

On Christmas Day

On December 25, among the various options, highlights include:
– Christmas lunch at Bela Vita Bar & Brasserie with live music, including a welcome drink and live cooking (€85pp), followed by Father Christmas’s visit at 1.30pm;
– Gourmet Christmas Dinner at Ocean Restaurant (€210pp, beverages not included);
– A traditional Bavarian Christmas lunch (€39pp, beverages not included) in the Biergarten Restauran, just outside of the resort in Porches.

New Year’s Eve: “Tropicaliente” Atmosphere

On December 31, New Year’s Eve arrives with the vibrant “Tropicaliente” atmosphere. The New Year’s Eve Grand Gala show will be accompanied by a five-course menu (€315pp, including a late snack). It’s an invitation to wave goodbye to 2021 and welcome in the New Year with renewed hope.

Guests can also choose one of the many restaurants within the resort, with sophisticated festive menus, such as the fine dining options at Ocean Restaurant (€490pp with cocktail and wine pairing included) or at Atlântico Restaurant, with live music (€235pp and €75 wine pairing).

Or, celebrate outside of the resort, either:
– on the beach, at Arte Náutica Restaurant and at Praia Dourada Restaurant (three-course menu, €65pp);
– or Bavarian-style at the Biergarten Restaurant, with live music and a festive four-course menu (€65pp).

Midnight Dance Party at the V-Club

At midnight, welcome the New Year in style with a display of fireworks in the resort’s gardens and dance the night away at the V-Club Disco (€365, table for up to five people, including a bottle of Dom Pérignon).

The new Disco Club has opened in October and promises to “liven up the Algarve in a glamorous and very exclusive environment, especially designed for dancing well into the night.”

Celebrations continue in January

The first day of the year can be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere with live music, with the eclectic New Year’s Day Brunch, at the House Bar (€85pp).

The festivities then resume from January 6 to 8, with the celebration of the Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day, designed with various experiences, such as the themed dinner at Bela Vita Brasserie & Bar, the Poncha de los Reyes night at the Adega Restaurant or the Vertical Tasting of Vallado Sousão evening at Cave dos Vinhos.

Consult the full programme at the Vila Vita’s Website

For more information and to book in advance, email customerservice@vilavitaparc.com

November 23, 2021
Lagoa Wine Experiences returns

After a “sold-out first session” last month, the Lagoa Wine Experiences wine tasting tour is returning on Saturday (September 11) between 10.30am and 6pm.

Participants will yet again meet at Lagoa’s municipal pools before being taken to Dona Niza Wines in Carvoeiro, a “very recent project by a local who has an enormous passion for the land and wine” where a wine tasting event will be held.

A welcome drink and lunch will be served at Quinta dos Santos in Estômbar, a wine estate with “contemporary facilities which are integrated in perfect harmony with their surroundings.”

Monte dos Salicos will be the final stop of the tour in the afternoon, allowing guests to enjoy a wine tasting experience “very close to Carvoeiro”.

Tickets cost €40 per person and include lunch, transportation, wine tastings and any other activities on the day. They can be purchased online at www.ticketline.sapo.pt.

September 7, 2021
Lagoa hosts first international Magic Fest in September

Under the artistic direction of Lagoa magician Paulo Cabrita, the event will be held over two days (September 3 and 4) and feature famous Portuguese, Spanish and Argentinian magicians who will perform several shows in the borough

As part of Lagoa’s “A Cultura Sai À Rua” (Culture Out in the Street) initiative, the Lagoa Magic Fest 2021 will see artists Arkadio & Solange Kardinaly (Spain), José de Lemos (Portugal), Salguery (Portugal), Mr Daba (Argentina), Manuel Barata (Portugal) and Lagoa magician Paulo Cabrita entertain people passing by on the street with magic tricks and illusions during “popup events” on September 3.

A Gala Night will be held on September 4 at the Carlos do Carmo Municipal Auditorium at 8.30pm.

The free “popup events” start at 11am in Porches (church square), Estômbar (garden) and Parchal (Rua do Município/Largo da Che Lagoense). From 6pm, the magic will move to Carvoeiro (beach square), Lagoa (Jardim 5 de Outubro) and Ferragudo (Largo Rainha D. Leonor). Shows follow all DGS health authority recommendations.

Tickets to the Gala Night cost €8 per person and can be purchased at Ticketline, Worten, Fnac, Auditório Carlos do Carmos (282 380 452), Convento de S. José in Lagoa (282 380 434) and the local Balcão Único (282 380 400).

Header photo: TIMA MIROSHNICHENKO/PEXELS.COM

August 27, 2021
Portimão cancels sardine festival but promises plenty of fun for all

For the second year straight, Portimão’s Sardine Festival will not be held due to the pandemic. However, the town will still pay homage to its favourite fish by organising five concerts with popular Portuguese artists between August 4 and 8 at the town’s riverside.

The town’s riverside is popular for its restaurants serving grilled sardines (Photo: INÊS LOPES/OPEN MEDIA GROUP)

“As the pandemic still doesn’t allow the full return of the Sardine Festival, Portimão Council is organising these concerts for the whole family, where all sanitary measures will be followed,” the local authority says in a communiqué to the press.

The ‘Sardinhas em Concerto’ programme will see five well-known Portuguese bands and singers take to the stage, starting with Resistência on August 4, followed by Toy (August 5), João Pedro Pais (6), Gisela João (August 7) and Miguel Araújo (August 8).

Doors will open at 8pm with concerts starting at 9pm. The outdoor venue will be fenced off and include designated seats. Eating and drinking will not be allowed due to current recommendations from the board of cultural activities (IGAC) and the national health board (DGS).

Tickets have a “symbolic price” of €1 and can be purchased from Friday (July 30) at the TEMPO theatre, Portimão Museum or online at www.bol.pt. Attendees must be aged 6+.

Portimão’s Sardine Festival is one of the Algarve’s largest summer events, attracting thousands of locals and visitors every summer. In 2019, the event is said to have attracted a record 100,000 people. The event shines the spotlight on sardines, the town’s “jewel of the sea”.

Local restaurants take part and serve sardines the ‘typical’ way – grilled, with salad and potatoes, or on a slice of bread.

Says the council, these concerts aim to keep the town and its population connected to the sardine tradition while boosting local business, particularly restaurants.

TEXT Michael Bruxo
Source Portugal Resident

August 3, 2021
Silves Medieval promises performances, medieval cuisine, more

Taking place until August 22, the event will feature a series of night-time performances and see the town’s streets decorated to look like they did in the Middle Ages, for a new, “more restrained” version of the town’s hugely popular medieval fair.

Over 30 local restaurants have also joined the event and will be including a “medieval dish” on their menu, which can be a snack, a dessert or a full meal.

There will be entertainment every night, with four concerts planned for the four opening days: Al-Folk and Arakisati (July 30); Arabian (July 31); Alhambra and Emad Selim (August 1) and Albaluna (August 2). Tickets cost €3 per person.

The town’s famous medieval tournaments will also be returning between August 3 and 12 with one tournament being held each day, while Silves Castle will host the “Nights of Al-Andalus” with the Wayam Ensemble between August 13 and 22. Tickets cost €5 per person.

All shows begin at 9pm and tickets can be purchased online (https://cmsilves.bol.pt), at the usual retail outlets (FNAC, Worten, CTT, El Corte Inglés and Pousadas de Juventude) or at the venue on the day of the event, from 7pm and subject to ticket availability.

According to the local council, the event will follow all DGS (national health board) recommendations and aims to “support and boost the local economy during a particularly difficult moment for local commerce, restaurants and hotels.”

TEXT Michael Bruxo
Source Portugal Resident

August 3, 2021