The President of the labor union for the Portuguese Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), Acácio Pereira wrote an open letter directed at President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asking for the extinction of SEF not to happen. Published in the Diario de Noticias, Acácio Pereira wrote on Tuesday that “immigration is not a case for the police” because GNR and PSP have “structural problems of xenophobia and racism”.
The extinction of SEF will mean that the “policing” aspect of immigration will be transferred to PSP and GNR, while the Portuguese Agency of Migration and Asylum (APMA) will be created to take care of administrative issues such as visas.
Pereira said in his letter that “Portugal will be worse off without this service (SEF). Worse because it will have fewer safe borders. Worse because it will lose a specialized service in the investigation and fight against transnational criminal networks. Worse because it will no longer have a criminal police unit specialized in the protection of trafficked humans”.
He says that the workers of SEF are not the only ones to recognize that SEF is necessary for the interest of the Portuguese and immigrants looking for a better life in Portugal. He states: “PSD, PCP, and CDS also know this, founding parties of the democratic regime after the 25th of April revolution”.
While Pereira says what was promised was a separation between immigration issues and law enforcement functions, believing in the consensus that immigration should not be a case for the police. He says that “creating the APMA and removing immigration issues of law enforcement sphere, does not mean destroying a competent and efficient service, renowned internationally, and transferring its competencies to the GNR and PSP”.
He believes that transferring immigration work to police forces is dangerous as they “have structural problems of xenophobia and racism”. He goes on to present examples, such as how in Vila Nova de Mil Fontes, there are members of GNR and PSP in prison for torturing immigrants. He tells the President that “these cases in PSP and GNR are not isolated cases – nor are they constrained to Alentejo”.
Pereira says that although PSP and GNR’s cases of xenophobia and racism are structural, the death of the Ukrainian citizen at the airport of Lisbon at the hands of SER inspectors was “an isolated act”. He goes on to say that the report conducted by the government after the murder found that there are no major issues at SEF.
The President of the Police Union for PSP, Paulo Santos, told TSF that he condemns the comments made by Pereira, reminding audiences of the “noble mission” of police in society. Carlos Nogueira, the representative of the Association of GNR said that “racism and xenophobia and transversal issues of all of society” and that although there are “isolated cases”, the GNR acts immediately against these.
The extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) in Portugal has been postponed once again, without a particular extinction date set. SEF was set to be extinct on May 12 and be replaced by the Portuguese Agency of Migration and Asylum (APMA).
The Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro stated the “transition should occur in a tranquil and safe manner” and that this transition is not yet ready. He also guaranteed that the fundamental rights of the workers at SEF will be safeguarded during the transition.
Standing alone in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, it’s one of Portugal’s least known wine regions, the Azores Archipelago. The region is 1.600 km West of Continental Portugal and is an autonomous territory inside the Portuguese Republic. The Azores is comprised of 9 islands:Corvo, Flores, Faial,Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge,Terceira,Santa Maria and São Miguel. However, out of all of these, only Pico, Graciosa, and Terceira produce wine. The Azores is known for producing liquor wines, but it’s starting to change this and try to broaden its market to table wines as well. So why not learn about and give a try to these Atlantic wines?
When the islands started being colonized in the 15th century, the super-religious Portuguese Crown immediately introduced the Catholic Church to the area. The Catholic religious orders that settled in the Azores, namely the Franciscans, started, as they used to do on the mainland, to plant vines.
This was because when the priests got there, they noticed similarities between the soil and climate conditions of some of the islands and those of Sicily. They started to plant the most known grape type (the ‘Verdelho’) and it grew quickly. The priests then started to plant vines throughout all of the islands.
The wines soon became known all over Europe, being exported to the North of Europe and even to Russia, especially the wine produced in Pico. It is thought of as being greatly appreciated by the Tsars of Russia, as after the Bolshevik Revolution some Pico Verdelho wine bottles were found in the basements of the old Tsars.
Nowadays, however, after the vine diseases attacked the islands, only Pico, Terceira, and Graciosa (the islands known as the Central Group) managed to keep their vine planting tradition.
In 2004, the certification of VR (‘Vinho Regional’ or Regional Wine) was introduced to the Azores. It included all dry red and white wines that complied with the quality regulations of the VR. This made many producers in Pico (known for its liquor wine) try to make table wines.
However, even before this, in 1994, the region’s DOCs were created. These were 3 DOCs:
A DOC for liquor wines (mostly white), known for its complex spice taste, full-body, and well-structured.
The region is also known for having most of its vineyards in tiny walled plots known as ‘curraletas’, used to protect the vines from the Atlantic winds.
As said before, the soil is different from the rest of the islands. This is because the island is dominated by Pico Mountain, the highest point in all of Portugal, and it has a very rocky surface made out of black basalt. The other islands produce agricultural products, due to their soil being able to support various crops. However, in Pico, there are very few crops that one can grow besides grapes. Even grapes have lower yields than on other islands and production is aided with imported soil from the neighboring Faial island. This makes the island have the most wines since it’s basically the one crop that is good and profitable.
Currently, the island produces around 1 million liters of wine, with most of it staying on the island, but the production is believed to double soon, as well as exports.
Besides liquor wines, the region also produces non-liquor Verdelho wine, a wine that enjoys a great reputation in countries like Russia, Brazil, and the UK. However, these do not enjoy the DOC seal.
Quite similar to the Pico wine, Biscoitos wine is liquory, mostly white, with a spice taste, full-bodied and well-structured, and even being cultivated in the ‘curraletas’!
The name (which means ‘biscuits’ in Portuguese) is due to the region’s soil, which is really dark and stony, similar to the biscuits that the Portuguese navigators, in the Age of Discoveries, used as bread.
Climate and Terroir of Azores
Photo by Comanche0 on Pixabay
To understand the uniqueness of the Azorean vineyards, we must first understand the uniqueness of the Azorean islands themselves. Standing on the intersection of the American, African, and European tectonic plates, right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, these islands are a result of volcanic eruptions.
This means that all islands have fairly recent volcanic soil, which is great for vine production. The only exception is Pico which has deep soils made out of basaltic rocks and clay, which makes for even better production. These Terroirs, together with all the other conditions, create generous wines that have a unique acidity and freshness.
The Azorean climate is very temperate, as it is completed surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with average temperatures of around 13ºC in winter and 24ºC in summer.
It’s said that you can have every season in one day since the climate can change a lot in 24 hours, but it never rains more than a couple of days in a row. However, it does rain a lot and there’s lots of humidity.
As we’ve seen, most of the vines have to be planted in covered places because of this, and this is why there are the ‘currais’ or ‘curraletas’, stone walls where people plant the vines to protect them from the wind and the salty winds from the sea.
Grape and Wine Types in the Azores
Photo by jackmac34 on Pixabay
In the Azorean region as a whole, most of the wines are white or licquory and the most used grape varieties are the Verdelho (probably the mother variant of the other 2 varieties), Arinto dos Açores (unique to the islands) and Terrantez do Pico (a grape variety also unique to the islands and known for its saltiness). More specifically:
Pico and Biscoitos: Verdelho (although slowly disappearing in Pico, it’s the most common in Biscoitos), Arinto dos Açores (95% of Pico’s vineyards, since it’s the most resistant to deseases) and Terrantez do Pico.
Graciosa: Verdelho (also the most common grape type in Graciosa), Arinto dos Açores, Terrantez do Pico, Boal and Fernão Pires.
The reason for the lack of red wine is that the climate does not allow for good production of these wines, mainly due to the low sunlight that the region gets when compared to what the red grapes need. A small quantity is still produced, mostly of young wines, since the potential for aging is little.
Azores Wine Suggestions: Best Wines in Azores
As we’ve seen, the Azorian wines are of good quality and if you’re feeling curious to try these wines produced in the middle of the Atlantic, here are some brands that you can try:
Terrantez do Pico – Azores Wine Company
Arinto Sur Lies – Azores Wine Company
Verdelho O Original – Azores Wine Company
Muros de Magma – Adega Cooperativa dos Biscoitos
Curral Atlantis
Pedras Brancas – Adega e Cooperativa Agrícola da Graciosa
If you are traveling through the Azores, you have to visit the island with the highest mountain in all of Portugal, Pico Island. And while you’re there, why not discover the amazing wine landscape this island has to offer?
You will visit the vineyards of Criação Velha, as well as a wine laboratory where you will meet a professional winemaking engineer who will teach you all about the production of the region’s wine.
Then, after lunch, you will go to São Roque and pass through former wine production sites, before ending the tour at a wine cellar of a local producer and taste the best wines of Pico Island.
If, however, you are staying in Terceira Island, then this is a great trip to go on. You will have the chance to sightsee around the island, going into the hidden spots that only the locals know, and taste the island’s wines and moonshines. Besides that, you will also have an amazing barbecue lunch!
Know more about this volcanic wine region in this activity! Your guides will be an Azorean family that will teach you all about this unique wine, as well as offer you local food, all of this in a relaxed party environment in their dining room. For the people who would prefer a nice, chilled introduction to this wine with nice people, this is a great activity.
After taking a dip in the many stunning beaches on the island of Madeira or experiencing the iconic basket cars, a nice cold drink is always ideal. From retirees to young digital nomads and tourists, the nightlife in Funchal is welcoming and open to all. Madeira’s all-year-round warm climate makes it so that every night feels like a summer night, perfect to hit the bars. It’s important to find the right bar for you, one that is not totally filled by tourists so you can manage to actually order a drink at the bar. If you’re overwhelmed by the endless nightlife options, we have selected our favorite bars in Funchal so that you can avoid the tourist traps and experience the island like a local.
23 Vintage Bar, located in the Old Town of Funchal, seeks to bring back the spirit of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, focusing on the decades of New Wave, Pop, and the first years of Dance music. This bar turns into a club later in the evening and is the perfect spot for those who want a ride down memory lane. The bar’s motto: “Because we are never too old”. On Friday nights at this place, you will get to dance the night away to Modern Talking, Kylie Minogue, and Lenny Kravitz, while Saturday nights are usually the classic jukebox night. The crowd at this place is diverse in age and on weekends, 23 Vintage Bar is open until the early hours of the morning.
Photo provided by bar.Photo provided by bar.
2. Mini Eco Bar
Located in Funchal, Mini Eco Bar is an eco-friendly bar for a guilt-free night out. The bar’s furniture has been sourced through Fresh Home, where the pieces displayed have been made out of waste. All the waste produced at the bar is recycled, the LEDs lighting the space are low consumption, and all the appliances are classed A for energy efficiency. Along with hosting incredible nights out, Mini Eco Bar welcomes new artists and regularly displays groundbreaking art and performances.
Photo provided by bar.Photo provided by bar.
3. Dash Cocktail Bar
Boasting a shelved bar that fills the main wall of the bar, you’re spoilt for choice at Dash Cocktail Bar in Funchal. From the best craft cocktails, homemade infusions, and syrups, you’re bound to find the perfect drink for you. Dash offers seasonal menus, meaning the cocktail menu is altered to complete the seasonal ingredients available at the time, guaranteeing the best quality with fresh products. If you’re looking for an elevated night out, Dash Cocktail Bar is the place to be.
Photo provided by bar.Photo provided by bar.
4. Bananas Pub
Located near Igreja do Socorro, Bananas Pub is often filled with visitors of all ages, particularly on warm summer nights. This place is known for its tasty ponche and wine selection, as well as affordable prices. The staff makes you feel that inviting Madeirense hospitality, always with a smile on their face. Although they serve Portuguese meals during the day and for dinner, at night Bananas Pub transforms into a bar with live music. On weekends, it’s open until 2 am.
Photo provided by bar.Photo provided by bar.
5. Taberna Popular
Looking for a place to watch the game or play some foosball? Head to Taberna Popular right next to Santa Clara Monastery for a relaxed night out the Portuguese way. You don’t always need a fancy cocktail in a martini to have a good night. Instead, enjoy a beer at this bar or bring it outside to enjoy those summer nights. The prices are incredible: shots for 1 euro and for the larger groups of friends, 26 shots for 16 euros only.
Photo provided by bar.
6. Venda Velha
Venda Velha recreates a Madeirense concept of the 20th-century, joining the idea of a tasca where the locals get together for drinks and large windows where the locals would go to communicate via notes and mail. The bar Venda Velha does not operate in this way but pays respect to the times through vintage elements and furniture such as radios from the 20s, wall lanterns, and more. Venda Velha’s exterior looks like a traditional home and guests enjoy drinks around its perimeter, making it quite busy on warm summer nights.
Photo provided by bar.Photo provided by bar.
7. FugaCidade
Known for its quality craft beer, FugaCidade translates to “city escape”, a place away from the business of the city and the stresses of everyday life. Try out their selection of Portuguese craft beers, their Portuguese wines, accompanied by a lovely cheeseboard. The perfect spot to still your mind after a hard day at work, their prices will ease your mind as well. Watch out for their happy hours!
The Portuguese parliament has approved on Friday, April 29 the State Budget 2022, after two days of debate. The Socialist majority government’s proposal passed with votes against from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Enough (Chega), Liberal Initiative (IL), the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), and the Left Bloc (BE). The two members of parliament from Livre and PAN abstained. Due to the Socialist Party’s (PS) recent majority in parliament with 117 seats, the party was able to pass the state budget without needing the support of other parties. Before the January 2022 General Election, the state budget was rejected as PS did not hold a majority.
PS states that their state budget is directed at uplifting the middle-class and young people, many arguing it is the most left-wing state budget in Portuguese history. They want to invest further in public services such as the National Healthcare Service (SNS) and education, as well as increase the minimum salary, combat climate change, and tackle inequality. The state budget is hundreds of pages long so we have got you covered with an overview of the most important points.
Although the state budget has been approved, until the end of May, minor alterations can still occur such as amendments but the budget is expected to remain mostly the same.
Portugal’s State Budget 2022 Overview
Minimum Wage & Taxes
The national minimum salary will increase to €750 by 2023 and public workers get a 0.9% raise.
The state budget will make the income tax (IRS) brackets more progressive with an “unfolding” of the third and sixth tax brackets, as seen below. The state budget document states that the revision of the tax brackets from 2018 to 2022 will provide tax relief of over 500 million euros to Portuguese families.
By 2022, parents can deduct €900 from their taxes for their second child up to the age of 6 years old.
There are also tax reductions for families with a second child, as seen in the next section.
Families & Children
In the case of families in extreme poverty, for every child until 17 years of age, parents will receive €1,200+ a year or €100 a month by 2023. This measure will be implemented through phases, guaranteeing €840 annually in 2022.
Allowances for informal careers all over the country.
Free daycare measure: from 2022/2023 daycares with agreements with the social security system will be free for all children up to one years old. From 2023/2024 the free childcare measure will include children up to 2 years old, instead of kids that are up to 1 year old. By the year after that, all children entering a creche, a school for kids under the age of 3, and children moving to the second and third year of primary school, will also take advantage of free childcare. This is a gradual measure that is thus set to take around 3 years.
Tax reductions for families with a second child. A couple with two kids making a yearly gross income of €47,600 will save €330 a year, as seen below.
Young People
IRS Jovem (Income Tax for Young People), tax relief for young people starting their careers for 5 years, will now include freelance/self-employment. Those between 18 and 26 (or 28 if they have a doctorate) with at least a Bachelor’s will not have to pay either 30%, 20%, or 10% of their income tax for the first 5 years.
Programa Regressar (Program Return), for the next 4 years at least, this program allows those who have emigrated, particularly young people who are qualified to come back to Portugal until 2023 to get a tax relief of 50% on their IRS for 5 years.
Climate Change
The budget includes a €3.8 allocation of funds to combat climate change and for the environment. The government has stated that this amount is a 30% increase in relation to 2021.
Decabornization efforts will be reinforced through the promotion of public transport with €250 million in support.
Includes plans to further the objective to reduce 55% of greenhouse gases by 2030, in comparison to 2005.
Plan to have 47% of energy produced by renewables by 2030, such as through green hydrogen.
Development actions to fight energy poverty by partnering with local entities.
Financial support to purchase private electric vehicles, as well as an increase in public electric vehicles.
6% reduced VAT rate for solar panels.
Public Services
Budget increase for the National Health Service (SNS) of €700 million.
€900 million investment in public schools for two years to increase staff and necessary resources.
Digital equipment will be installed in classrooms, as well as resources for robotics projects.
Companies
Creation of the Tax Incentive for Recuperation (IFR) for the second semester of 2022, allowing for the reduction of 25% from the Corporate Tax (IRC) for new investments
Progressive elimination of the Special Payment on Account (PEC). This was an advance on tax payments applied to industrial, agricultural, and commercial companies, as well as non-resident entities.
Mitigating Geopolitical Impact
To mitigate the impact of inflation due to the war in Ukraine and protect the purchasing power of residents, the government will implement a series of measures, many of which are already in place.
The AUTOvoucher program was reinforced from €5 to €20 until the end of April. From now on, the measure will be replaced by a reduction in the Tax on Fuel (ISP) equivalent to a VAT charge of 13%.
The suspension on the carbon tax increase over fuels will remain until the end of the year.
To protect the most vulnerable families, the budget includes temporary measures including a €60 support for food products and a €10 support for gas bottles.
Impact of Portuguese State Budget 2022 on Expats and Internationals
The Socialist Party believes that immigration is necessary to sustain the development of both the Portuguese economy and the positive change in demographics. The party states they want to continue with progressive immigration policies that reflect their values of tolerance and openness, one that the budget arguably reflects. Although this was decided prior to the state budget, the Portuguese Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) will be replaced by the Portuguese Agency of Migration and Asylum (APMA). It will no longer act as a law enforcement institution, but rather one of an administrative function. The party also wants to create a digital platform for immigrants to reduce the bureaucracy that Portuguese administrative functions are known for. This platform would make applying for a visa and uploading documents easier. PS also wants to simplify the types of visas out there and the complicated processes for each one, so that the overall immigration process runs more smoothly.
Regarding the Portugal Golden Visa, there are no plans to abolish it. However, since January 2021, those looking to be eligible for a Portugal Golden Visa can no longer purchase property in Lisbon and Porto, only some parts of the interior of the country. It is still possible that more restrictions or a total ban could occur. However, this is unlikely to happen in the next year(s).
State Budget Debate: Views of Portuguese Parties on State Budget
Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Liberal conservatism, center-right – 76 seats
The Social Democratic Party was founded in 1974 and is a center-right party with both conservative and liberal economic ideologies. It is the second-largest party after PS. PSD argues that the state budget will reduce the purchasing power of the population due to inflation. The leader of PSD Rui Rio calls this an austerity measure through inflation saying, “if as proposed salaries only increase by 0.9% when inflation in the eurozone has surpassed 7%, it’s clear that salaries will lose at least 4% of their purchasing power for 2022”.
ENOUGH (CHEGA)
Right-wing populism & national conservatism, Far-right – 12 seats
A far-right and nationalist party, ENOUGH was founded in 2019 by the leader Andre Ventura. This party believes that people living off social benefits are “leeches” of the state who do not want to work. They campaign for life imprisonment (which is not legal in Portugal), as well as chemical castration for child abusers. Chega believes that “Portuguese people will lose income” and that the budget “is a return to austerity”.
Liberal Initiative (IL)
Classical liberalism, center-right to right-wing – 8 seats
The Liberal Initiative was founded in 2017 and is the first liberal party in Portugal. Led by João Cotrim Figueiredo, the party focuses on the individual rather than the collective. IL campaigns for right-wing economics such as reducing taxes and promoting a flat income tax for all, as well as less “dependence” on social welfare. The Liberal Initiative (IL) argues that the State Budget for 2022 is failing young people, public workers, pensioners, and companies, seeking alterations to neutralize the impact of inflation.
Left Bloc (BE)
Democratic socialism, left-wing to far-left – 5 seats
Led by Catarina Martins, the Left Bloc is a feminist, ecosocialist, and anti-racist party that from 2019 until 2022 functioned as an opposition force. BE wants to allow immigrants and residents in Portugal to vote in parliamentary elections, reduce transport prices, as well as fight job insecurity and raise the minimum wage. The leader of the Left Bloc, Catarina Martins has said that “Shutting up the right with a right-wing program is the opposite of a leftist budget”, accusing Prime Minister Antonio Costa of “repeating the old mantras of the right”.
Portuguese Communist Party (PCP)
Marxism-Leninism, left-wing to far-left – 6 seats
Led by Jeronimo de Sousa, PCP follows a Marxist-Leninist, communist, and anti-fascist ideology. The Portuguese Communist Party has voted against the state budget proposal arguing it is the same one as before and that it does not favorƒp workers and value their salaries. Jeronimo de Sousa said, “Inequalities and injustices, dependency and submission to external impositions, delays, and structural failures. None of this seems to justify a global response”.
PAN was founded in 2009 and became known for fighting for animal rights, as well as environmental justice. The party holds ecofeminist, animalist, and progressive ideologies. PAN’s only member of parliament Ines Sousa Real has abstained but has seven pages of measures approved in the document that address the climate crisis. However, she argues the budget does little to reduce the country’s dependency on fossil fuels, as well as make public transport free to reduce emissions.
FREE (LIVRE)
Eco-socialism & pro-Europeanism, center-left to left-wing – 1 seat
FREE, also known as Livre, was founded in 2014 by Rui Tavares. FREE’s ideology is ecosocialist, pro-European, feminist, anti-racist, and progressive. The party became known for supporting a trial of the Universal Basic Income, where every citizen would receive a sum of money to eradicate poverty. The only member of parliament from Livre, Rui Tavares abstained and called for a more ambitious state budget that rather than “repeating formulas from 2021, faces the crisis head-on”.
Why did the State Budget 2022 take so long to pass?
On October 27, 2021, the state budget for 2022 proposed by the Socialist minority government was rejected in the assembly, as all other parties voted against it, even left-wing ones such as the Left Block (BE) and the Communist Party (PCP). The left felt like the state budget plan was too moderate and did not go far enough to tackle inequality and protect workers’ rights. In contrast, right-wing parties such as the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Liberal Initiative (IL) felt like the plan would not alleviate the tax burden on individuals and corporations and that there should not be an increase in investment in public services. In turn, in November of 2021, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced snap elections set for January due to the collapse in the governing center-left/left alliance.
Then, on Sunday, January 30, 2022, Portugal held an early general election to elect 230 members to the Assembly of the Republic. The Socialist Party won a majority with 117 seats in the assembly, winning 9 more seats than in the last election. The new government entails a Socialist majority so the Socialist Party does not need to form a coalition with other parties. Now, with a majority, the same state budget has been able to be approved in parliament.
Portugal recently captured global headlines by announcing a change in its labor laws by making it illegal for bosses to contact employees outside work hours. This law was meant to tackle exploitation during the COVID pandemic and strengthen the country’s labor laws. This change sparked the notion that Portugal is a worker safe haven under socialist policies when in fact, this does not represent the whole truth.
When you compare Portuguese labor laws to those in the United States, where workers cannot afford to get sick, Portugal’s laws are there to protect workers. The maximum working week is 40 hours (even though this is often bypassed), workers get 22 working day vacations, as well as 12 public holidays. Full-time workers usually receive a bonus equal to one month’s salary in June and in December. If you are employed in Portugal you have the right to parental leave, regardless of your gender.
But Portugal’s labor laws do not always translate into positive labor conditions. For far too long, Portugal’s work culture has bred a toxic environment, expecting workers to work until late and miss out on time with their families. In fact, Portugal is the top European country where employees are experiencing the most burnout, with Greece and Latvia coming next. Employees work more hours compared to other European countries and the percentage of reporting risk factors affecting mental well-being at work is 38.6%.
One of the causes is that multinationals and huge corporations exploit workers, using loopholes in the law or fully ignoring labor laws to make employees work extra hours, declining their sick leave, and more. While the rhetoric of center-right parties such as the Liberal Initiative (IL) tends to highlight a corrupt state “enriching” itself on the back of citizens, they dismiss the corporate greed that actually leads to unjust work practices and job insecurity for those same citizens.
While more progressive changes to labor laws have been amended within recent years and the law offers a high degree of employment protection under the Portuguese constitution, not everyone is protected equally. Workers face labor market segmentation as employers choose to apply alternative forms of employment such as temporary agency work and independent contractors. These types of employment leave workers in insecure positions, without access to a reliable ongoing income, and impact those most vulnerable in society – particularly immigrants.
In April of 2022, the National Agriculture Confederation (CNA) accused the government of not addressing the issue of the exploitation of migrant agricultural workers in Alentejo. There have been countless reports of migrants without work contracts being exploited for agricultural labor, such as in Odemira. In January of 2022, The Guardian reported that a Nepalese migrant named Sagar picked berries for 16 hours a day in over 37C/100F heat for less than the legal minimum wage in Odemira. They were one of 10,000 migrant workers at risk of exploitation and abuse in Portugal’s $270m soft fruit industry.
It is common that migrant workers in these scenarios are waiting for their salaries, are not allowed to deduct their salary for Social Security (meaning no retirement pensions), and are working in precarious conditions without breaks or sustenance. In 2017, the consultancy Verisk Maplecroft even warned that Portugal was one of the 20 European countries that had increased its risk of modern slavery.
The minimum wage as of January 2022 stands at €705 in Portugal. Time and time again, center-right parties have voted against raising the minimum wage believing that it will make companies fire people. However, in an empirical study on OECD countries, researchers Lim and Kim (2018) found that increases in minimum wages have limited impacts on unemployment rates.
While the fear that small and medium-sized companies cannot afford to pay workers a minimum wage is understandable, this argument is too often made by large corporations. The largest employer in the country, with over 50,000 workers in Portugal, the multinational SONAE’s turnover grew by 4.7% in the first 9 months of 2021, surpassing 5 billion euros. Operational profitability improved by 5.6% to 415 million euros. The CEO of SONAE Claudia Azevedo, received over 1.6 million euros in 2021, while the year before, she received around 1.2 million euros, due to bonuses. Despite this 400,000 euro increase for the CEO, the salaries of most workers remain the same. In fact, the Portuguese government gave SONAE 450,000 euros to help the corporation pay their workers the minimum salary.
While the Socialist Party (PS) plans to increase the minimum salary from €705 to €900 by 2026, other left-wing parties in parliament believe this is too slow of a measure. The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) believes the country needs a short-term measure, having proposed altering the minimum wage in 2021 to €800 by 2022. The Left Bloc (BE) pushed for a similar but less drastic measure, proposing an increase to €853 by 2024. These fundamental differences between PS and the two left-wing parties eventually led to an early general election being held in January due to a failed state budget proposed by the Socialist Party.
While it is clear the left in Portugal is beyond fragmented and unwilling to work together to fight exploitation under capitalism, the Socialist Party’s majority win will allow the party to pass their state budget. Will the newly appointed center-left government be able to strengthen workers’ rights in Portugal and protect the most vulnerable from precarious working conditions? Only time will tell.
Every region of mainland Portugal will be facing high levels of pollen in the atmosphere until Thursday, according to the Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SPAIC). SPAIC has warned that outdoor activities should be avoided when pollen levels are this high.
In the region of Lisbon and Setubal, high pollen levels are predominantly found in olive and oak trees, nettle herbs, grasses, plantain, and chenopodium. In Porto, high pollen levels are present in oak and pine trees, as well as nettle grass.
The areas of Alentejo, Coimbra, and Algarve are also facing very high levels of pollen. However, this issue is not present in the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, as levels will remain low in these areas during the week.
SPAIC has stated, “Walks in the garden, cutting grass, camping, or practicing sports outdoors will increase the exposure to pollen and the risk of allergies”. The Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology believes that medication will be the most effective way to fight allergy symptoms. They also urge people to see allergology specialists to make sure they receive the correct diagnosis and medication.
With over 1 million immigrants living in Portugal, it is no surprise that Portugal is home to several high-quality international schools. From French, German, American, and British schools, finding an international school for your child comes with endless options. However, international schools are a lot more expensive than Portuguese private schools. Private international schools tend to cost anywhere between around €7,000 to almost €20,000 a year, depending on the school and your child’s grade. Portuguese private schools tend to cost anywhere between €400 and €500 per month, while public schools are completely free. If an international environment is best suitable for your child, we have selected the 5 best international schools in Portugal.
1. Deutsche Schule Lissabon – German School
Deutsche Schule Lissabon, also known as the German School is a private Portuguese and German-speaking school, one of the best schools in the country. Founded in 1848, the school is the second oldest German school in a foreign country. The school is divided into three parts, a Kindergarten and a Primary School in Lisbon and Estoril, as well as a secondary school in Telheiras, Lisbon. The school has a little over 1,000 students and a staff of 145 teachers and educators. Made up of 8 buildings, the primary school and social sciences have their own buildings. The school also has a library with around 12,000 books, 2 IT rooms, an auditorium, as well as a pool and terrace.
Around 80% of students are Portuguese and 20% are German. Learning both German and Portuguese is mandatory, but all students learn English starting in the third grade and French starting in the seventh grade. Students learn at least four languages throughout their school life at the German school.
The school is partially funded by the German Federal Republic, as well as by the tuition charged to parents.
German School Yearly Tuition Fees
The pre-enrolment fee costs €300 which will be refunded if the student is not admitted and the enrolment fee costs €550. Siblings of students get a discounted fee: 10% for the second child, 25% for the third child, 40% for the fourth child, and so on. The oldest child gets the largest discount, and the youngest does not get any. The yearly fees for the Kindergarten and Primary Education in Lisbon and Estoril include morning and afternoon snacks. The German School is one of the most affordable international schools in Portugal.
2. St Julian’s School
Established in 1932, St Julian’s is the largest British International School in Portugal with a strong record of academic achievements, serving the Portuguese and international community containing around 45 different nationalities. Located in Carcavelos, St Julian’s provides an international curriculum for students aged between 3 and 16 years old, based on the English National Curriculum. For those 17 and 18 years old, the school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB), a prestigious diploma. Along with an international curriculum, the school has a Portuguese section where children between the ages of 6 and 15 can access the Portuguese national curriculum, while still having some joint classes with international students, such as Art.
The school boasts incredible facilities such as an 18th-century palace housing the art and music department and the dining hall, as well as an assembly place, and a building opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 that houses the primary school. Along with other facilities, St Julian has some of the best school sports facilities in the country. These include outdoor tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, football and rugby pitches, a fitness room, as well as an indoor gymnasium.
St Julian’s School Yearly Tuition Fees
A one-time payment is made when a student enrolls at St. Julian’s which is non-refundable of €5,000. A registration fee for admission is also made when parents submit an application form to the Admissions Office of €1,000 which is also non-refundable. School lunch prices vary by age, but for a Year 13 student, this costs €896 a year. The school provides a sibling discount, where the third child gets a 15% discount and the subsequent siblings get a 25% discount. The oldest child is considered the first child to be enrolled and all children must be enrolled at the same time.
3. Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL)
Anthony McKenna founded a small American school in 1956 with only 9 students in an apartment in Pedrouços. With a passion for education, he planted the seed which would grow into the Carlucci American International School of Lisbon with over 700 students of 57 different nationalities. The curriculum includes an American collegial preparatory leading to the American High School Diploma with the option of pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) in the last two years of high school. Students who opt for the IB Diploma will also graduate with an American High School Diploma.
CAISL’s staff includes 98 full-time faculty members from all over the world, 69% of them being native English speakers. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 724 students represented 57 nationalities. 115 were American, 42 came from English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, and 185 were Portuguese. Over 30% had more than one nationality.
CAISL boasts high-quality facilities with a library media center with over 40,000 print items, fully equipped science laboratory classrooms, art, and music classrooms, a state-of-the-art 450-seat theater, cafeteria, and snack bar, 1400m2 covered gymnasium, as well as more than 10,000m2 of outdoor sports fields. There are computers in all classrooms, with 1 computer per student in grades 1 to 5 in the classroom, and one private laptop checked out for each student in grades 6 through 12.
CAISL is governed by the not-for-profit Fundação Escola Americana de Lisboa (FEAL).
CAISL School Yearly Tuition Fees
The registration fee is a one-time non-refundable payment of €500. A building fee is also mandatory and must be paid for the first five years a student is enrolled from Grades 1 to 12, used to support the school’s building expenses, costing €1,953 a year. The yearly fees do not include lunch, transportation, and after-school child care and activities. For EC3 to EC5, school lunches cost €736 a year and for grades 1 to 12, they cost €988 a year.
There are multiple discounts available for 2022-23. A 5% discount on tuition is provided if tuition is paid in full on or before June 15, 2022. A 5% discount on the building fee will also be provided for those who pay it in full on or before June 15, 2022, together with yearly tuition. Sibling discounts are also available, including a 15% discount on the tuition and building fee for a third child enrolled concurrently and a 25% discount on both for a fourth child (and any subsequent children) enrolled concurrently at CAISL. The sibling discounts are applied to the youngest children.
CAISL also offers financial assistance to some, having a small number of fee reductions granted annually for tuition. There must be evidence of financial need and the students must have been at CAISL for at least one year and must have positive academic and behavioral records.
4. Oporto British School
Founded in 1894, Oporto British School boasts a large Portuguese and international community, with the latter making up 48% of the school population of 540 students. The only International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) school in Northern Portugal, the school adopted the sixth form curriculum almost 30 years ago. Located in Foz do Douro, the school has around 600 students.
Oporto British School follows the British curriculum until the completion of the IGCSE, and then senior students follow the IB Diploma. Throughout their school life, students get to learn English, Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Mandarin. The average number of students per class is around 15, with 20 students being the maximum.
The sports facilities at the school are high-quality, including a sports hall with changing rooms and showers, an outdoor basketball court, a large grass area, and a football pitch. The school is divided into three houses: Braganca, Lancaster, and Windsor, representing the royal dynasties that have tied Portugal and British. The houses allow kids to have a sense of belonging and they are led by a Head of House, who coordinates the activities of tutors.
Oporto British School Yearly Tuition Fees
A non-refundable fee registration fee costs €150 and this fee does not guarantee a place. An acceptance fee that must be paid within two weeks of a student receiving an offer costs €450. Parents must also pay a refundable deposit equal to a one-term fee that is payable before admission. This fee varies and will be returned when the student leaves, provided a one term’s notice is given in writing or if the student graduates.
A capital and maintenance charge is also paid every year at the beginning of each academic year which costs €500. Insurance is charged annually at €40 for injuries. Examination fees are also charged for IGCSE and IBDP. School lunches are priced at €4.60 per meal in Primary and €5.70 per meal in Secondary, to be paid monthly.
Parents with more than two children in the school get a discount of 25% for the third child and a 50% discount for the fourth child. A 50% discount applies to any additional children.
5. King’s College School Cascais
Located in Cascais, King’s College School opens in September 2022 and is already making waves as an international school to look out for. Although it is the first of its kind in Portugal, King’s College has a 50-year history of delivering premium education internationally. Students will enjoy a curriculum based on the renowned Cambridge International Primary and Secondary curriculum, offering IGCSEs, and the IB Diploma for the older pupils. The school also offers a bilingual program up to Year 7, to ensure that students know Portuguese and English fluently.
An existing campus in Cascais will welcome students from the age of 1 to 13, expanding in 2023-24 to nearly 40,000 m2. The new campus will have the highest quality modern spaces, including sports facilities for student-athletes and a Boarding House for up to 50 students from 13 to 18 years old. The facilities include two gymnasiums, football, and rugby pitches, tennis and padel courts, a swimming pool, as well as performing arts rooms. There will also be science labs, a large hall, an auditorium, and many green spaces.
Run by Inspired, one of the world’s largest and most innovative education groups with over 70 premium schools on 5 continents, the group has provided education to over 55,000 students globally. They run a holistic curriculum focused on three pillars: Academics, Sport, and Creative & Performing Acts to ensure students become well-rounded individuals. Over 90% of Inspired students go on to attend their first-choice university.
King’s College School Yearly Tuition Fees
Founding students, enrolling in September of 2022, will benefit from a 25% discount on the 2022-23 yearly tuition fees. There is a one-time matriculation payment when enrolling a student of €2,000 for students in Early Years 1 to Year 7 and €5,000 for students in Year 8 and above. The application process also has a cost of €500. Uniform and extracurricular activities are not included in the yearly fee.
Lisbon’s nightlife is one of the best in all of Europe. From bars filling the cobblestoned streets to larger clubs, the city has a lot to offer. Before we get into the best clubs in Lisbon, let’s get into the nightlife culture and what to expect. In Lisbon, and all of Portugal really, you don’t just go out to a club. You start off at a bar until around at least 1 am and then you head out to your favorite club for some dancing. If you decide to go to the club earlier, chances are it will be mostly empty. Clubs usually close anywhere between 7 and 8 am so you can literally party all night long.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. First, be prepared to smell like an ashtray the morning after. Although smoking cigarettes inside indoor public spaces are forbidden, this is not enforced. Lisbon clubs also oftentimes overcharge tourists. If the bouncer says that you need to spend a minimum of over €100, you are being ripped off. Entrances to clubs in Lisbon never go over €15. Lisbon clubs also allegedly have a huge problem with racism, as they often deny entrance to people of color, such as allegedly, Urban Beach.
If you’re overwhelmed by the endless nightlife options, we have selected our 6 favorite clubs – your very own guide to clubs in Lisbon, Portugal.
Founded in 1991 in Santa Apolonia, Lux Fragil is one of the most exclusive clubs in Lisbon and is renowned in Europe for its selection of electronic music DJs. Although in recent years many have argued the club has lost its charm and quality, Lux Fragil is still the best club in the Portuguese capital. Major DJs from all over Europe play in Lux every week and the club mostly plays techno, especially downstairs. Lux offers views of the Tagus river from its balcony, as well as a rooftop terrace that opens in the summer. The dress code for Lux is not formal so no need to wear heels and a dress – you’ll be the only one. However, you should try to dress nice, even if you´re wearing sneakers. Men wearing shorts will probably not be allowed in. Even then, you might still be denied entrance at the door.
2. Trumps
Founded in the 80s, Tumps is the most iconic gay club in all of Lisbon and an integral player in the capital’s queer history. Located in Principe Real, the club is mostly full on Saturday nights and plays house and dance music, as well as pop. Known for its quality drag queen nights, Trumps welcomes all and is actually quite popular with straight women. What’s more, Trumps hosts art exhibitions and cultural events showcasing queer art during the day. Internationally renowned artists have performed at Trumps including Fergie and Conchita Wurst, as well as queer Portuguese icons such as the one and only António Variações. The club has its own productions, dancers, DJs, and drag queens and has also co-hosted events around the world such as World Pride.
Photograph: Marta Ribeiro. Provided by establishment.Photograph: Marta Ribeiro. Provided by establishment.
3. Kremlin
Founded in 1988 in Santos, Kremlin was once named the third best club in the world during the 90s. An underground space for decades, Kremlin plays electronic music and hosts world-famous artists of the techno scene. The club boasts stunning stone floors but has also elevated the space to reflect the modern times with an updated light and sound system, as well as a VIP area, three bars, and a large dance floor. At Kremlin, you can dress as you wish and are free to express yourself. However, some rules remain all over Portugal such as men not wearing shorts.
4. Ministerium
Located in Praca do Comercio, Ministerium opened in 2012 on the former headquarters of the Portuguese Minister of Finances and features vaulted ceilings for a classic architectural look. While more recent than Lux, Ministerium has been making waves in Europe as a big player in the house and electronic music scene. DJs such as Maya Janes Coles and Carl Craig have been welcome to play at Ministerium. This club has a large dance floor, a mezzanine level with views of the dance floor, a rooftop terrace, as well as a private room for events. The bouncers at this place tend to judge outfits harshly so make sure to wear something trendy – without overdoing it.
5. Lust in Rio
Located in Cais do Sodre, Lust in Rio was founded in 2017 and hosts some of the best hip hop nights in Lisbon, known as “Swag On” nights every Wednesday. Lust in Rio features two dance floors and an open-air club that is open in the summer and overlooks the Tagus river. The club also offers a VIP section that often is filled with football players and celebrities. You can get a private table with bottle service for around €250 for 8-10 people, as well as order some shisha. Lust in Rio is not as restrictive when it comes to the dress code as Lux, but the bouncers are still quite harsh as in most Lisbon clubs. There is no need to go over the top, the key is to find a stylish outfit.
6. The Docks Club
Located in Alcantara, The Docks Club is known for being one of the best clubs in Lisbon for Afrobeat and hip hop, as well as a favorite of Angolan locals. Also known as Docks, this club features six bars, three private areas, a terrace, and a larger main dancefloor surrounded by seating. The venue stands by the river and invites a trendy crowd of various ages, including 30 and 40 somethings, contrary to many other Lisbon clubs. The music tends to get louder throughout the nice, but Docks offers a stylish chillout zone on the terrace so that guests can relax in between dancing. The dress code at Docks is more elevated than in other Lisbon clubs, where many wear dresses and heels.
According to Idealista News, the median evaluation by banks for properties has reached a new record high. In only a month, the median values have increased by €17 per m2 and by €144 per m2 in a year. In March, the median value by banks was at €1,331 per m2, a €17 (1.3%) increase since the month prior, according to data revealed by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). This growth has accompanied the increase in property prices.
The evaluation of apartments grew by 13,5% in a year, while homes grew by 7,5%. For apartments, the median evaluation was at €1,476 per m2 in March, a 13.5% increase from the year prior and a 1% increase from the month prior. The highest value compared to the year before was seen in Algarve at €1,794 per m2 and the lowest in the Alentejo at €964 per m2. Apartments with three rooms saw the largest median value increase by €17 to €1,316.
For homes, the median evaluation grew to €1,067 per m2 in March, a 7,5% increase from the year prior and a 1,9% increase from the month prior. The highest values were in the Algarve (€1,815) and the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon (€1,788), while Alentejo (€900) and the center of Portugal (€901) had the lowest values. Homes with two rooms saw the largest median value increase by €46 to €1,047 per m2.
There were 32,000 bank evaluations of properties in March of 2022, 23,5% more than in the month prior.
Whenever you apply for a mortgage in a bank, the bank will conduct an evaluation of the property you are going to buy in order to set the amount that will be loaned. While for residents, banks tend to give out loans of 80% to 90% of the value of the property, non-residents will only be offered 65% to 70% of the value of the property. Therefore, for most, it is important that bank evaluations continue to increase as house prices do so that your mortgage loan covers as much as possible of the price of the home.
Bairrada is a Portuguese wine region in the province of Beira Litoral in the center region of the country. It stretches between the cities of Águeda and Coimbra until the dunes of the Atlantic coast side, being a small and narrow region on the coast. It includes the cities of Anadia, Cantanhede, Mealhada, and Oliveira do Bairro.
It borders the region of Lafões (an IPR – ‘Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada’, or Indication of Regulated Provenance) and Dão (DOC).
The region has the classification of DOC (‘Denominação de Origem Controlada’ or Controlled Origin Denomination), the highest wine classification in Portugal. The certification of the different wines are made by the Wine Commission of Bairrada (CVB). It’s known for its red wines with dense colors, elevated tannins, and often bell pepper and black currant flavors, made with the local grape type ‘Baga’. The white and sparkling wines are also of high quality, due to the diversity of terrain in the region, and the rosé production is fairly new but growing.
Besides having a long history, the classification is fairly recent. The DOC for white and red wine was certified in 1979 and for sparkling wine, it was in 1991. Besides the DOC, the region also has an IG (‘Indicação Geográfica’ or Geographical Indication), the IG Beira Atlântico also known as ‘Vinho Regional’ (Regional Wine) Beira Atlântico.
This region has a fertile terrain with some hills (not like some other wine regions, so we can consider it ‘flat’), even though most vineyards are made on flat lands, and a mild, maritime climate with a lot of rainfall due to its proximity to the ocean.
It’s here that around 2/3 of the national sparkling wine production takes place, with the city of Anadia being nicknamed ‘Capital do Espumante’ or ‘Sparkling Wine Capital’.
The wine production in Bairrada can be traced back to the 10th century when the region was conquered by the Christian Portuguese from the Moors.
Due to its proximity to Porto, this region was used already in the 17th century by the Port wine producers who would blend Bairrada wines with the wines coming from the Douro region and sold them to the British, as to be able to supply this growing market.
In the 19th century, this wine region became known by its own name as one that had good quality wines. This was because people that were traveling throughout the country would stop there for the famous ‘Bairrada piglet’, a very famous dish in all of Portugal, and would drink the region’s wines.
In 1867, a scientist named António Augusto de Aguiar studied the wine production systems and defined the region’s borders. 20 years later, he started the Practical Wine School of Bairrada, with the intention of promoting the region’s wines and better the planting and production techniques. The first outcome of the school was the creation of sparkling wines in the region, in 1890.
And this was what made the region known! Famous for being fruity with a mineral touch and a good structure, the sparkling Bairrada wines are a reference and made it the biggest producer of this wine in Portugal!
With time, other wines also earned their space, since the producers started to experiment with ‘Baga’, the native grape type of the region. This is the main grape used for red wines and the thing that differentiates it from the rest is its potential for aging which can get to 30 or 40 years easily, and can be used both for still wines and sparkling ones.
The region then became known internationally with the work of the Engineer Luís Pato, who became known as ‘Mr. Baga’. He did a thorough work with these grapes, discovering how to get a better and more authentic wine with them, with the minimum outside interference.
Nowadays, the region is very well known both for its cuisine and for its sparkling wines, putting the idea in the Portuguese culture that when you eat piglet, it must be with a glass of sparkling wine!
Bairrada Wine Region
This region borders the Mondego River on its southern border, the Vouga River on its northern border, the Atlantic Ocean on its East, and the mountains of Buçaco and Caramulo on its West. Besides this, the region has a low altitude.
Bairrada’s location and its climate and soil characteristics make it a unique region. It has a mild and temperate climate with a lot of rainfall, due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The winters are fresh, long, and rainy, while the Summers are hot but freshened by the Atlantic winds. During the period of the ripening of the grapes, the region has a big thermal amplitude, with the temperature variation reaching 20ºC of difference between the daytime and nighttime.
In this region, there are mainly 2 types of soil used for the production of several wine types: the sandy ones, and the more clayey or muddy ones, from where the name ‘Bairrada’ came (clay in Portuguese is ‘barro’, so Bairrada).
The vineyards are usually planted in small discontinued plots of land that are shared with other crops. This means that the soil changes a lot, making it influence the type of wine that is created there.
Bairrada Wine Grape Types
Photo by marcosantiago on Pixabay
Baga
The most famous grape type in the region, as we’ve mentioned, is the Baga grape. It’s the dominant grape for red wines here and it’s usually planted on the clayish soils. These soils and the region’s climate make its wines be filled with color, highly acidic, and very rich in tannins, giving them a lot of longevity. This grape can be used both for red wines and for the region’s sparkling wines.
Red Wine Grapes
However, besides Baga, other grapes are used for red wines there, such as the Alfrocheiro, Camarate, Castelão, Jaen, Touriga Nacional, and Aragonez grapes. But by law, the Baga grape cannot represent less than 50% of the grapes.
White Wine Grapes
As for white wine grapes, the main ones would be Bical and Fernão Pires (which, in the region is called ‘Maria Gomes’). They are usually also planted in the clayish terrain of the region and create delicate and aromatic white wines. Other grapes include: Arinto, Cercial, Rabo de Ovelha and Verdelho.
Sparkling Wine
Recently, it became allowed for the planting of international grape types, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir and they now share the land with the Portuguese native grapes.
This way, the wines used as a base for natural sparkling wine have to be made with either Arinto, Baga, Bical, Cercial, Maria Gomes, Rabo de Ovelha, Água-Santa, Alfrocheiro-Preto, Bastardo, Castelão, Cercialinho, Chardonnay, Jean, Moreto, Preto Mortágua, Tinta Pinheira or Trincadeira grapes.
Wine Production in Bairrada
The DOC Bairrada seal can be used in White, Red, Rosé, and Sparkling Wines, as well as in “Aguardentes Bagaceiras”, a kind of very strong spirit, traditional throughout Portugal.
The vines that are used for making these wines, should have at least 4 years of grafting. Manual watering should only be done in extreme cases since it should be watered naturally by the rain.
These wines are fixed at 55hl for the red wines and 70hl for the white, rosé, and sparkling. After these numbers, the bottled wine would be considered ‘Table Wine’.
To have the seal, the wine should be approved by the CVB and recognized by the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho (Institute of the Vine and Wine).
The Portuguese Law specifies the authorized and recommended grape types for the wine production in the Bairrada DOC, also giving directions on how to make the different types of wines.
The wines that don’t follow these directions or don’t have the approved grape types, can’t get the DOC Bairrada seal and get the IG or ‘Vinho Regional’ Beira Atlântico seal.
Bairrada Wine Suggestions: Best Wine in Bairrada
In case you’re looking to buy a good Bairrada wine, here are some brands you can trust to have a very good experience, according to the 2019 contest “The Best Bairrada Wines 2019”:
White Wines
São Domingos
Medusa Reserva Branco
Positive Wine
Rosé
Quinta do Poço do Lobo
Marquês de Marialva
QMF Blush
Red Wines
Casa do Canto
Touriga Nacional
Ânfora 296
As for Sparkling Wines, according to the CVB 2020 contest “Bairrada Sparkling Wines Contest 2021”, these are some of the best brands:
If you’re a nature AND a wine lover, this is the best trip for you! Visit the prestigious Bairrada wine region and learn about its winemaking history and heritage while you taste this region’s famous sparkling wine.
Afterward, explore the amazing Bussaco Forest, filled with incredible nature and beautiful monuments! Then, stop at a local restaurant to try the main dish of the region, the roasted piglet.
If you’re in the area of Aveiro or Coimbra but you want to get out of the city and spend a day in the chilled wine country, catch this tour. You will spend an entire day visiting different vineyards in Bairrada and learning about the winemaking process while tasting the different wines. You will be able to see all around the vineyard, from walking between the vines to going to the cellar tunnels.
Now this one is for the sporty people out there! You will get the best of all the worlds, with the wonderful scenery of the vineyards while you cycle throughout Bairrada Route and a visit to one of the traditional wineries to finish with a tasteful wine tasting.
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