Portuguese wine & drinks

  “Vinho Verde is called “green wine” because the grapes are unripe.” “Vinho Verde is a type of Portuguese white wine.” “Vinho Verde is fizzy!” “You should drink Vinho Verde while it’s still young!” Feat photo by Divvino No one who actually understands Vinho Verde has ever said any of these! Vinho Verde often evokes…

  Just a short drive from Lisbon, Vila Franca de Xira presents an inviting day trip destination that is massively overlooked both by international travelers and even locals in the Portuguese capital. This picturesque town, located along the banks of the Tejo River, opens a window to Portugal’s traditional countryside, particularly interesting for those who…

  While in Lisbon you may forget the notion of food trucks as places for just a quick bite on the go. Of course these options do exist and, as much as we’d love to, there isn’t always enough time for a leisurely meal. But, in recent years, particularly thanks to tourism, our city has…

  Brunch, the delightful combination of breakfast and lunch, has traversed the globe, evolving from its late 19th century English origins as a meal for Saturday-night party people to a fashionable and leisurely meal enjoyed worldwide. Its acceptance into various cultures over the years clearly showcases its brunch is here to stay. In the United…

  Just a stone’s throw from the bustling streets of Lisbon, Seixal on the southbank of the Tagus river, offers a serene escape, making it an ideal day trip from the city, for both locals and travelers alike. Reaching Seixal from downtown Lisbon is quite easy. For those with a car, a mere 20 minute…

  Nestled in the heart of Portugal, Mafra is more than just a picturesque place. As the main city in the Zona Saloia, Mafra embodies the country’s rich agricultural history. This region, historically significant as the primary breadbasket for Lisbon, still resonates with the echoes of its past. Here, agriculture was not just a practice…

  Traditional Portuguese cuisine is notoriously not the most accessible option for those who choose to eat a plant based diet. But at least in Lisbon, just like in most major cities around the world, the number of vegan restaurants offering vegetable based dishes has been increasing in recent years.  Whether it’s done for the…

  What makes a bar great? According to some of the world’s best bartenders, as interviewed by 50 Best Stories, there are certain characteristics that should come together for a bar to stand out. The decor and ambience of the place of course matter, as they’re the first thing customers see when they walk through…

  Sintra is a world-famous destination and one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon. Even though many travelers do make it to Sintra, at least for the day, not that many make it a point to go beyond the town’s city center. Indeed Sintra has a lot to see, do and eat, but…

  As we always like to stress, there is no best time to travel to Lisbon, because every season of the year has its particular appeal and there is always something going on in the Portuguese capital. But one thing is for sure, if you are not a fan of the warm weather, you have…

  We love being high! We mean high up in Lisbon’s best rooftop bars, where you can share a bottle of wine with your friends, drink a signature cocktail, feel the summer breeze as it gently hits your hair and, of course, enjoy marvelous views of the Portuguese capital. As Lisbon is the “city of…

  At Taste of Lisboa we firmly believe that, with good food, there shall be good drinks! We have previously explored some of the essential beverages you should try while in Portugal (including non-alcoholic options); we have talked extensively about Portuguese wine culture and the diverse wine regions across our country; explored the world of…

Many visitors who come to Lisbon take a day trip to Cascais, a popular seaside city perfect for a leisurely stroll on a sunny day. But not everyone is aware that, in between Lisbon and Cascais (the area which we refer to in Portuguese as Linha de Cascais, that is, the line towards Cascais) there’s…

  For those who agree with us in thinking that food festivals are a great excuse to travel to places you might have not thought of going to otherwise, today we have plenty of appetizing suggestions. For a fairly small country, Portugal has a range of food options that tend to make locals proud. It’s…

  Many travelers come to Lisbon attracted by the sunny weather and temperate climate. Even though temperatures are fairly moderate all year long, especially when compared to other European capitals, it does get a little cold during the winter. If you were to ask us, we’d say that there’s no ideal time to visit Lisbon,…

  The concept of craft beer took a little longer to spread around Lisbon than in some parts of the world. But once the trend caught on, what happened is akin to what happens when you start drinking… you tend to keep going. Portuguese artisanal brews started becoming common less than a decade ago. Until…

  Talking about the Portuguese way of life and daily habits is synonymous with talking about coffee. The average Portuguese adult drinks at least two espresso coffees a day, which ends up amounting to about four kilos of coffee grains per person per year. No wonder wherever you go in Portugal, whether it’s in an…

  Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson once said that “wine is bottled poetry” and it just so happens that our country is full of lyricists! No matter if it’s rhymed poetry or free verse, the Portuguese have historically been very keen on wine production and consumption. When you visit Portugal, we’d always recommend visiting at…

  There are over seventy million Portuguese people all over the world. Considering that our country is home to just about ten million, you can imagine coming across a Portuguese citizen or person of Portuguese descent in different corners of the world is not that hard.  Central Europe is one of the regions where, historically,…

  Christmas is around the corner and while Santa may have something different in mind for everyone, we’re the kind of people who’d always hope for edible gifts! We have a feeling we’re not the only ones… Whether you’re shopping for someone special or, very rightfully so, browsing for your own delight, we’d love to…

  Portuguese are one of the main nationalities that make up the high emigration society of France. Between Portuguese born and those of Portuguese ancestry, the number of individuals who identify as Portuguese in France these days reaches almost two million people! Most Portuguese immigration to France happened back in the decades of the 60s…

  It was May of 1498 when the Portuguese first arrived in Asia. The expedition led by explorer Vasco da Gama reached India thus tightening the relationships between Europeans and Asians. Since the 15th century, cultural exchanges between both continents have been ongoing and this has been remarkable in several aspects of life, including food….

  Port is Portugal’s most acclaimed fortified wine and, arguably, one of the most popular fortified wines all over the world. Many enjoy the sweetness and complexity of this beverage often served as an appetizer or, even more commonly, as a dessert wine. But do they know how Port came to be or how to…

  There’s a theory that claims that the Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Australia back in the 16th century, even though Dutch navigators are normally associated with the “discovery” of this continent. Either way, it was three centuries later when the first Portuguese settlers started arriving in Sydney. Nowadays, there are a little…

  Among the 13 different regions that make up the wine map of Portugal, today we invite you to travel to the Atlantic, to the Portuguese islands of Madeira and Azores. If Madeira has been popular for a while due to its famed fortified wine by the same name, we’d love to introduce you to other…

  In recent years, Portuguese wine has grown in popularity around the world, while also more and more travelers with a keen interest in gastronomy and wine keep visiting our country. When you think of wine from Portugal beyond our borders, chances are the first reference that comes to mind is Port wine. This fortified…

  Portuguese Canadians make up almost 2% of Canada’s population. In a country where the notably multicultural society is made of people hailing from all corners of the world, it’s curious to notice how our small country of Portugal makes such a significant number of the total inhabitants.  Portuguese and Portuguese descent residents concentrate mostly…

  An estimated quarter million Portuguese nationals are currently living in the United States of America. This may mean several things but, from our hungry perspective, this statistic makes us think that good Portuguese food in the US can’t be that hard to come by! While Portuguese and Portuguese descent folks, also known as Luso-Americans,…

  The beginning of the migration of Portuguese people to the UK dates back to the 15th century, when the Jews who were being persecuted in the Portuguese territory found a safer home in Britain. Yet, if we can count up to 400,000 Portuguese people in the UK these days, it’s mainly because of the…

  At Taste of Lisboa we’re committed to bringing you the best flavors of Portugal no matter where in the world you are! Ideally, we look forward to welcoming you in Lisbon for one of our food & cultural walks. Roaming up and down the city of the seven hills, exploring small local businesses, stopping…

  Think of Portugal and drinks such as Port wine, vinho verde and ginjinha immediately come to mind. Portugal not only has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption in Europe, our country also has a long tradition of producing high quality wines and other alcoholic drinks that beautifully complement our gastronomic offerings. But…

  Traveling broadens the mind and so does tasting foreign cuisines around the world. There’s nothing like visiting a given place and taking your time to explore the local dishes, drinks and customs to start understanding the local way of life.  But what happens when you do miss those holidays in Portugal, you’re craving for…

    We were inspired by Wine Folly’s article Wine and Junk Food Pairings That Actually Work to explore the addictive world of Portuguese snacks and find local wines to wash it all down in style. If we often talk about wine selections for typical dishes, complex contemporary recipes or even desserts, why can’t the…

  The hot weather has arrived in Lisbon and it seems to be here to stay. With it, we can’t help but think about spending time with friends over food and drinks. If going out for dinner is something we tend to do all year long here in Portugal, as soon as Spring rolls in…

The names sound a bit offensive, we have to admit. Bitch (Vadia), Damned (Maldita) and Miser (Sovina) are somehow chocking out of blue, but in this case we are talking about the latest trend in the beer universe: the microbreweries. Those beers are much softer than their names, we assure you! The brewing industy is…

There is a saying that where there are snacks and good food there is beer or wine to drink with it. And if the English prefer beer, the French wine and the Russians vodka, the Portuguese are beer lovers, but they are also fan of a good glass of wine. It depends on the menu…

For many travellers visiting Lisbon, the weather could not be better: blue sky, amazing sun and chilly. But for Alfacinhas (as lisboners are affectionately called) it is damn cooolldddd! To deal with low temperatures, nothing like hot and stiff drinks to warm hands, body and soul! Here are six recommendations for every tastes: Tea Lisbon…

  For the Portuguese, coffee is a true national passion and you don’t want to play with this subject. There are several ways to order a coffee and there are names for everything, depending on how one serves and what it serves. The ‘bica’, as they say in Lisbon, can be ‘curta’/short (stronger), normal, ‘quase…