Three days to taste the very best of wine by no other than the Essência do Vinho, and this time in an outdoor setting

This is another comeback to Porto that no written language can actually describe in an accurate fashion: the Wine Essence takes place in Porto, between 2 and 4 July, and this time in a different venue: the Gardens of the Palácio de Cristal.

As the saying goes, finding out about wine is like space travel: once you get going, there's no end in sight. That said, participants will be presented wines from 150 national and international producers and a wide-ranging programme of activities, including guided tastings by oenologists, producers and the wine tasters by the Revista de Vinhos magazine. These tastings have limited capacity, but can be performed online.

There will also be restaurants and live cooking sessions. Owing to the current pandemic context there are capacity constraints, mandatory testing and a rigorous safety and hygiene program that all visitors must comply with.

This outdoor summer edition of the “Essência dos Vinhos” features chef Chakall at the Concha Acústica of the Palácio de Cristal, where he will be presenting five live cooking sessions that will happen on a daily basis: on 2 July, at 7.30 pm; a double session on 3 July, at 4.30 pm and at 7.30 pm; and two sessions, as well, on 4 July, at 4.30 pm and at 6.30 pm.

There is a food court that runs at all times, with the following restaurants: Sagardi; Praia da Luz & Luis Américo; Dona Maria/The Lodge Wine And Business Hotel; Espumantes da Bairrada & Ostras.

On 3 July, highlight for the announcement of the winners of the contest “Os Melhores Vinhos do Dão 2021” [The Best Dão Wines 2021], and the award winning ceremony of the “Concurso Mundial de Bruxelas” [“World Brussels Contest”, free translation], which will take place during the evening.

Sunday concludes the activities’ programme with the tasting of the newly elected “Os Melhores Verdes 2021”.

To comply with all the health guidelines issued by the DGs, access to the event requires a mandatory testing to Covid-19, (4 euros/test), available at the site or alternatively, by presenting one of the following documents:

Covid Digital Certificate; proof of negative PCR test performed in the last 72 hours; or proof of rapid antigen test performed in the last 48 hours.

Entrance is free with the mandatory purchase of a 5 euro tasting glass, which also includes two wine tasting sessions.

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