Nothing like the wholesome scent of the country and the pleasure of gazing at the rows of neatly cared-for grape vines, sprouting courageously in their bright Spring green, high up on a ‘monte’ with 360º beautiful views all around … just a few minutes from the busy towns of Lagoa and Carvoeiro.
This is what a group of more than 30 property owners and residents found themselves doing on the afternoon of the 1st of May. The visit to Monte de Salicos vineyard was a pleasant surprise to the guests who were being invited to the Quinta’s first wine tasting experience.

Quinta dos Vales managed to achieve once again an important milestone for its “Marquês dos Vales” wines. Just weeks after the “Grace Vineyard” 2009 red was awarded a double gold medal and the title of “The Best Wine of the Algarve”, it has now also won the FIJEV 2014 Trophy for the best red wine of the competition held during VINIPAX 2014 in Beja.

For as much as a holiday is supposed to be about relaxation and switching off, a key aspect of the holiday experience is becoming immersed in a different culture. By doing so, you can truly escape from your everyday stresses and strains, and even learn something.

Of course, one of the easiest ways to sample an unfamiliar culture is to sink your teeth into its cuisine. As well as teaching you a surprising amount about the values and trends of the culture in question, you’re also liable to experience something new and delicious.

The team at Quinta dos Vales has once again achieved all its targets in quality, winning for the third time “The Best Wine of the Algarve” , this year for the “Grace Vineyard” 2009 red. This means they won both Gold and Great Gold Medal in the “7th Algarvian Wine Competition” at the FATACIL in Lagoa, on the 16th of August 2014.

This serves as confirmation of the long-established quality of the "Marquês dos Vales" wines, after the "Grace Vineyard" 2008 red also won Gold in “Mundus Vini” in Germany last Autumn.

Learning a few basic words and phrases of Portuguese shouldn’t be beyond most people, and is only common courtesy. And unless you’re really off the beaten track, you’ll usually find the owner, or at least one of the waiting staff, will speak more than enough English (and often other languages such as German or French) to help you get by.

If not, muddle through with a few well-chosen mimes, a spot of guesswork, or just cast a glance at what looks good on the other tables.

On April 21st, members of the Rotary Club Estoi Palace International paid a visit to the salt pans in Tavira run by Rui Simeão.

Located in the Ria Formosa Natural Park these saltpans have been in his family for over 150 years.

The culmination of the first annual Rotary Cookery Competition, took place at a Gala Dinner at The Conrad Hotel, recently where the teams from Almancil and Silves Sul schools which had battled it out head-to-head, received their trophies and certificates. Silves Sul was declared the winning team, by the smallest of margins; good food, well executed had been judged over two months.

3 Wines - 3 Awards. Quinta dos Vales' wines have achieved much recognition throughout the globe, and reaching as far as China in its few years of existence. Recognition in the German market has, however, remained elusive for several years. Germany, along with Switzerland, is of great importance as the only European market which focuses mostly on higher quality wines.