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Wine Tourism in Sherry Country and a Lesson from Portugal

Started by Ryan Opaz · 9 months ago

Two weeks ago, after a very relaxing holiday in Galicia, we chose to make our way home to Jerez via Portugal, stopping off for two nights in Oporto on the way. I’ve been to where they make Madeira, I live where they make sherry but I had never been to Oporto, so [...] ... Continue reading »

29 comments

  • Andrea Smith

    10 months ago

    Wow, I didn't know it was such a challenge to visit the Sherry bodegas! You know I was just up North in that area a couple weekends ago and the Port houses were actually the only ones open in the entire region it seemed. We tried to visit several wineries in Minho and all of them were closed, whether they were on holiday or it was only by appointment, and even one of their phone numbers was disconnected. It's definitely frustrating and I think there are still a lot of other wineries in Iberia who need to take your suggestion!
  • Justin Roberts

    10 months ago

    Hi Andrea. Thanks your comment. Yup, getting into a sherry bodega can be a challenge sometimes. We had a similar experience to you three weeks ago around Salvaterra de Miño, actually following "Ruta de Vino" signs. Locked-up gates everywhere, not even the dogs were barking. The only comparison I have is the wine routes in South Africa around Stellenbosch, Franschoek etc and also visiting wineries around Geelong in Australia, a completely different experience in both cases. Everyone was open for business for a start.
  • Dylan

    10 months ago

    You couldn't be more correct in your plea for tourism. Since when did any product become just about the product? We don't just drink alone for a reason. It's about social interaction, people and friends. If you want to sell more cases and be more recognized, there's no better credibility source than word of mouth. Better tourism could only benefit this process and open up the eyes of the public to what you yourself said is great once you get past the barriers. I'm really pushing for the idea of having our vineyard at Tin Cross be open for visitors in the future. I hope to see it come true. Today's marketing is in a large part all about the experience.
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    This is the NUMBER 1 annoyance I have with Iberian Wineries. Yes Port country does it well, but the rest of Portugal is a bit of a mess. That said I have consistently had better experiences in Portugal, where people actually smile and invite me in, as opposed to Spain, where I get looks of "why would we want to show you around". Tio Pepe (GB) does a great job and so do places like Dinastia Vivanco, Torres, and Abadia Retuerta(our client), though these are the exceptions not the rule.
  • Anna

    10 months ago

    I think Spanish wineries in general should take advice from the portuguese. Getting into a winery can be very difficult, buying wine even more difficult...There are ofcourse exceptions but nevertheless there are lots to learn.
  • Milton

    10 months ago

    As far as I know in Portugal it's not difficult to visit a winery but the only place were you can have a professional reception is with Port wineries. In your opinion Ryan, when you say the rest of Portugal is a bit of a mess you mean that they are not that professonal or they lack something else?
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    No actually many locations are very professional, though finding out that there are places to visit can be hard. The Alentejo has always been a great place to visit and the regions offices in Evora are always very welcoming and helpful when I've wanted information about the area. The mess part is finding out where to go, what's open, and who to talk to. If your not in the BIZ, it can be hard. Fortunately Charles Metcalf's new book is a great way to start exploring. <a href="http://www.catavino.net/portugal/book-review-the-..." target="_blank"><a href="http://www.catavino.net/portugal/book-re...
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    No actually many locations are very professional, though finding out that there are places to visit can be hard. The Alentejo has always been a great place to visit and the regions offices in Evora are always very welcoming and helpful when I've wanted information about the area. The mess part is finding out where to go, what's open, and who to talk to. If your not in the BIZ, it can be hard. Fortunately Charles Metcalf's new book is a great way to start exploring. <a href="http://www.catavino.net/portugal/book-review-the-..." target="_blank"><a href="http://www.catavino.net/portugal/book-re...
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    No actually many locations are very professional, though finding out that there are places to visit can be hard. The Alentejo has always been a great place to visit and the regions offices in Evora are always very welcoming and helpful when I've wanted information about the area. The mess part is finding out where to go, what's open, and who to talk to. If your not in the BIZ, it can be hard. Fortunately Charles Metcalf's new book is a great way to start exploring. <a href="http://www.catavino.net/portugal/book-review-the-..." target="_blank"><a href="http://www.catavino.net/portugal/book-re...
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    No actually many locations are very professional, though finding out that there are places to visit can be hard. The Alentejo has always been a great place to visit and the regions offices in Evora are always very welcoming and helpful when I've wanted information about the area. The mess part is finding out where to go, what's open, and who to talk to. If your not in the BIZ, it can be hard. Fortunately Charles Metcalf's new book is a great way to start exploring. <a href="http://www.catavino.net/portugal/book-review-the-..." target="_blank"><a href="http://www.catavino.net/portugal/book-re...
  • Justin Roberts

    10 months ago

    For example: Finding information about wineries on the Ruta del Vino de Jerez, Andalucia, Spain <a href="http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es/ " target="_blank">http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es/ vs Finding information about the Geelong Wine Route in Victoria, Australia. <a href="http://www.winegeelong.com.au/ " target="_blank">http://www.winegeelong.com.au/ I challenge you to find times and details for visits on the first website in less than two clicks. Just check out the "Plano de La Ruta" for some REALLY useful information, and the translation for the english version of the site teeters on the edge of being a joke. For the second site I challenge you to find any dead links. (I love my new IT, finally I can get involved without having to wait ten minutes for a page to refresh!)
  • Justin Roberts

    10 months ago

    For example: Finding information about wineries on the Ruta del Vino de Jerez, Andalucia, Spain <a href="http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es/ " target="_blank">http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es/ vs Finding information about the Geelong Wine Route in Victoria, Australia. <a href="http://www.winegeelong.com.au/ " target="_blank">http://www.winegeelong.com.au/ I challenge you to find times and details for visits on the first website in less than two clicks. Just check out the "Plano de La Ruta" for some REALLY useful information, and the translation for the english version of the site teeters on the edge of being a joke. For the second site I challenge you to find any dead links. (I love my new IT, finally I can get involved without having to wait ten minutes for a page to refresh!)
  • Justin Roberts

    10 months ago

    For example: Finding information about wineries on the Ruta del Vino de Jerez, Andalucia, Spain <a href="http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es/ " target="_blank">http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es/ vs Finding information about the Geelong Wine Route in Victoria, Australia. <a href="http://www.winegeelong.com.au/ " target="_blank">http://www.winegeelong.com.au/ I challenge you to find times and details for visits on the first website in less than two clicks. Just check out the "Plano de La Ruta" for some REALLY useful information, and the translation for the english version of the site teeters on the edge of being a joke. For the second site I challenge you to find any dead links. (I love my new IT, finally I can get involved without having to wait ten minutes for a page to refresh!)
  • Justin Roberts

    10 months ago

    For example: Finding information about wineries on the Ruta del Vino de Jerez, Andalucia, Spain <a href="http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es/ " target="_blank">http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es/ vs Finding information about the Geelong Wine Route in Victoria, Australia. <a href="http://www.winegeelong.com.au/ " target="_blank">http://www.winegeelong.com.au/ I challenge you to find times and details for visits on the first website in less than two clicks. Just check out the "Plano de La Ruta" for some REALLY useful information, and the translation for the english version of the site teeters on the edge of being a joke. For the second site I challenge you to find any dead links. (I love my new IT, finally I can get involved without having to wait ten minutes for a page to refresh!)
  • Milton

    10 months ago

    I think that every wine region in Portugal has a wine route ("Rotas dos vinhos"). In each one of those "Rotas do Vinhos" you can find wineries that are prepared to welcome visitors and show them theirs wines. For example: Vinho Verde <a href="http://rota.vinhoverde.pt/ " target="_blank">http://rota.vinhoverde.pt/ Ribatejo <a href="http://www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt/ " target="_blank">http://www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt/ Oeste <a href="http://www.rotavinhooeste.com/ " target="_blank">http://www.rotavinhooeste.com/ Alentejo <a href="http://77.91.200.110/~vinhosdo/index.php " target="_blank">http://77.91.200.110/~vinhosdo/index.php Setúbal <a href="http://www.rotavinhospsetubal.com/index.php?secti..." target="_blank"><a href="http://www.rotavinhospsetubal.com/index.... Bairrada and Dão also have "Rotas dos Vinhos" sites but right now the access is denied.
  • Milton

    10 months ago

    I think that every wine region in Portugal has a wine route ("Rotas dos vinhos"). In each one of those "Rotas do Vinhos" you can find wineries that are prepared to welcome visitors and show them theirs wines. For example: Vinho Verde <a href="http://rota.vinhoverde.pt/ " target="_blank">http://rota.vinhoverde.pt/ Ribatejo <a href="http://www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt/ " target="_blank">http://www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt/ Oeste <a href="http://www.rotavinhooeste.com/ " target="_blank">http://www.rotavinhooeste.com/ Alentejo <a href="http://77.91.200.110/~vinhosdo/index.php " target="_blank">http://77.91.200.110/~vinhosdo/index.php Setúbal <a href="http://www.rotavinhospsetubal.com/index.php?secti..." target="_blank"><a href="http://www.rotavinhospsetubal.com/index.... Bairrada and Dão also have "Rotas dos Vinhos" sites but right now the access is denied.
  • Milton

    10 months ago

    I think that every wine region in Portugal has a wine route ("Rotas dos vinhos"). In each one of those "Rotas do Vinhos" you can find wineries that are prepared to welcome visitors and show them theirs wines. For example: Vinho Verde <a href="http://rota.vinhoverde.pt/ " target="_blank">http://rota.vinhoverde.pt/ Ribatejo <a href="http://www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt/ " target="_blank">http://www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt/ Oeste <a href="http://www.rotavinhooeste.com/ " target="_blank">http://www.rotavinhooeste.com/ Alentejo <a href="http://77.91.200.110/~vinhosdo/index.php " target="_blank">http://77.91.200.110/~vinhosdo/index.php Setúbal <a href="http://www.rotavinhospsetubal.com/index.php?secti..." target="_blank"><a href="http://www.rotavinhospsetubal.com/index.... Bairrada and Dão also have "Rotas dos Vinhos" sites but right now the access is denied.
  • Milton

    10 months ago

    I think that every wine region in Portugal has a wine route ("Rotas dos vinhos"). In each one of those "Rotas do Vinhos" you can find wineries that are prepared to welcome visitors and show them theirs wines. For example: Vinho Verde <a href="http://rota.vinhoverde.pt/ " target="_blank">http://rota.vinhoverde.pt/ Ribatejo <a href="http://www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt/ " target="_blank">http://www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt/ Oeste <a href="http://www.rotavinhooeste.com/ " target="_blank">http://www.rotavinhooeste.com/ Alentejo <a href="http://77.91.200.110/~vinhosdo/index.php " target="_blank">http://77.91.200.110/~vinhosdo/index.php Setúbal <a href="http://www.rotavinhospsetubal.com/index.php?secti..." target="_blank"><a href="http://www.rotavinhospsetubal.com/index.... Bairrada and Dão also have "Rotas dos Vinhos" sites but right now the access is denied.
  • Justin Roberts

    10 months ago

    I've been checking out the links you posted above with interest. Some of the sites are really good, and others are just pointless. Vinho Verde just freezes up. I will try again later. Ribatejo is great. Useful map. All the information a visitor needs about the adegas is there, except costs. Oeste website looks very nice, but it is a waste of time. No map. Individual adega pages have no information about visits. Some adega links don't even work. What is the purpose of this website? Alentejo is good to a point. Good map of each route. On individual adega pages (I tried all on São Mamede) "Offered Services" (should really be "Services Offered") has all sorts of lovely things, but nowhere can I find times or costs. Setúbal looks really nice. Useful "mapa da região" even if you can only look at one square at a time. However José Maria da Fonseca is the only adega regularly open to the visitors. Every other adega "com marcação prévia". Friendly website, but not very friendly ruta! All tourists want to know is where, what time and how much...
  • Gabriella Opaz

    10 months ago

    I would suggest that we have a LONG way to go on "customer service" in both Portugal and Spain. I say this because I have persistently tried to contact many of these regional websites through email to get the same information Justin is asking for, and I have been ignored - totally and completely. It is not to say that some aren't extremely generous with their information, but too many regional websites in both Spain and Portugal don't see good customer service as direct key to regional wine sales. They think if they can provide some basic info, that's as far as they need to extend themselves. But what they don't realize is that people aren't going to call, they're going to search the website for information and then email, most likely in English, to get whatever info they're missing. Clearly, providing all the information first would be key, but second would to make yourself available for any and all questions in more than one language. Because in the end, it is not only the individual wineries that gain exposure from this, but so will your regional hotels, restaurants, etc.
  • Milton

    10 months ago

    Interesting comments and evaluation on the Portuguese and Spanish winery sites philosophy… In the benefit of the Iberian wine and tourism I hope the people responsible for those sites as also read your comments!
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    Sadly most of them have no clue that Social media exsists or how to access it...I wish we could change that
  • Justin Roberts

    10 months ago

    We will, eventually!
  • Tom Clarke

    10 months ago

    Sorry if someone else has already said it, but... could this not just be a combination of the usual sloppiness of Spanish customer service and the month of August? In my experience, getting anything done, particularly down south, in August, is pretty hard work. BTW: best Priorat wineries to visit? Any tips?
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    Zero to do with August, this is a perpetual problem in Sherry country and many other places. As to the Priorat, well, it's not the easiest, but you should give these guys a call: <a href="http://www.ficariavins.net/ " target="_blank">http://www.ficariavins.net/ great personalized wine experiences.
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    Zero to do with August, this is a perpetual problem in Sherry country and many other places. As to the Priorat, well, it's not the easiest, but you should give these guys a call: <a href="http://www.ficariavins.net/ " target="_blank">http://www.ficariavins.net/ great personalized wine experiences.
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    Zero to do with August, this is a perpetual problem in Sherry country and many other places. As to the Priorat, well, it's not the easiest, but you should give these guys a call: <a href="http://www.ficariavins.net/ " target="_blank">http://www.ficariavins.net/ great personalized wine experiences.
  • ryan

    10 months ago

    Zero to do with August, this is a perpetual problem in Sherry country and many other places. As to the Priorat, well, it's not the easiest, but you should give these guys a call: <a href="http://www.ficariavins.net/ " target="_blank">http://www.ficariavins.net/ great personalized wine experiences.
  • Justin Roberts

    10 months ago

    On a positive note. Just been to pick up the sherries for the EWBC 2008 from the friendly people at Alvaro Domecq. They have just opened a shop! Very nice looking too... Open normal office hours. It's still very new, so there are a few things to round off (like installing a fridge), but in the future they will let you try before you buy. I will take photos and blog about it as soon as I'm back in Jerez.

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