Springtime at Tedo – when the early morning birdsong, the extra green landscape dotted with colourful cover crop wildflowers and warmer days confirm that bud break is imminent.
The vines and olive trees are pruned, the different fallen dry rock walls supporting our steeply-terraced vineyards are soon to be restored, horse Tedo has finished tilling the soil to replenish nutrients from the cover crop, vegetable seedlings are planted in our horta, and ongoing tastings of our most recent 2022 Ports and Douro DOC and older Vintages keep us very busy.
Vincent remains at work in California and I am the elected one who comes at this time of the year for several weeks to check on Quinta do Tedo’s “pulse”, even though the Quinta works very well with our Team Tedo. Lucky me!
This year feels very promising! Let me share with you a couple of offerings for 2023.
As you know, we offer a variety of tastings for Port, and for our Douro DOC wines, and even both together. Our tour guides are passionate professionals who even have a sense of humor when explaining the intricacies of our products!
Winemaker Jorge Alves’ favourite tasting is our Tawny Barrel Tasting, taking place in our 55-meter deep túnel (the deepest wine cave in Douro Valley). Led by one of our certified WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) tour guides, adept at pulling samples directly from each barrel with a wine thief, while exchanging descriptors and comments about each barrel, this tasting is unique. Where else can you have this experience?
Another not to be missed offering at Tedo takes place in our olive grove. Gourmet picnics en plein air since 2020, started in response to the COVID years, when customers requested outdoor tastings and experiences. And they still do!
After a short walk down to a little protected valley surrounded by centenarian olive trees with a stunning view of Tedo river, a big picnic basket awaits you filled with a bottle of wine, water, seasonal specialties such as salt cod pataniscas, seasoned local cured meats, cheeses, salads, fruit and dessert. A blissful time and bom apetite, you may never want to leave.
In this same olive grove, we are considering to offer olive oil tastings, for our visitors to learn about the many facets of our liquid gold. More on this in the Fall newsletter. By the way did you know that one mature olive tree produces only about 2 bottles of Tedo Olive Oil?
Our Quinta do Tedo bird shares a happy song this year “in flight” at many tastings.
Daughter Odile, Quinta do Tedo’s international brand manager ambassador, has shared our birdsong at Vincanto in Viareggio, Italy; Vinexpo in Paris; Prowein in Düsseldorf (with Winemaker/GM Jorge Alves and Head of Tourism Vera Matias) and at a series of Tastings with our Danish importers. We are honoured to be present at these events, obrigada Odile and obrigada to all of Team Tedo.
Bistro Terrace unites with Chef Oscar Geadas, of talented Michelin star fame!
We reopen this space with great anticipation and enthusiasm, combining a high-quality service in a discreet and comfortable environment. Using a palette of seasonal and regional ingredients, meticulously selected, dishes will be created of great depth, flavour, and meaning. Sharing the same ethos, the Tedo family ambiance remains and small and full plates are served. The space is a privileged stage for Tedo’s Ecological Reserve where the vineyard is the protagonist – the perfect environment to discover the richness of the harmony between wine and gastronomy.
Geadas, the signature restaurant of Bragança, taking on Bistro Terrace, is another example of well- known chefs creating a presence in beautiful Douro Valley. Other examples include Pedro Lemos (Porto) at Symington’s Bomfim 1896, Euskalduna’s Vasco Coelho Santo (Porto) at Sandeman’s Seixo Restaurante, and Rui Paula’s DOC is a tradition in Douro from many years that also has DOP in Porto. Please do reserve in advance as our Bistro Terrace is small, as so many of you know.
Awaiting your visit, be it a first time or return, our mission is to have satisfied visitors with whom we share a slice of our Tedo life.
Obrigada - Kay