Reserva forum in Torres Vedras to spotlight local wine and gastronomy with expanded program in 2025

The fifth edition of the Reserva - Fórum de Inovação, de Gastronomia e Vinho is set to take place in Torres Vedras, Portugal, from May 30 to June 1, 2025. The event was officially presented on May 12 at the former facilities of the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho in Torres Vedras, which has hosted the forum in recent years. Laura Rodrigues, president of the Torres Vedras City Council, attended the press conference and emphasized that Reserva aims to highlight local wine and pastry producers. She noted that the event helps residents understand the economic importance of these sectors for the municipality and celebrates a wine culture that stands out nationally.

Rodrigues also pointed out that Reserva has been attracting more visitors each year and now offers a broader range of activities. For 2025, fifteen wine producers from Torres Vedras will participate, including Adega Cooperativa de Carvoeira, Adega Cooperativa de Dois Portos, Adega Cooperativa de São Mamede da Ventosa, Adega da Murnalha, AdegaMãe - Sociedade Agrícola, Casal da Carrasqueira e Fundações Stanley Ho e Oriente, Caves Barbosa, Fonte das Moças, Madame Pilar, Património Wines, Quinta da Almiara, Quinta da Boa Esperança, Quinta da Cidadoura, Quinta da Folgorosa and Santos&Santos. Nine other producers affiliated with the Lisbon Regional Wine Commission will also be present: Adega de Arruda, Adega de Azueira, Adega d'Arrocha, Casa Santos Lima, Cas'Amaro, Cerrado da Porta, Encostas de Xira, Quinta de Vale Mourisco and Quinta do Gradil.

The event will welcome as a guest the European Wine City 2025—represented by Alandroal, Borba, Estremoz, Redondo and Vila Viçosa. In the pastry sector, six pastel de feijão (bean pastry) producers from Torres Vedras will participate: Brasão, Fábrica Coroa, Império, Maria Adelaide e Carmitas, Massa Mãe com Alma and Serra da Vila. Four uvada (grape jam) producers will also be present: Doces Tentações, EUMA - Tradição no sabor, Maria da Conceição Gomes and Terras de Dinossauros.

Street food will again be part of the event with vendors such as 567 Burger, Bolota’s Food Truck, Bun6, DOC, Fresh No Meat No Fish, Gelados Nutwood, Maria Gulosa, Nameless Journey, Novo Dia Cafés, O Engenheiro das Bifanas and Queijadas da Avó Clara. There will also be a space managed by the Social Service of Torres Vedras municipal staff.

The program for 2025 includes roundtable discussions (tertúlias), training sessions, cooking demonstrations (showcookings), wine tastings and competitions. Dulcineia Ramos, city councilor for tourism in Torres Vedras, highlighted several program features during the press conference. These include cooking demonstrations with Joana Barrios and Isabel Zibaia Rafael; Caixa Agrícola roundtables based on screenings of the series “Raízes do Vinho”; a session called “Demystifying Bag-In-Box Wine”; guided tastings with Jorge Mata (2024 Revelation Winemaker) and Pedro Ribeiro (2024 Young Winemaker); a course titled “Wine for Dummies”; a concert by Ricardo Ribeiro; a workshop on Lisbon grape varieties led by Alexandra Mendes and Jorge Cunha; and the presentation of Fernando Santos’ book “O vinho de Torres Vedras, 1850 - 1986.”

Three competitions are scheduled: the second edition of “Gastronomy and Innovation,” the thirteenth edition of “My Dessert Has Pastel de Feijão from Torres Vedras,” and the third edition of “My Dessert Has Uvada from Torres Vedras.” Ramos also announced new features for this year’s event: attendees can purchase wines directly at the forum; there will be a restroom with a changing table; cooking demonstrations will be filmed and broadcast on screens; and QR codes will provide information about street food options and event programming.

Admission to Reserva remains free. The event is organized by the Torres Vedras City Council. The official sponsor is Caixa Agrícola de Torres Vedras. Support comes from AEG, Extincêndios, FEPAL and Novo Dia. Água do Vimeiro is the official water partner. Nelson Lopes - AGEAS Seguros is an event partner. Media partnership is provided by Grandes Escolhas magazine. Institutional partners include AMETUR (World Association for Wine Tourism), AMPV (Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities), Oeste Intermunicipal Community, Turismo do Centro and Lisbon Regional Wine Commission. Amorim Cork is responsible for cork recycling during the event.

The Reserva forum continues to grow as a platform for innovation in gastronomy and wine in Portugal’s western region. Organizers expect another strong turnout as they prepare to showcase local products and traditions while introducing new experiences for visitors in 2025.