Essência do Vinho Brings 400 Producers and 4,000 Wines to Porto’s Palácio da Bolsa

The Palácio da Bolsa in Porto will once again host Essência do Vinho, one of Portugal’s most important wine events, starting this Thursday and running through Sunday. Now in its 22nd edition, the event brings together 400 producers and offers visitors the chance to taste around 4,000 wines from various regions. The gathering is expected to attract both wine professionals and enthusiasts from across the country and abroad.

A key highlight this year is the second edition of “Veni, Vini, Vici,” scheduled for Sunday afternoon in the Salão Árabe. This segment focuses on national and international producers who use alternative approaches to winemaking. These include natural production methods, minimal intervention, unusual grape varieties, and experimental vinification techniques. Entry to this part of the event is controlled to ensure a comfortable environment for discovery and conversation. Organizers say it is designed for those seeking small-scale, creative wines that fall outside classic categories.

Nuno Vaz Pires, director of Essência Company, which organizes the event, said in a statement that each year’s program aims to surprise and engage visitors. He described Essência do Vinho as a meeting point for people, regions, styles, and interpretations of wine. According to Pires, every tasting is an opportunity for discovery and every producer brings a story worth hearing.

The event’s schedule includes 20 guided tastings or masterclasses led by winemakers, critics, and international experts. Topics range from renowned Chilean wine Almaviva to Louis Roederer champagnes, the 25th anniversary of Pintas wine, Dão region terroirs, Verdejo from Belondrade, and comparative tastings between Madeira and Marsala wines. Attendees will also have access to the exclusive Room Experience area, where they can sample rare and iconic labels from Portugal and around the world. Wines featured in the top 10 Portuguese Wines list—selected by an international jury of 45 specialists through blind tastings—will also be available.

Pires emphasized that Essência do Vinho serves as a business platform as well as a cultural event. It connects professionals, buyers, opinion leaders, and brands while opening doors to new markets. The organization invests in bringing leading experts, international journalists, and industry decision-makers to Portugal because of the positive impact these presences have on promoting Portuguese wines and regions.

He also noted that hosting the event in Porto—a city with a strong focus on wine tourism—allows visitors to experience wine not just as a product but as culture and creativity. The human, sensory, and professional dimensions are central to each edition.

Essência do Vinho concludes Wine & Travel Week in Porto. Since 2023, this broader initiative has brought buyers, importers, and international professionals to the city, reinforcing Porto’s reputation as a top destination for wine tourism and global wine culture promotion.

The event opens Thursday at 3 p.m., closing at 8 p.m. On Friday and Saturday it runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., while Sunday’s session starts at 3 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m. Organizers expect strong attendance from both industry professionals and members of the public interested in exploring the diversity of Portuguese and international wines.