The 9th edition of the Best of Portugal will take place at the Cinquentenaire Park in Brussels on the 17th and 18th of June. Organized by the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (CAP), the event’s main goal is to promote the Portuguese agri-food sector to Benelux exporters, mainly in the Belgian market. “Brussels is the door to Europe, which allows an easier circulation of our products,” said LuĂs Mira, Secretary General of CAP.
Portuguese companies interested in promoting their products have a unique opportunity to showcase the quality of what they have to offer, as well as opening the path to international new ventures. This year, more than 70 stands, 50 companies from Portugal, and 10 restaurants will be ready to welcome visitors.
This initiative is more important than ever to revive a sector that has obviously been compromised.
LuĂs Mira, Secretary General of CAP
The main goals of the event are to promote the best that is produced in Portugal, especially its quality products, such as wines, olive oils, fruits and vegetables, honeys, cheeses, and sausages among other products in the agri-food chain. It is also intended to bring together the Portuguese community in Belgium as well as officials of the 27 Member States working in European institutions.
50,000 people attended the Best of Portugal in 2022, where Santarém was the guest of honor.
1. Guest of Honour: Douro region
The 9th edition of the Best of Portugal will be attended by high representatives of the European agri-food sector, the Portuguese government and European institutions. The Douro Intermunicipal Community will be the guest of honor this year with the goal of promoting its traditions, gastronomy and wine.
The Douro Intermunicipal Community CIM Douro was created on October 15th, 2008, and it comprises the municipalities of Alijó, Armamar, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Lamego, Mesão Frio, Moimenta da Beira, Murça, Penedono, Peso da Régua, Sabrosa, Santa Marta de Penaguião, São João da Pesqueira, Sernancelhe, Tabuaço, Tarouca, Torre de Moncorvo, Vila Nova de Foz Côa and Vila Real.
Converging in this large region are counties of the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu and Guarda, occupying more than four thousand square kilometres of total area and serving more than 200,000 inhabitants.
The size of CIM Douro reveals the immense potential, the wealth of heritage and an undeniable ability to generate agricultural products of excellence. The geographical heart of the CIM Douro is the Douro River, thanks to which the region finds its greatest wealth and can unveil several touristic gems. Some of CIM-Douro’s finest products are the chestnut, the apple, the almond, the olive oil, different types of wine, among others.
2. Douro named European Wine City 2023
In June of 2023, the Douro region was named European Wine City 2023. The Douro World Heritage site has thus become a European reference in wine, vineyards, culture and the harmonious celebration of nature and the secular work done by generations of people living in the area.
‘All Around Wine, All Around Douro’ is the motto the region has chosen to symbolize the present and future of the territory. With this distinction as European Wine City 2023, the Douro nurtures the desire to be be a major contributor to national exports, making wine and vineyards a concrete and real lever for the development of its economy and wealth of those who live and work in the region.
The European Wine City is an annual competition launched by RECEVIN, in 2012, and aims to promote tourism and the dissemination of European wine-producing regions, with a rotating character between the various countries that are part of the network. In 2023, the European Wine City would have to be Portuguese and, in addition to the Douro, the “Algarve Golden Terroir” applications were presented, and another from the Lima Valley. The Douro has recently celebrated 20 years of its elevation to World Heritage status.
