"In the town of Mealhada, we discover the gold standard of Portuguese roasting: Leitão da Bairrada. Imagine crackling, peppery skin and melt in your mouth meat, paired perfectly with a crisp, local Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine. Under the guidance of a local sommelier, this is more than a lunch, it is a masterclass in regional harmony and one of the most authentic flavours you will ever encounter in Portugal."

A Scenic Journey through Bairrada: Curia & the Maria Gomes Vineyards This segment of our tour is designed to showcase the softer, more poetic side of the Bairrada region, moving from the elegance of the Belle Époque to the very vines that produce Portugal’s most versatile white grape. We begin with a passage through CuriaClick to open side panel for more information, a historic thermal village that served as a playground for the elite during the early 20th century. Located in São Lourenço do Bairro, the Baloiço Maria GomesClick to open side panel for more information offers a breathtaking panoramic view over a sea of vineyards. This is the ideal spot for a sensory masterclass on the Maria Gomes grape (also known as Fernão Pires), the most widely planted white variety in the country. *From this vantage point, I will explain how the Atlantic breeze and the clay, limestone soils directly influence the aromatic profile of our white and sparkling wines.