Magic and Music bring life to the Portuguese Wine Tourism Award 2024

Since its first edition, APENO has been organizing the Portuguese Wine Tourism Award party with great enthusiasm and creativity. This year is no exception. The chosen location for the party is Quinta dos Anjos, a rural tourism site located five kilometers from Santarém, and the headline act will be magician Mário Daniel, a reference in this field both nationally and internationally. 'Minutos Mágicos’, airing during prime time on SIC, was one of his most well-known and top-rated shows, earning several awards. He has also been the face of various institutional brands, sold out live shows across the country, released books and magic games, and is a regular presence at major corporate events both in Portugal and abroad.

In the United States, he has appeared on several television programs and performed on the famous 'Magic Castle’ stage in Hollywood, wowing American audiences with his magic tricks, including the renowned magician David Copperfield. ’We are thrilled to welcome Mário Daniel to our stage. No one can resist his friendliness, good humor, his enormous communication skills, and, of course, his incredible talent for magic. He was the perfect choice to present and perform at our Wine Tourism Gala, a very attractive and equally magical sector,’ says APENO President Maria João de Almeida.

Accustomed to participating in corporate shows, Mário Daniel also embraced the challenge of entertaining the gala. ’Wine tourism has gained a lot of relevance in recent years, and it’s fantastic to see how Portugal has evolved in this sector and how APENO has done significant work. It is with great pleasure that I will perform,’ says the magician. After the awards ceremony, which will take place throughout the night, guests will be guided to another area of Quinta dos Anjos, where the party will continue with DJ RICCA providing the entertainment. Ricardo Rodrigues, his given name, started entertaining at high school parties and on the beach at the age of fifteen, and he continued throughout his life, becoming an expert in playlists ranging from 80s classics to Deep House.

A great lover of wine and a committed wine tourist, he now divides his time between the communication agency (PressMedia) he founded over 22 years ago and the pleasure of DJing at private parties, corporate events, and beach sunsets. ’I’ve always preserved this musical side that gives me immense joy. I want the guests of the Portuguese Wine Tourism Award Gala to relax and groove to the beat. It will surely be an excellent end to the party.’ This will be the third edition of the Portuguese Wine Tourism Award, already considered the benchmark event in wine tourism. The Main Sponsor is Ageas Seguros, with Alentejo being the region par excellence providing crucial support for this event. ’With the support of the Alentejo Regional Tourism Entity, which has supported us since the second edition, this party gains even more meaning and relevance. After all, it is the 'queen region’ of Wine Tourism in Portugal, the one with the most wine tourism sites and the greatest diversity of offerings,’ explains Maria João de Almeida, President of APENO.

In addition to sponsorships, the City Council of Santarém joins, and with institutional support from IVV (Institute of Vine and Wine) and CVR Tejo, as well as companies participating in various ways, such as Abreu Advogados, Alug’Aqui, Âncora Gold, Biosphere, Gifts4Wine, GRACAL, Grupo Amorim, LETRATEC, MCoutinho, Qualifica OriGIn, Quinta dos Anjos, Schott Zwiesel, and YonWine. Voting for the APENO / Ageas Seguros 2024 Portuguese Wine Tourism Award is already underway and will continue until May 10, 2023, through an online platform. The panel of over 250 jurors includes recognized wine and tourism journalists, official wine and tourism entities, chefs, and sommeliers, as well as APENO associates (official bodies vote in different regions, and sector professionals and associates vote on external individuals and projects).

The APENO / Ageas Seguros 2024 National Wine Tourism Award distinguishes 15 categories: Best Wine Tourism in Portugal; Best Professional; Best Stay; Best Restaurant; Best Chef; Best Sommelier; Best Tasting Room; Best Tourism Company; Best Inclusive Project; Best Sustainable Project; Best Store; Best Art and Culture; Best Innovation and Technology; and Best Hospitality. See categories and jurors here: https://enoturismodeportugal.pt/premio-nacional-de-enoturismo-2024/

In addition to these categories, this year APENO will also award 5 'Merit and Incentive Awards’ to honor the effort and good practices of companies or personalities that have stood out for their work.”