When Orange mobile launched in the UK with its legendary marketing slogan 'The future’s bright, the future’s Orange', I’m sure the municipality of Silves, Algarve and the potential to market orange wine on a global scale was furthest from its advertising agency’s mind. However, when I visited Meravista competition winner Nick Downs and his wife Stella, that very slogan rang through my head.
Nick and Stella attended this year’s Better Living in Portugal Exhibition (BLiP) where Nick entered Meravista’s ‘Guess How Many in the Jar’ competition. His guess was spot on at 77 and he won Meravista’s selection of Portuguese wines. What we didn’t realise until we contacted Nick with the good news, was that he and Stella are working on their own wine recipe using the Algarve oranges that are grown in abundance around their home in the Odelouca valley, just outside the town of Silves.
If, like me, you also live in the hills around Silves, you’ll know that there’s no shortage of the sweet juicy citrus fruit that add a vibrant glow to the evergreen landscape during the winter months in the Algarve. You’ll also be aware that many of the fruit are left to rot on the ground and it was this that sparked Nick’s idea to create an orange wine.
From apple wine to orange vinho
Back in the 80s, Nick produced the hugely successful English Apple Country Wines in Devon, UK. When he and Stella retired to Portugal 13 years ago, he had an idea to make use of the thousands of wasted Algarve oranges. Nick began experimenting with the aim of producing an authentic, organic and delicious wine from the fruit. Privileged as I was to sample the product, I’d say he has already achieved all three.
Nick and Stella are still working hard to develop their wine and the facilities to produce it commercially. They are seeking ethical investors to work with them to help move the idea forward and, of course, enjoy the fun of orange winemaking. So, watch this space! This unique beverage promises to be a big hit with locals and tourists, and potentially could become a worldwide delicacy.
Vinho de laranja
Click on the image below to watch news clip:
The future’s bright, the future’s Algarve Orange
Editors note
The orange trees in the Algarve thrive on the region’s sunshine combined with a good supply of water and fertile soil. The region produces on average between 250,000 and 300,000 tonnes of oranges each year, that’s around 70% of the total oranges grown in Portugal. Sadly there isn’t a market for all the fruit produced and thousands each year are wasted.
Many properties for salein the Algarve’s orange growing region come complete with their own orchards or, at the very least, a few fruit trees. Silvesis one of the Algarve’s biggest orange growing areas.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.
Meravista winner of wine is brewing his own brand
by Almonds & Oranges
When Orange mobile launched in the UK with its legendary marketing slogan 'The future’s bright, the future’s Orange', I’m sure the municipality of Silves, Algarve and the potential to market orange wine on a global scale was furthest from its advertising agency’s mind. However, when I visited Meravista competition winner Nick Downs and his wife Stella, that very slogan rang through my head.
Nick and Stella attended this year’s Better Living in Portugal Exhibition (BLiP) where Nick entered Meravista’s ‘Guess How Many in the Jar’ competition. His guess was spot on at 77 and he won Meravista’s selection of Portuguese wines. What we didn’t realise until we contacted Nick with the good news, was that he and Stella are working on their own wine recipe using the Algarve oranges that are grown in abundance around their home in the Odelouca valley, just outside the town of Silves.
If, like me, you also live in the hills around Silves, you’ll know that there’s no shortage of the sweet juicy citrus fruit that add a vibrant glow to the evergreen landscape during the winter months in the Algarve. You’ll also be aware that many of the fruit are left to rot on the ground and it was this that sparked Nick’s idea to create an orange wine.
From apple wine to orange vinho
Nick and Stella are still working hard to develop their wine and the facilities to produce it commercially. They are seeking ethical investors to work with them to help move the idea forward and, of course, enjoy the fun of orange winemaking. So, watch this space! This unique beverage promises to be a big hit with locals and tourists, and potentially could become a worldwide delicacy.
Vinho de laranja
Click on the image below to watch news clip:
The future’s bright, the future’s Algarve Orange
Editors note
The orange trees in the Algarve thrive on the region’s sunshine combined with a good supply of water and fertile soil. The region produces on average between 250,000 and 300,000 tonnes of oranges each year, that’s around 70% of the total oranges grown in Portugal. Sadly there isn’t a market for all the fruit produced and thousands each year are wasted.
Many properties for sale in the Algarve’s orange growing region come complete with their own orchards or, at the very least, a few fruit trees. Silves is one of the Algarve’s biggest orange growing areas.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.