Sunken artefacts – the remains of ancient Phoenician amphorae – attest to a once-brisk wine trade on the river Arade. The river flows from the Serra do Caldeirão mountains through the Algarve town of Portimão, before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
Fast forward 2,500 years and the Algarve, mainland Portugal’s southernmost region, is enjoying fresh momentum. Overlooking the Arade – and taking inspiration from Phoenician amphorae – Arvad Wines is among the throng of progressives who, since 2010, have more than tripled the Algarve’s producer headcount.
