Ronan Keating and Natalie Imbruglia to headline Douro & Porto Wine Festival

The Douro & Porto Wine Festival is set to return to northern Portugal next month, bringing together internationally renowned musicians, award-winning wines and top Portuguese chefs in the heart of the Douro Valley.

The fifth edition of the festival will take place on July 3 and 4 in Lamego, on the banks of the Douro River, with a programme that combines live music, wine tastings and gastronomy in one of Portugal’s most celebrated wine regions.

This year’s line-up is headed by former Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating and Australian singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia, alongside Swedish singer Eagle-Eye Cherry, and Portuguese singers Lena d’Água, Aurea and Olavo Bilac.

A major attraction of the festival is the Wine Village, where dozens of producers from across the Douro region will showcase some of their most iconic wines. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet winemakers, discover the stories behind the labels and learn more about the production methods that have helped establish the Douro as one of the world’s leading wine destinations.

Natalie Imbruglia will make her return to Portugal on July 3, performing hits including the 1990s classic “Torn”. She will be joined by Eagle-Eye Cherry, whose set is expected to feature favourites such as “Save Tonight”, as well as Portuguese singer Olavo Bilac. The evening will conclude with a DJ set by Raquel Loureiro.

On July 4, Ronan Keating takes centre stage. The Irish singer is expected to perform a selection of his best-known songs, including “When You Say Nothing at All”, “Life Is a Rollercoaster” and “If Tomorrow Never Comes”.

Portuguese artists Aurea and Lena d’Água will also perform on the festival’s second day, offering audiences a mix of contemporary hits and classics from decades of Portuguese music.

Food lovers will find plenty to enjoy at the festival’s Fogo de Chão area, dedicated to live culinary demonstrations curated by chef Renato Cunha. Over the course of the two-day event, several leading Portuguese chefs will prepare dishes inspired by national flavours in front of festival-goers, who will also have the opportunity to sample the creations.

Among the confirmed chefs are Renato Cunha, António Vieira, Miguel Cardoso, Pedro Machado, Nuno Castro, Diogo Novais Pereira and Carlos Costa.

Tickets are already on sale, with daily passes priced at €35 and two-day passes available for €50.

The festival has become one of Portugal’s leading wine and music events, drawing visitors from across the country and abroad to experience the culture, gastronomy and landscapes of the Douro Valley.

Source: NiT / Douroportowinefestival.pt

Inês Lopes

Newspaper editor at The Portugal Resident