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Mushrooms, wine and gastronomy celebrated at Dão autumn festival

The Mushroom Edit Taboadella

The Dão wine region will celebrate the arrival of autumn with the second edition of The Mushroom Edit, a festival combining mushroom discovery, wine, gastronomy and music at the Taboadella

The post Mushrooms, wine and gastronomy celebrated at Dão autumn festival appeared first on Portugal Resident.

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€1.5 million Douro wine tourism project unveiled at Quinta Vale D. Maria

€1.5 million Douro wine tourism project unveiled at Quinta Vale D. Maria

Quinta Vale D. Maria has opened a new €1.5 million wine tourism project in the Douro, combining tastings, gastronomy and architecture with a strong focus on the estate’s old vines.

The post €1.5 million Douro wine tourism project unveiled at Quinta Vale D. Maria appeared first on Portugal Resident.

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Troodos vine growers sound alarm over future

Vine growers in Troodos have sounded the alarm over the future of vineyards in the Pitsillia area, calling on Monday for financial support from the state to counterbalance the damage caused by extreme weather conditions and plant disease.

The growers, who gathered in a vineyard in Kyperounta, said the mavro and xynisteri varieties had been hit the worst.

These two varieties had suffered 85 per cent of the damage, one grower said.

General secretary of the union of Cypriot farmers Panicos Hambas spoke of a “tragic situation”, explaining that a low grape yield would impact the production of wine and traditional products, such as grape sweets soutzouko and palouze, distilled spirit zivania and wine-cured delicatessen meats.

Hambas said the growers should be supported financially and that this support should cover both the large wineries and the small producers who are “the heroes that protect the oxygen we breathe, because it is they who protect Troodos from fires, by planting vineyards”.

He added that the organisation had sent a letter to President Nikos Christodoulides and would be following up later this week for answers.

“Because Cyprus is often hit by drought, the president should implement what has been announced in Brussels, tailored to the conditions on the island,” Hambas said.

Panagrotikos district secretary for Limassol Evgenios Eleftheriou said “we are sounding the alarm” because “things are getting worse.”

“The state, either with EU funds or anything else, must support our producers financially,” he added.

Choice of crops in mountains limited

Representative of Troodos growers Theocharis Theocharous said that every year the output drops “dramatically”, while “our income never increases, despite the government’s promises”.

Theocharous pointed out that the options for crops in the mountains was limited.

Kyperounta community leader Michalis Hadjimichail said the state should especially support the young people who decided to make a living in Troodos and Pitsillia, thus keeping the communities alive.

“If this time the state does not support them […] then it will be the end for rural life and our villages,” he warned.

Grower and winemaker Christodoulos Xenophontos said that due to the weather conditions of the past few months, the vineyards have been destroyed by humidity and disease.

Grower and winemaker Yiorgos Christodoulou said vines were a plant that had much to offer, including acting as a firebreak.

Elam MP Polys Anoyiriatis and chairman of Agronomos Andreas Christofi, who both attended the gathering, called on the state to support the growers.

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7 of the best sparkling wines to get at Costco, according to a sommelier

Side by side of Kirkland Signature prosecco and Champagne brut
Some of the best sparkling wines at Costco are from the Kirkland Signature label, in my opinion.

Brianne Cohen

  • As a sommelier, wine is my job — and sparkling wine is my favorite. Costco's a good place to get it.
  • Costco has solid prosecco and cava, plus fancy vintage Champagne like Henriot
  • There are also great sparkling wines from brands like Roederer Estate and Moët & Chandon.

I wasn't sure if my husband and I would be able to get the full value out of our Costco membership, but I was wrong.

Although not every location sells alcohol, our local Costco does — and I've found this bulk retailer has some of the best wine prices.

This comes in handy because, as a certified sommelier, I buy a lot of wine for tastings, events, and even my own collection. And every time I go to Costco, I seem to discover something new, whether it's a unique variety or an especially great deal.

Here are some of the best sparkling wines I've found at Costco so far.

Editor's Note: Prices and availability may vary.

The Kirkland Signature Prosecco feels like a steal.
bottles of kirkland prosecco on the shelves at Costco

Brianne Cohen

Typically around $10 a bottle, Kirkland Signature's prosecco is one of the most affordable sparkling wines I've seen at Costco.

Don't let the price fool you, though. This wine is from the "Superiore" area of the Italian prosecco region, meaning the winemaking standards are higher.

The Kirkland Signature bottle is on the sweet side, and it's perfect for brunch mimosas.

Moët sells millions of bottles of its Champagne every year.
bottles of moet on the shleves at costco

Brianne Cohen

Moët & Chandon Champagne is probably the most iconic wine on this list.

As a sommelier, people often ask for a glass of Champagne whenever they want something fizzy. However, true Champagne has to be made in the Champagne region of France — trust me, it actually makes a difference.

The flavors are much more complex and layered than a standard sparkling wine. There's also something special and luxurious about Champagne.

This bottle is amazing on its own, but also shines with salty snacks such as potato chips, mixed nuts, and popcorn.

Kirkland Signature's Champagne is also hype-worthy.
botles of kirkland champagne on the shleves at costco

Brianne Cohen

You may not expect much from the Kirkland Signature brut Champagne, but it's hard to find another bottle like it.

It's true Champagne that I've typically seen for about $21 — it's rare to find a large bottle of the stuff at such a low price.

This variety is a little lighter and fresher than some Champagnes, but if that doesn't bother you, it's a total winner.

Roederer Estate makes a stunning $20 sparkler.
bottles of sparkling wine at costco

Brianne Cohen

If regions don't matter to you, try this pick from Roederer Estate.

Some big Champagne brands purchase land and make Champagne-style sparkling wines worldwide. In this case, Louis Roederer bought property in Northern California's Anderson Valley.

Its sparkling brut is a delight and I've seen it for $20 to $30 a bottle. In comparison, the brand's true French Champagne goes for closer to $60 to $80.

I like the Californian Roederer Estate stuff so much that I served it at my own wedding.

If you've got Champagne taste on a beer budget, try cava.
bottles of cava on the shelf at costco

Brianne Cohen

Choosing cava is a great way to save money on sparkling wine.

The Spanish sparkler uses the same production method as Champagne but rarely costs more than $20 a bottle. Costco even has one from Blanchard Perez that I've seen for under $10.

Cava is generally dry, with little to no sweetness. I love serving it with appetizers and tapas.

I've also found solid sparkling rosés at Costco.
bottles of sparkling rose on the shelves at costco

Brianne Cohen

The only thing more on trend than sparkling wine is sparkling rosé, and Scharffenberger Cellars has a bottle for around $20 at Costco.

The affordable Californian wine is made from grapes grown in Mendocino County and has a cheerful effervescence.

It pairs well with light dishes such as salads, shrimp cocktail, and smoked salmon dips.

For when only fancy vintage Champagne will do, turn to Henriot.
boxes of vintage champagne on the shelves at Costco

Brianne Cohen

I wanted to include one special, pricier wine on the list, and that spot went to the $150 bottle of Henriot I found at Costco.

It's a vintage Champagne, which means all the grapes were harvested in the same year.

Henriot has been around for over 200 years, and it's one of the few larger brands that's still independent and family-owned. For me, this Champagne hits all the marks for complexity, flavor, acid, and finish.

This story was originally published on February 19, 2025, and most recently updated on October 19, 2026.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Nikolai Haram Svorte crowned world’s best sommelier in Lisbon

Nikolai Haram Svorte crowned world’s best sommelier in Lisbon

Norwegian sommelier Nikolai Haram Svorte has been crowned the ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2026, following a tense final at Lisbon’s Coliseum (Coliseu dos Recreios). The prestigious competition, organised

The post Nikolai Haram Svorte crowned world’s best sommelier in Lisbon appeared first on Portugal Resident.

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Climate change gives Swedish winemakers an unexpected boost

Record high temperatures this year forced European wine producers to harvest grapes much earlier than usual. French wineries fear it will lead to the worst season in 30 years. But Nordic newcomers to the world of wine are toasting what they believe will be a vintage harvest, thanks, in no small part, to climate change. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports from Sweden.

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A Roman Bathhouse Was Secretly Turned Into a Wine and Olive Oil Factory in Late Antiquity at Antiochia ad Cragum

A modest Roman bathhouse on Turkey’s southern coast spent its retirement very differently from how it began. Constructed in the late 2nd or early 3rd century CE, it stopped functioning as a bath sometime after an invasion in the 260s CE and was never used for bathing again. Centuries later, someone gutted much of its […]

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