The Alvarinho ice cream is the new bet of Melgaço’s wine brand, Dona Paterna. The novelty was launched during the “Sunset: welcome with Dona Paterna”, which took place last Friday (August 5th), in the Tasquinha da Portela restaurant, located in Paderne, Melgaço, and gathered emigrants and friends of the brand. The ice cream will be released next year, in 2023.
Dona Paterna’s ice cream is born from the desire to innovate and invest in new segments. It should be remembered that recently, Dona Paterna risked, in partnership with a local producer – Elisangela Castro – in the creation of an Easter egg with Dona Paterna’s own brandy and in Dona Paterna branded Alvarinho’s chocolate. «Alvarinho is very versatile. We were able to create new experiences without losing the authenticity of its flavor. The bet of our brand on new products, as was the case with the chocolates and Easter egg, and now ice cream, is a way to further enhance the value of our variety, Alvarinho. We believe that this will enable us to reach a larger audience.» says Carlos Codesso.
“Sunset: welcome with Dona Paterna”: a late afternoon full of the region’s flavors and lots of animation
A Welcome with different Dona Paterna wines, showcooking with the Chef of the Tasquinha da Portela restaurant, Ana Luísa Eira Velha, and Dona Paterna’s Alvarinho’s chocolate were the suggestions for that end of day in Melgaço, also marked by gifts, joy and animation, by Melgaço’s own Maria Pires, competitor of the last edition from The Voice Portugal tv show.
The invitation was extended to everyone in general: to emigrants, to the community of the sub-region of Monção and Melgaço, to friends and family. «It was a way to welcome our fellow citizens and friends with a moment of celebration, and with the products of our region.» says Carlos Codesso.
SYNERGIES AND COLLABORATION WITH THE REGION’S AGENTS
In April 2022 the Dona Paterna brand challenged a local producer to create Alvarinho’s chocolate for the Festa do Alavarinho and Fumeiro de Melgaço. They were and continue to be a success. «The combination of chocolate with wine works perfectly and our brand, in partnership with a Melgaço sweets producer, Elisangela Castro, has been betting on new options of flavors so that these are one more reason for people to visit our land and even for dissemination of the territory.» says the producer of Alvarinho, Carlos Codesso.
The gastronomic novelty is born from Elisangela Castro’s hands, from Melgaço’s pastry Sabor do Céu. «The result is fantastic: a perfect balance between sweet and sour and with a taste of Alvarinho.», maintains Elisangela, stating that the result was excellent and demand is high. «Chocolates are bought by people of all ages and increasingly in demand.»
The product is for sale in the producer’s bakery, Sabor do Céu, in Melgaço (contacts: Rua Dr. Augusto César Esteves – Melgaço, Tlf +351 934 352 915) and Solar do Alvarinho (Former Melgaço’s volunteers Firehouse, Alameda Inês Negra 4960-5660) and also integrates the menu of the restaurant Tasquinha da Portela’s restaurant menu (Portela, Paderne, 4960-263 Melgaço), one of the references of the municipality of Melgaço, that has also bet on gastronomic options with connection to the territory and its traditions.
We want to create synergies with local producers. It is true that Alvarinho wine is one of the greatest ex-libris of Melgaço, in the region, but people like and should have other suggestions and here we have excellent products, not only gastronomic, but also as tourism, sports, nature… In the end, we all win, because if our territory wins, so do we.» says Carlos Codesso.
