A wine tasting by the sea, in Costa da Caparica
There's something about tasting wine with the sound of the ocean in the background. In Costa da Caparica, just 20 minutes from Lisbon, Dr. Bernard has teamed up with O Gato que Bebe to bring wine tasting sessions to everyone who already comes here to surf, eat or simply escape the city for an afternoon. You don't need to know anything about wine to join — just curiosity and a willingness to try something new, glass by glass, with people who genuinely love what they do. Sessions take place at the Dr. Bernard restaurant, with a view over the beach, which completely changes the experience compared to a tasting held in a closed room somewhere in town. The terrace catches the last light of the day, and there's rarely a rush — sessions are paced so nobody feels like they're being hurried through a checklist of wines.
Who is O Gato que Bebe, Dr. Bernard's partner wine cellar
O Gato que Bebe is the wine cellar and shop that selects the bottles and leads the tastings in partnership with Dr. Bernard. The idea is simple: bring in Portuguese wines with real character — from small producers, less obvious grape varieties, bottles you won't find on a supermarket shelf — and present them in a relaxed way, without the exam-room feeling that sometimes surrounds the world of wine. Every session is guided by someone from the team who knows the producers by name and can tell you the story behind each bottle, which makes the conversation just as interesting as the wine itself. It's the kind of cellar that would rather talk you into trying something unfamiliar than sell you the safest, most recognisable label on the shelf — and that curiosity is exactly what carries over into the tastings.
What actually happens during a tasting session
A typical session brings a small group together around a table, with a selection of wines poured glass by glass — usually a mix of whites, reds and maybe a sparkling or something a bit more unusual. For each wine, the host talks about the region, the grape, the producer and what to look for on the nose and palate, then opens it up for conversation: questions, comparisons, honest opinions. There's no right or wrong answer here — the goal is to learn what you actually like, not to memorise technical terms. There are usually a few snacks alongside, chosen to bring out the best in the wines being poured. Sessions usually run for around an hour to an hour and a half, though the exact length and number of wines can flex depending on the group and the occasion — nobody is watching the clock.
Portuguese wines worth discovering: Setúbal, Alentejo, Douro and Bairrada
Portugal has one of the most interesting wine scenes in Europe, and Lisbon is the perfect base to explore it from. Tastings usually include wines from the Setúbal peninsula, right next door — moscatel and reds from local grape varieties — alongside bottles from Alentejo, Douro or Bairrada, each region with its own distinct style. It's a good way to feel the difference between a full-bodied Douro red and a fresh, saline Setúbal white, without having to drive across the whole country to do it. For anyone who only knows the more obvious export wines, it tends to be a real eye-opener. Some sessions stick entirely to Portuguese labels; others branch out to a guest wine from further afield, just to give the group something to compare against. Either way, the focus stays on bottles with a story, not on ticking off famous names.
Wine and food: pairings at the Dr. Bernard restaurant
Since the tastings take place inside the restaurant, pairing wine with food whenever possible is a natural next step. The kitchen works with fresh ingredients and simple flavours — the kind of food that sits well alongside equally honest wines — and the O Gato que Bebe team usually has pairing suggestions that bring out the best in both the plate and the glass. If you want to extend the experience beyond the tasting itself, it's worth checking the restaurant menu and staying on for dinner, now with a clearer sense of which wines you actually enjoy. Given the location, seafood and grilled fish come up often, and it's a good excuse to see how a crisp Setúbal white or a light Bairrada red behaves next to something straight off the grill.
Wine tastings for groups, corporate events and team building
A wine tasting is also one of the most requested formats for larger groups — bachelorette parties, birthdays, or team-building afternoons that break away from the meeting room. It's an easy activity to share, gives a group that doesn't know each other well something to talk about, and pairs naturally with a day of surfing or beach time before or after. For corporate events and group experiences in Costa da Caparica, the Dr. Bernard team handles the logistics and adapts the format to the group — get in touch to design the right experience for your team. Sessions can be arranged as a private, closed-door experience for your group alone, or you can simply reserve seats at one of the open tastings if you'd rather mix with other guests.
Surf in the morning, wine at sunset: the perfect Caparica day
One of our visitors' favourite combinations is surfing in the morning and wine in the late afternoon. After a few hours in the water, with tired muscles and a clear head, sitting down for a wine tasting with a sea view is the kind of contrast that makes a day feel twice as long — in the best way. You don't need to be a good surfer or a wine expert to enjoy both — you just need to leave enough time for each, without rushing. A simple way to plan it: book a morning surf lesson, spend the early afternoon on the beach or wandering around Caparica, then head to the tasting as the light starts to turn gold.
When to book: the best time of year for a tasting
Wine tastings run all year round, but each season has its own charm. In summer, the long sunsets stretch the afternoon and there are more visitors discovering the area; in spring and autumn, with fewer people around, sessions feel more intimate and it's easier to chat at length with whoever is leading the tasting. If you're after a quieter experience, it's worth booking outside peak season; if you'd rather have a livelier atmosphere and meet new people, summer is the safer bet. Weekends tend to fill up faster, especially in high season, so if you have a specific date in mind — a birthday, an anniversary, a visit from friends — it's worth reaching out a little ahead of time rather than showing up on the day.
How to prepare for your wine tasting
You don't need to bring anything special — just some curiosity, and ideally not an empty stomach, since wine always tastes better with something in you. If you're coming straight from a surf lesson, leave time to shower and change before the session. And if you have any dietary restrictions or simply dislike a certain style of wine, mention it in advance — the team can usually adapt the selection. To book your spot at an upcoming wine tasting, the simplest way is to get in touch directly with the Dr. Bernard restaurant. There's no dress code to worry about — come as you are, whether that's straight from the beach in a t-shirt or dressed up for a night out afterwards.
