Celebration dinner for V&G’s 22nd anniversary

Over 22 years, V&G has accompanied Portugal and the world. It has been shoulder to shoulder with trends in architecture and design. It has told us about history, heritage and culture. It has shown us the best hotels, restaurants and spas. It brought us up to date with the most unusual businesses, the latest developments in politics and the real economy. It has brought us the latest innovations in the motor industry and to the best golf courses around the world. Unlike anything else in Portugal, V&G hit the newsstands in 2001 with a purpose that remains steadfast to this day: to toast life and all the best it has to offer. Symbolising achievement and success, the issue in question was marked with a unique anniversary dinner with the interviewees who featured in the special 22nd anniversary edition.

22 years accompanying Portugal and the world

On January 17, at 8.30pm, the celebratory event began at the One Shot Palácio Cedofeita hotel, in the Le Palais restaurant in Oporto. As you might expect, V&G chose to welcome its guests in a place imbued with sophistication and glamour, because either you go big or you don’t go at all. The palatial dining room, with its classical and baroque features, welcomed guests with an amuse-bouche in a natural and harmonious setting. Between group and solo photographs, warm introductions and friendly handshakes, the dinner began with a challenge for those present. On each chair there was a riddle which, when deciphered, indicated who the seat belonged to. If anyone had any doubts, they were quickly dispelled amid laughter and exchanges as the gourmet dishes began to be served, accompanied by Vidago Villa, the wine on the rise. The rectangular table revealed familiar faces, which can be found in the pages of issue #121 of Villas&Golfe. We’re talking about several distinguished names from the business world who were gathered there. For example: Alberto Bulhosa, from Bulhosas; Cristiano van Zeller, from Van Zellers & CO; Gi Santos, from GS Luxury Concept; Ivone Ribeiro, from Garage Wines; João de Sousa Rodolfo, from Traçado Regulador; João Paulo Ferreira, from Haier; Jorge Rees, from Tapetes Beiriz; Massimo Senatore, from BMW; Miguel Costa, from C. Santos VP; Paula Moucheira, from Formas de Pedra; Paulo Abrantes, from Grupo DS and Tomás Barbosa, from Engimov.

Sharing different life stories

These were joined by many others who, due to personal circumstances, were unable to attend. The dinner resulted in pleasant conversations and delicious food tastings, but silence set in when the subject switched to a general topic. For three hours, each of the guests had the opportunity to share their personal and professional experiences, with speeches that were at times comical and at others more emotional. What we do know is that, before long, everyone was looking at each other in a closer, lighter and more empathetic way. In fact, making room for the expression of different life stories, where different generations stand out for their diversity of thought, resilience and ability to overcome challenges, can be an enriching exercise.
At the end, the cake was cut and a toast was made to success, ambition, to those present and, above all, to V&G. The event ended with a speech of thanks from V&G’s founder, Paulo Martins, and a symbolic memento for each of the guests. Another lifestyle event is over, but stay tuned for more to come.