Goodbye, for now, and thanks for all the wine

When it all began, we just needed an office. The one we found on Rua do Bonjardim was a true unicorn: low price, nice landlord, and more space than we would ever use. With big windows in front, we figured, why not do something different, so we opened an art gallery. I have an art degree and loved the energy of the local art scene, so I figured another space to support local artists would only enhance the neighborhood. 

Even with an office, a small kitchen, and a gallery, we still had room to spare, and since our main business is luxury wine travel, we figured a tasting room and a small wine shop made sense as well. In an effort not to compete with friends' wine shops and because we love seeking out new niches, we decided to try to carry wines from small, natural, and organic producers. Some called us crazy, but we just saw it as a niche to fill and a group of producers who needed voices. Almost by accident, we opened the first natural wine shop in Porto. 

And things were good. We had new art openings every couple of months, and we hosted tastings and used our offices to welcome new clients. The future was bright!

Next up: COVID.

Shit hit the fan, as they say, and we had to pivot quickly. We did do a few more art openings, but it wasn't the same looking at works of art behind masked faces, so we closed for a bit and slowly transitioned the wine shop from the back to the front of the store, hoping to expand a bit and focus on deliveries. We even started a hot sauce company, making organic, spicy treats, though it did not survive COVID. That said, life was slowly looking up again.

theLAB was beginning to get attention, and new shops were opening: the Caves (Vivant and Bombarda), Acro, FUNQ, and many more. We had interns and friends helping us to manage events and tastings (Tina, Max, Junior, Odile, Alper and Laura). We also became more obsessed with sustainability. Our mission was to seek out those who were working to make the world a little bit better place. Our tastings grew, and we began hosting a wider variety of events. It was a good thing. We were having fun!

Sometime in 2024, after Tina moved on to bigger projects, we met with Mike, who was running a newsletter in Porto. After a few back-and-forths, we excitedly welcomed him to the fold, where he took over day-to-day operations. Events became more regular. Instagram was flooded with Pugs, and we thought we were in the right place again. We even started a group to support small businesses in Porto (Better Together Collective). We doubled down on our wine selection, and "the collection" (those who know, know) continued to grow. We were not bitter in the slightest, but our walls began to bite back as it were. 

We never wanted to get rich. Honestly, our main business was doing well (ish), and we wanted to sustain the shop so we could continue to highlight and support those we loved and admired. Sadly, towards the end of last year, we noticed that we weren't even doing that. The Middle East turmoil began to affect our travel business, and no matter what Portugal tourism says, the crowds were slowly receding, or at least not stabilizing. We began to realize the time had come to say goodbye, again. We care so much about sustainability, but we knew we, too, needed to be sustainable as a business. 

So today we say goodbye, for now, and while it hurts to say this, our good friend and champion Mike will be leaving us. Trust me when I say, it is not for lack of our desire to have him here, but because we just are not sustainable as we are now. He has been vital to our identity and voice. I know we will always remain friends, but right now, he is looking for his next adventure. Please reach out if you have ideas for him. Hiring Mike is something we never regretted, and nor will the lucky business that gets to work with him next. 

What's next, you might ask? Well, the shop is still our office, so we're not giving up the location. And I'm stubbornly refusing to take the logo off the door. But we will be closed most of the time(including online). You can call us to schedule a visit, just let us know in advance. And we will be doing private tastings still as part of our main business, Patamar Select. We do hope that one day we can restart again, as we did after COVID, but we don't know when or in what format that might be. Over the past 7 years, we have created a ton of great memories and made so many new friends. For that, we are forever grateful. 

The last official day of sales with doors wide open will be 31 July. On the 24th of July, during the day, we'll be opening a few bottles to share with anyone who stops by to say hi. No big party, but some special prices on wines, and some glasses to toast with. Do stop by if you are in town! We'll be open from 12-7. 

For now, our team, Mike, and I all wish to thank you for making the last 7 years amazing. And we look forward to hanging out with all of you as we go forward. In town, at events, and occasionally at theLAB. We're not retiring the name just yet. We're just locking the doors for a while as we seek out new ideas and adventures. 

Thank you and Saudé

Ryan, Mike, Gabriella, and the whole team 

P.S. Get out there and help other small businesses survive. Small gestures like a quick coffee or beer on your way home can mean a ton to a small company. An extra bit of walking to pick up a bottle of wine from the local wine shop. Sure it might cost a few euros more, but you will help the community survive, Continente isn't going to miss your money. We want sustainable neighborhoods; we all need to invest together. Thank you for all that did.