VisitPortugal and Corkified, today announce the launch of Pairing Portugal, a world-first innovation that, with the tap of a cork, turns a bottle of Portuguese wine into a gateway to travel.
Pairing 100 wines, with 100 poems and 100 locations across Portugal, the cutting-edge collaboration uses near field communication technology embedded in the cork to unlock travel inspiration rooted in the landscape where the wine is produced, allowing wine lovers to discover the area and instantly book a trip.
The concept is simple: You begin with a glass of Portuguese wine, shared at home or in a restaurant, tracing its character from palate to peak. As the flavors reveal the terroir, the sensory journey reaches its natural conclusion, a shared realization that the next vintage should be tasted at the source. It starts with a sip; it ends with, “We should go there!”
By scanning the cork with your phone, bespoke poetry written by a local poet transports you to the place that produced the wine. In that moment, curiosity can turn into action as the experience unfolds through immersive storytelling and rich cultural content, allowing travellers to explore the region, discover places to stay, and browse curated itineraries – all while the inspiration is fresh.
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The initiative, developed for VisitPortugal by Dentsu Creative, sees 100 leading wine producers including Cartuxa and Adega de Borba, and Portuguese wine tech start-up Corkified, aims to inspire travel across Portugal. from the vineyards of the Vinho Verde in the North, to the central plains of Alentejo and sun-soaked coastal regions of the South – showcasing its rich diversity.
João Teixeira, Winery Director at Cartuxa, said: “For wine producers like us, Pairing Portugal is a breakthrough. We’ve always believed the best way to truly understand a wine is to experience the place it comes from, and this technology finally makes that connection immediate. With a simple tap, and the words of a local poet, people can be transported to the landscapes and stories behind the bottle. It’s an exciting moment for Portuguese wine because it brings drinkers around the world closer to the land, the craft and the communities that make it so special.”
The underlying technology was developed by Corkified to combat wine counterfeiting by verifying authenticity. Pairing Portugal expands that purpose by turning the cork into a cultural storytelling device and a seamless way to explore the places, people and producers behind each bottle.
Alexandre Vaz, CEO at Corkified, said: “Portugal is the world’s leading producer of cork, supplying the majority used in wine bottles globally, so it felt natural to start here. As a Portuguese startup, we’re proud to have helped bring Pairing Portugal to life by turning the cork into a digital touchpoint that connects people directly to the region behind the bottle, celebrating Portuguese provenance, from the cork to the poetry to the wine to the terroir.”
Lídia Monteiro, Board Member at Turismo de Portugal, said: “Portugal is full of stories, culture, and poetry and we are always seeking innovative ways to share its identity with the world. This project shows that even traditions, like wine and cork, can be reimagined to reveal how extraordinary and unique our country is – a place where every sip, every verse and every corner has a story to tell.”
Watch here: Pairing Portugal
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ABOUT CORKIFIED
Corkified is the intelligent cork system that turns every bottle into a point of control, connection, and intelligence. It enables instant verification to protect authenticity and pricing power, unlocks premium brand experiences at the moment of opening, and returns real-world signals that reveal where bottles move, where engagement happens, and where patterns look abnormal. By restoring visibility after the bottle leaves the cellar or distillery, Corkified helps wine and spirits brands reduce risk, deepen consumer relationships, and make faster, smarter go-to-market decisions.
ABOUT PAIRING PORTUGAL
From March 2026, consumers will be able to experience Pairing Portugal in select restaurants and retail locations across key markets including the US, UK, Brazil, Spain, France and Germany. An initial run of 1,000 limited-edition Cartuxa bottles will launch in cities including London and New York, bringing the experience of internationally renowned Portuguese wines into premium dining settings.
ABOUT VISITPORTUGAL
VisitPortugal is the official tourism brand and digital platform of Portugal, developed and managed by Turismo de Portugal, I.P., the country’s national tourism authority under the Ministry of Economy. Its role is to promote Portugal internationally as a diverse, high-quality and sustainable travel destination, showcasing the country’s regions, culture, gastronomy, nature and experiences through integrated storytelling and campaigns. VisitPortugal operates as part of Turismo de Portugal’s global promotion network, working with regional and international partners across more than 20 key markets to strengthen Portugal’s visibility, competitiveness and long-term tourism impact.
ABOUT DENTSU CREATIVE
Dentsu Creative is a global creative agency network designed to unlock exponential growth for clients. We use Transformative Creativity as a differentiating, driving force to bring our capabilities together and positively impact people, businesses and society. Established in June 2022, Dentsu Creative is integrated with Dentsu’s Media and CXM businesses in over 145 countries and regions, offering end-to-end solutions globally.
ABOUT DENTSU
Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world’s leading organizations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now present in approximately 120 countries and regions, it has a proven track record of nurturing and developing innovations, combining the talents of its global network of leadership brands to develop impactful and integrated growth solutions for clients. Dentsu delivers end-to-end experience transformation (EX) by integrating its services across Media, CXM and Creative, while its business transformation (BX) mindset pushes the boundaries of transformation and sustainable growth for brands, people and society.
Dentsu, Innovating to Impact.
Find out more: www.dentsu.com / www.group.dentsu.com
FAQ’S
What exactly is Pairing Portugal?
Pairing Portugal is a collaboration between VisitPortugal, Corkified and Portuguese wine producers that turns a wine cork into a digital gateway to travel. Using NFC technology embedded in natural Portuguese cork, consumers can tap the cork with their phone to unlock content about the wine, vineyard and the area it comes from, including stories, poetry, local experiences and travel inspiration. The goal is to connect wine drinkers with the landscapes, people and culture behind each bottle, allowing the wines of Portugal to become ambassadors for the places they came from.
Where did the technology come from?
The NFC cork technology was originally developed by Portuguese startup Corkified as a way to combat wine counterfeiting by verifying authenticity. Pairing Portugal expands that idea by using the cork as a storytelling device that connects people with the regions, landscapes and communities behind the wine.
What happens after someone taps the cork?
Once tapped, users are taken to a digital experience where they can:
- Listen to an original poem inspired by the wine’s origins
- Learn about the location and landscape behind the wine
- Discover curated travel experiences and places to stay
- Explore itineraries connected to the region
- Begin planning a trip to Portugal directly from the experience
- Book a local hotel
How many wines are part of the project?
The project pairs 100 Portuguese wines with 100 original poems, each connected to real locations across the country. The wines represent a wide range of Portuguese regions including areas such as the Douro Valley, Alentejo and coastal regions around Lisbon and the Algarve.
Which wine producers are participating?
Participating producers include Portuguese wineries such as Cartuxa and Adega de Borba, alongside others representing different regions across the country. Each winery is paired with a poet whose work reflects the landscape and character of the area.
Where will consumers be able to experience Pairing Portugal?
The first phase will launch in select restaurants and retail locations across key international markets, including the UK, US, Brazil, Spain, France and Germany. Limited-edition bottles will initially appear in premium dining environments where consumers are already discovering Portuguese wine.
How many bottles will be produced?
The initial launch will include 1,000 limited-edition bottles distributed across international cities such as London and New York.
Is any personal data collected when someone taps the cork?
To access the app experience, users download the Corkified app and create an account. The app requests permissions transparently and only as needed (for example, location to tailor content), and users can control these settings at any time. Data is used to deliver a more personalized experience and to provide brands with aggregated insights on engagement and bottle journey patterns. Corkified does not sell personal data, and users can request account deletion. All personal data collected through the app is treated in strict accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other relevant legislation, ensuring that users’ privacy rights are fully respected at every stage.
How does the project support sustainability?
The corks used in Pairing Portugal are made from natural Portuguese cork, which is renewable, biodegradable, recyclable and compostable. Cork harvesting also supports the preservation of cork oak forests, which play an important role in biodiversity and carbon capture.