Elizabeth Tofte emigrated for love, but never forgot his greatest passion, her country. She has set up a company that sells wine and products made in Portugal, thus contradicting our bad image abroad and promoting the best of what we do. Come and meet this gem of Tras-Os-Montes.
How did you arrive to the concept of Vinport? What led you to create this business?
The concept of VinPort was a "bubble" in my imagination, at my first visit to Denmark. I wanted to make a Portuguese dinner, of course could not miss our famous nectar. What was my surprise when I went to the supermarket, there were only two references Portuguese, and as you can imagine, was not the ones that proud of me the most ... ..
I met my husband on holiday in Geneva, which should be two weeks, came to be two years. In Switzerland, the Portuguese products are represented with strength and quantity in many places. I think thats due to the fact that is a country with a lot of Portuguese emigrants, has helped. Then, Lars (my husband) have created strong links with our wines, gastronomy and culture.
In 2004 we came to live permanently to Denmark. But a problem arose, I did not speak Danish, my English was terrible and nobody could understand me in French. I've have to learned danish under the circumstances. It was therefore with a discussion with some friends on a terrace in Østebro, I arrive at the name Vinport, that is wine tasting, port and it is clear the inevitable link to the Port Wine.
We register the company on 17 June 2004, August had the first commodity. The logo was given to us by the godmother of Lars and also conceptualized Danish artis Margrethe Kaas.
It was easy the acceptance of Portuguese products, including wine? Danes were minimally familiar with this and other Portuguese products?
In general, the typical consumer in Denmark is very conservative. So you can imagine it was not easy to overcome these barriers. Older danish, still have the sad memory of the scandal of the Dão "cellars". In the 70's about 65% of the wines imported to Denmark was Portuguese, now hopefully we can reach 2% market share.
It's been hard work, dissemination, acceptance, take your time to create habits.
When you asked them seven years ago, what they knew of Portugal, they responded, cod, port wine and fado, but not always in a positive way .. I would even say that they speak of us with scorn and sarcasm. That of course revolted me, got to the point of not giving samples or sell wine, for disrespecting my job.
Port wine, unlike wine consumption has an fantastic acceptance! Imagine that grew 98% between 2009 and 2010. 3.7% of exports of port wine come here, which puts Denmark in ninth place, ahead of Brazil which has a direct connection with Portugal and is also in a continent, compared to this country of five million inhabitants.
Currently sales of oil have doubled, the Danes are more aware, they begin to use in preparing their dishes, plus oil and less butter or other fats. They also travel more, are starting to see us as more exotic and attractive cultural. Here I think the fact that Portugal have won several international awards for tourism has helped in this awareness.
By choosing to promote Portuguese products you had any support from the Portuguese authorities?
What? Are you kidding me? what kind of support you're referring to? Monetary support, promotional? If it is support by competent authorities, such Aicep, we did not had any support, only invitations to attend the annual event of wines ... The embassy has been trying to help us in the cultural area, or if there is fado, cinema and exhibitions, they attempt to have our wines. We greatly appreciate those responsible of the Embassy. For the Ambassador, we send the information of events in which we participate. The support we have felt is from the part of Viniportugal, although is a nonprofit institution that has been striving to promote and disseminate our wines. Regularly send gifts, magazines and brochures. Best of all is from our producers and suppliers who support us unconditionally in this struggle.
It was difficult to create a business from scratch in a foreign country?
The creation of the company experienced had no complications. The act itself was simple, searh for the closest financial establishment and register! We just need to take our personal identification documents. I was actually shocked, accustomed to the Portuguese bureaucracy ... ..
What? Are you kidding me? what kind of support you're referring to? Monetary support, promotional? If it is support by competent authorities, such Aicep, we did not had any support, only invitations to attend the annual event of wines ... The embassy has been trying to help us in the cultural area, or if there is fado, cinema and exhibitions, they attempt to have our wines. We greatly appreciate those responsible of the Embassy. For the Ambassador, we send the information of events in which we participate. The support we have felt is from the part of Viniportugal, although is a nonprofit institution that has been striving to promote and disseminate our wines. Regularly send gifts, magazines and brochures. Best of all is from our producers and suppliers who support us unconditionally in this struggle.
It was difficult to create a business from scratch in a foreign country?
The creation of the company experienced had no complications. The act itself was simple, searh for the closest financial establishment and register! We just need to take our personal identification documents. I was actually shocked, accustomed to the Portuguese bureaucracy ... ..
When you arrive to Denmark which was the first problem you have encountered in addition to the language?
The irony and dark humor! The Danes have a very special form of irony. We Latins, we shout, gesticulate, use words of all kinds, the Scandinavian are able to insult you in the worst of ways, only with irony, you do not see a gesture, they don't swear, or screaming, and yet they insult each other.
And of course the climate in winter is not the best, the days become too short, cold and wet. Now I can understand why the Danes leave everything aside, to go as lizards lazing in the sun! It is a very healthy way to accumulate the vitamin D!
And what is the best in your host country?
The tranqualidade how life is led. One day at a time. Summer is beautiful! Very mild, with temperatures fairly constant and with beautiful outcasts, the waters sweet and mild. There are rarely big waves.
The fidelity of the Danes, they are so adverse to change. It's funny they are also pioneers in a multitude of things!
What do the Danes think of Portugal? How they see the Portuguese?
In general like us, find us exotic " rare birds types." But unfortunately, continues the stereotype that everything is corrupt on the south of Europe, as indeed it is prove to be true. What has been interfering with our work even more ...
It's easy to be an emigrant in Denmark?
It is not difficult, provided you have an employment contract and you come from EU country. If you don't have an employment contract, you must deposit a minimum amount in a bank to ensure personal survival in those months. They are currently negotiating a new immigration law, which will surely hamper the emigration.
What do you miss from Portugal?
From Portugal, I miss my friends, my family and my Alvão, the Marão and the unmistakable smell of Tras-Os-Montes.
The rest, I endeavor to have them around, it's no wonder that I work with domestic products! The range is increasing, since the wine, I sell olive oil, jams, biscuits, olives, spices, honey and more will come!
http://vinport.dk/
