Locals in a small coastal town in Portugal were left in awe on Sunday as a river of red wine cascaded through their streets, courtesy of a mishap at the Levira Distillery. Two massive tanks, containing a staggering 600,000 gallons of wine, suddenly gave way, causing the unexpected spectacle.
Video footage circulating online captured the crimson liquid rushing down a steep hill in São Lourenco de Bairro, a town with approximately 2,000 residents. The spill was so extensive that it could have filled an Olympic-sized swimming pool, raising environmental concerns.
Authorities swiftly sprang into action to prevent the wine from contaminating the Certima River. The Anadia Fire Department successfully blocked and diverted the wine's path, redirecting it into a nearby field. Regrettably, one home near the distillery had its basement flooded with wine, but no injuries were reported.
Levira Distillery promptly issued an apology for the incident and took responsibility for the cleanup costs and repairs. In their statement, they assured the public that teams were already at work to resolve the situation, and the wine-soaked soil in the field had been sent to a special treatment plant.
The mishap occurred at the Levira Distillery, also located in the Anadia region, where the wine had been resting in tanks awaiting bottling. The bursting of these two tanks led to nearly 600,000 gallons of wine flowing through the streets of São Lorenzo de Bairro, triggering an environmental alert. Concerns arose about the potential health and safety risks for the town's 2,000 residents and the possibility of contamination of the Certima River, which serves as a regional water source.
The Anadia Fire Department responded promptly, successfully diverting the wine away from the river and into a nearby field. The distillery took full responsibility for the incident, and while one resident experienced a flooded basement, no injuries were reported.
"We assume full responsibility for the costs associated with cleaning and repairing the damage, having teams do so immediately," stated Levira Distillery, expressing their commitment to resolving the situation as quickly as possible.
São Lourenco do Bairro, a small village in northern Portugal with fewer than 2,500 residents, witnessed an astonishing event on Sunday as their streets became flooded with wine. The incident was the result of two tanks at the local Levira Distillery bursting, releasing approximately 600,000 gallons of wine. The wine flowed swiftly through the town's narrow streets, creating an unforgettable scene, with enough wine spilled to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool.
Local officials acted promptly to prevent the wine from entering the Certima River, successfully diverting it to a nearby field. Levira Distillery took full responsibility for the incident, pledging to cover all cleanup and repair costs and working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
For wine enthusiasts visiting Portugal, São Lourenco do Bairro is conveniently located just two hours southwest of the renowned Douro Valley, a world-famous wine region. It offers numerous vineyards with open tasting rooms for wine lovers to explore. Additionally, the northern city of Porto boasts the expansive World of Wine showroom and museum, providing a comprehensive overview of Portugal's rich wine history. For those unable to travel, enjoying a bottle of Portuguese wine at home is a delightful alternative, just be sure not to spill it.