SUMMER HOLIDAY WITH SIR CLIFF RICHARD IN ALGARVE

There are many things associated with Sir Cliff Richard – music, tennis and his eternally youthful looks. However in recent years he has become synonymous with the Algarve, especially since launching his Vida Nova and Onda Nova wines, which are produced at the Adega do Cantor in Guia in collaboration with the Birch family.

In an exclusive interview with the Algarve Goodlife Magazine, Sir Cliff Richard talks about his love of the Algarve, plans for the future and the distant possibility of retirement.
With properties all over the globe, Sir Cliff Richard has the pick of some of the most beautiful destinations in the world but chooses to return to the Algarve yearly. Of course, this is now in part due to his blossoming winery but also because «it is the place where I feel I can relax better than anywhere else», he said, and this year will be no exception as Sir Cliff revealed he would be returning to the Algarve during the summer months as usual.

Sir Cliff had been a property owner in the Algarve long before he took to producing wine, and it was after an encounter with his friend and wine maker David Baverstock that he first decided to venture into the world of wine.

«My love of wine developed after David Baverstock encouraged me to plaint a vineyard at my Quinta in Guia. I had just planted a field of figs, but David asked me whether I would prefer a glass of wine or a dose of syrup of figs. There was no contest!»
Although the Adega do Cantor is a boutique winery and produces a limited amount of wines concentrating on quality rather than quantity, the winery still manages to produce a variety of wines with the latest sparkling rosé being dedicated to the chart topping singer.

«At the moment, we have up to 10 different wines on the market in any one vintage year. It is always nice to experiment with something new and this year we are releasing a sparkling rosé to celebrate my 50 years as a singer».
He added: «I think that the range of wine that we offer marks us out from the current crop of new producers. We literally have something for everyone».

Meanwhile, fears about the exceptionally wet winter experienced in the Algarve jeopardizing the crops were put to rest by Sir Cliff who explained: «The vines are very happy to be cold and wet from November to March. They only need relatively dry weather from March through to vintage time in September».
Of the wines that are produced by the Adega do Cantor, Sir Cliff suggests enjoying the rosé, chilled, for lunch on the terrace although his favourite is the Vida Nova Reserva which he describes as «just fantastic»!
While Sir Cliff is very involved with the Adega, he also uses his time in the Algarve as an opportunity to relax and enjoy the sunshine like the millions of others who visit the region in the summer every year and leads a generally very unstarry lifestyle while at his home in Guia.

«During my stay, I expect I will be hosting friends, playing tennis, eating out and generally chilling as well as fulfilling a few media commitments, which are sometimes easier to schedule for Portugal than the UK», he said.

«I have many friends who come and visit me at my Quinta every summer. I like to entertain and friends like to visit, so everyone’s happy»!
Although Sir Cliff dedicates some of his time to the winery in Guia, his first love remains music and he recently reunited with the Shadows in a tour that took some of the old classics to new audiences around the world.

Sir Cliff Richard said: «It was wonderful to be reunited with the Shadows last year. We had a wonderful tour that took us to the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The shows were received with huge enthusiasm and we all had a ball. The last show, in Johannesburg, was quite emotional as it was possibly the last time that we will ever perform together», he added.
However, the legions of adoring fans needs not worry as the Peter Pan of Pop has a new album due to be released later this year: «I have a new album release in October which features a swing band. I recorded it in Nashville last year and it is called Bold as Brass».
The album launch is due to coincide with upcoming 70th birthday celebrations for Sir Cliff, which include six concerts to be held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, accompanied by a live swing band, which all already sold out.

So, what advice would a legend of the music industry give to any aspiring artists in the region who are trying to make it in the highly competitive world of pop?
«I would say that you have to determine to be the very best, keep knocking at doors and take every opportunity to gain experience».
Sound advice from a man who has sold more than 250 million albums worldwide and holds the record with Elvis Presley as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its first six decades. So, what does the future hold in store for the biggest selling singles artist of all time in the UK?
«Retirement…»? he asks. Perhaps not…
Daisy Sampson
Photos: Adega do Cantor (1), the popular singer Cliff Richard in his Quinta, in Guia, Algarve, Portugal (1); Clff Richard and The Shadows, 1961; Cliff Richard's farm in Guia, Algarve (1);  Cliff Richard and The Shadows, 1960; Cliff Richard in his vineyard, Portugal; Cliff Richard, 1974; Cliff Richard, 1981; Goodlife Magazine, an International Rotary Club of Almancil Project, fundraising for Polio Eradication, Algarve, Portugal; Cliff Richard and The Shadows, movie and album Summer Holiday;

Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Album of Returning Tour, 2009; Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Final reunion tour, 2009; Algarve Surreal, Dutch surrealist artist Jeroen Buitman has a studio in Loulé, Algarve. He spend winter working for his final group of paintings for his exhibition in Amsterdam last April, followed by two more in London and Paris this month
NOTE: text and Adega do Cantor photos thanks to Algarve Goodlife Magazine, a polio eradication fundraising idea