JOURNAL #9 Meet Rachel Laidler, National Geographic photographer

Rachel Laidler wears many hats – head of Portugal for Epic Travel, National Geographic Traveller photographer, surfer, and wine enthusiast. Here she remembers our Harfeast festival last year, and tells us more about her love of Portugal and photography.

Set the Harfeast scene for us

It was a gorgeous October day, and the sun was shining between the vines as we drove along the track to the main house. 

We’d arrived a little early and white tablecloths were being laid in the olive grove, waiters were putting wine bottles in ice buckets, and the aroma of roasting pig was starting to fill the air. 

Coloured bunting and fairy lights were strewn between the trees and around the stage, and there was a pre-party atmosphere. I was handed a glass of wine and soon found a sunny spot by the pool. 

How did the evening unfold? 

It felt really special to drink wine produced by the vines that were surrounding us – they were the constant backdrop as we ate, laughed and danced. We were treated to MdQ’s wine all night, which was of course the show-stopper (my favourite was the Palhete, a rosé).

There was plenty of great food and entertainment too – I loved hearing father and daughter act Tomás and Branca Cunha Ferreira play. We’ve since worked with them for our own Epic events. 

What’s your favourite spot in Portugal?

It’s hard to pick one favourite place – Portugal offers endless discovery. Currently though, my happiest place is the Costa Vicentina, where you’ll find long stretches of empty sand out of season, and I can have the waves all to myself!

What captures your imagination when you're taking a photo?

I’m always thinking about natural light when and how this paints the scene. We’re very lucky to be blessed with beautiful light in Portugal, and it’s one of the things I love most about shooting here – the natural light does a lot of the work for you. 

Best kind of day working for Epic in Portugal?

When a client shares the same experience you adore, like long lazy lunches under a historic olive tree `- it doesn’t get much better than that!

What keeps drawing you back to MdQ?

I was first drawn to MdQ in 2020 when I was looking for a nice vineyard to take friends to. I loved the idea of wine tasting under the 2,000-year-old olive tree, and as a lover of native grapes I was intrigued.

Since then it’s become a very special place for me – I feel very at home at MdQ, and it’s always somewhere I go back to with family, friends, or Epic guests. 

It’s about time Algarvian wines and native grapes got put on the map and MdQ is pioneering this. It’s a project I have a lot of support for and I know I’ll continue to make many more memories there. 

I can’t wait for CAMP in October, and to watch MdQ continue to grow and thrive.