Terms & Conditions

1. General

These terms and conditions govern your use of Aura Tavira and Aura Wines services, operated by Forte & Evocativa, Lda (NIF: 518343820), located at R. 1º de Maio 43, 8800-360 Tavira, Portugal. By using our services, website, or custom booking frameworks, you agree to these terms.

2. Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 years old to purchase alcohol or participate in wine tastings. We reserve the right to request official identification to verify your age at any point before service or international shipment dispatch.

3. Bookings, Reservations & Right of Withdrawal Exemptions

• Reservations for tastings, workshops, and specialized events are subject to availability.
• Statutory Right of Withdrawal Notice: In accordance with Article 16(l) of EU Directive 2011/83/EU and applicable Portuguese consumer protection laws, services relating to leisure activities provided on a specific date or period are explicitly exempt from the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal ("cooling-off" period). Therefore, confirmed reservations for scheduled dates are binding.
• Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
• No-shows may be charged the full booking amount.
• Friday Pop-Up Tastings require a €10 advance payment per guest to reserve a place. This €10 is deducted from the price of the bottle purchased on the night — each guest is required to purchase at least one bottle of wine from the featured producer.

4. Payments, Prepayment & Refunds

• All prices are displayed in Euros and include applicable Portuguese VAT.
• Online payments are processed by Stripe Payments Europe, Ltd. By paying online you also accept Stripe's terms (stripe.com/legal/consumer). We never receive or store your full card details; all card data is handled directly by Stripe.
• Wine tastings and private tastings require full prepayment. A reservation is only confirmed once Stripe reports the payment as successful — a confirmation email with your booking reference is sent at that point. Unpaid or failed checkouts do not create a reservation.
• Accepted payment methods at checkout are those offered by Stripe for your country (credit and debit cards and, where available, local wallets). In the boutique we also accept cash and card.
• Refunds for cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance are issued to the original payment method via Stripe and normally appear within 5–10 business days, depending on your bank. Cancellations within 24 hours and no-shows are non-refundable. Vouchers are redeemed against the booking value and are not exchangeable for cash.
• Payment disputes and chargebacks are handled through Stripe. We ask that you contact us first at info@aurawines.pt so we can resolve any issue directly.

5. Wine Club

The Aura Wine Club is a subscription service through which members receive a pack of wines, selected with care by our team, delivered on a monthly or bimonthly basis according to their chosen plan.

Wine Club subscriptions are billed monthly or bimonthly through Stripe, in advance of each dispatch, until cancelled. You may cancel at any time before the next billing date; cancellation takes effect from the following billing cycle, and no further packs will be billed or dispatched thereafter.

Wine Club shipments are subject to the same age-verification, packaging, and cross-border shipping requirements as other Aura orders (see Sections 2 and 6). Shipping within Portugal is included in the subscription price. Shipping to other European destinations is subject to an additional charge, shown at checkout before each subscription is confirmed.

6. Purchases & Bespoke Cross-Border Shipping (IEC Regulations)

Because wine is an excise-regulated product, all shipments travelling outside of Portugal to other European Union member states are subject to the EU Excise Duty framework (Imposto Especial sobre o Consumo – IEC). Forte & Evocativa, Lda legally processes all cross-border orders through the official Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) via an electronic administrative document (e-SAD). Delivery timelines depend on courier transit and destination-state customs clearance.

7. Digital Services & AI Transparency

In compliance with the EU Digital Services Act and national transparency mandates, users are explicitly notified that certain interactive elements or communication assistants on our digital platforms utilize artificial intelligence. These tools serve an informational role to share our wine stories and schedule details. Legally binding arrangements or specific order adjustments are verified directly by our team in Tavira.

8. Newsletter & Communications

When making a booking or event registration, you may choose to subscribe to our newsletter by checking the opt-in box. You can also subscribe directly through our newsletter page. Our newsletter includes wine recommendations, exclusive offers, and event updates. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting us directly at info@aurawines.pt.

9. Data Collection & Use

We collect personal information (name, email, phone number) when you make bookings, reservations, event registrations, or subscribe to our newsletter. This data is used solely to process your booking, send confirmations, and deliver our newsletter. Your data is stored securely and is never shared with third parties for marketing purposes. For full details, please see our Privacy Policy.

10. Responsible Drinking

We promote responsible alcohol consumption. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who appears intoxicated.

11. Hiking — At Your Own Risk

Hikes are only offered as scheduled Aura Hikes events on published dates — we do not arrange private or on-demand hikes. Guided hikes organised by Aura Tavira and our partner guides take place in natural outdoor environments and involve inherent physical risks, including but not limited to uneven terrain, weather changes, exposure, slips, falls, and minor injuries. Participants take part voluntarily and at their own risk. By registering for an Aura Hike, you confirm that you are in adequate physical condition, will follow the guide's instructions at all times, and accept full responsibility for your own safety, personal belongings, and any pre-existing medical conditions. Aura Tavira, its partners, and guides accept no liability for accidents, injuries, loss, or damage arising from participation, except where caused by gross negligence on our part. We recommend appropriate footwear, water, sun protection, and adequate personal travel/health insurance. Aura Tavira reserves the right to cancel or modify a hike at any time due to weather or safety concerns.

12. Discover Tavira

The Discover Tavira guide features curated local recommendations personally vetted and recommended by the Aura Tavira team. All listings, whether organic or sponsored, are quality-controlled and must meet our standards before being included. Placement in the guide is a paid service — businesses can request a review by contacting us. Aura Tavira reserves the right to remove any listing that no longer meets our quality criteria.

13. Photos & Media

We may take photos during events for marketing purposes. Please let us know if you prefer not to be photographed.

14. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These terms are governed by Portuguese law. In the event of a consumer dispute, the consumer may resort to the official Portuguese digital complaint book (Livro de Reclamações Eletrónico) at www.livrodereclamacoes.pt. Any judicial disputes will be resolved in the competent courts of Faro, Portugal.

15. Contact

For any questions regarding these terms, please contact us at info@aurawines.pt.