Monte do Além

Who we are

Monte do Além is a small organic wine estate located in the Algarve, southern Portugal, where abundant Mediterranean sunshine is balanced by cool nights and the influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean. The project began in 2002, when Vinciane, originally from Belgium, and her partner Parviz, united by their passion for terroir, planted their first vineyards.

The first grapes were harvested in 2005, with the initial wines made in the estate's garage. A major step followed in 2009 with the construction of the estate's own winery, or adega. Built on two levels, the cellar was designed to use gravity to move the grapes to the stainless-steel tanks, reducing the need for electric pumps and allowing gentler handling throughout the winemaking process.

Today, the vineyard covers approximately 5.5 hectares and is cultivated entirely according to organic principles. The vines were planted at a relatively high density for the Algarve, around 5,000 vines per hectare, encouraging deeper root development. Yields are deliberately limited to approximately 35 hectoliters per hectare, equivalent to roughly one bottle per vine, while the grapes are harvested manually.

Since 2026, Monte do Além has also begun collaborating with other local producers. The winery now features a shop and offers wine tastings, giving visitors the opportunity to discover not only the estate's production but also other wines from the surrounding area.

Monte do Além's wines are shaped by organic viticulture, low yields, manual harvesting, and careful cellar work, with the aim of preserving an authentic expression of the Algarve terroir. The combination of intense sunshine, Atlantic influence, and concentrated grapes provides the foundation for wines with balance and a distinctive regional identity.

The estate currently has around 25,500 vines and works with six varieties: Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Grenache, and Syrah. Aragonez accounts for approximately 7,000 vines, followed by Petit Verdot with 6,500, Syrah with 3,500, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 3,000 each, and Grenache with 2,500.

In the cellar, the gravity-fed design enables gentle handling of the fruit, while stainless-steel tanks provide precision during vinification. Combined with the estate's limited production and meticulous vineyard management, this approach allows Monte do Além to create wines that reflect both the character of its grape varieties and the sunny, Atlantic-influenced landscape of the Algarve.