Wine Experiences Alentejo

More information on Alentejo

Located in the central south of the country, the Alentejo is one of Portugal’s main wine regions. While the Algarve might be Portugal’s most favored region for tourism, the Alentejo is perhaps the country’s most loved destination by wine aficionados. Within its territory, characterized by large, gently undulating plains, you will find vast agricultural estates and historical wineries that you can visit for a wine tasting.

During your visits to Alentejo’s wineries, you will learn that while the area during the golden age was populated by royalty, it is now a wide, sparsely populated, and rather impoverished agricultural region. The baking hot summer temperatures of the Alentejo make the region’s climate ideal for the production of warm, easy-going red wines, with fruity notes and soft tannins. While traditional Alentejo red wines are famous for their complexity, modern-style ones are quite easy-drinking and are praised for their rich and intense fruitiness. Fresh and fruitier white wines are also on the rise in the Alentejo, thanks to the implementation of new blends of local and international grapes.

Which food to taste in Alentejo?

Between your winery visits in the Alentejo, make sure to visit the local restaurants and explore the region’s cuisine, boosting some of the country’s most famous dishes, such as Alentejo-style açorda (bread soup), cozido (boiled meats with vegetables), carne de porco com amejoas (pork, clams, and potatoes in a garlic-wine sauce), bacalhau com broa (cod baked with cornbread), ensopado de borrego (lamb stew), as well as some mouthwatering desserts, such as sericaia (cinnamon flavored egg pudding) or bolo de mel (honey cake).

Which wines to taste in Alentejo?

Your wine tastings in the Alentejo will include wines produced with both traditional Portuguese varieties, such as Trincadeira, Aragonez (Tempranillo), Alfrocheiro, and Castelão - for the red wines - and Antão Vaz, Roupeiro, Arinto, and Verdelho - for the whites - as well as newcomers like Syrah, Alicante Bouchet, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Viognier.

Which is the best season to visit Alentejo?

The best seasons to plan your wine trip to the Alentejo region and get to know its great wines, visiting its wineries and taking part in unforgettable wine tastings, are without doubt either spring or autumn, when temperatures are pleasant but not extreme. During spring you will be able to admire the region’s meadows burst into multi-colored bloom, while in autumn the vineyards and olive groves, heavy with fruit, dominate the scenery.

What things to do in Alentejo?

During your time in the Alentejo, you will have the opportunity to embark in some unique wine experiences and visit various renowned wineries for a wine tasting. While here, don’t waste the opportunity to visit at least a few of the region’s highlights, such as the capital, Évora, a UNESCO site rich in architectural masterpieces, Monsaraz and its medieval castle, the Castle of Elvas, the natural park of Serra de São Mamede, or visit the beautiful Alentejo coast, where you’ll find plenty of beaches still unknown to most tourists.