The bottles that define Alentejo: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
The iconic bottles that define Alentejo: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
Mouchao's namesake red, made at the Casa Branca estate since 1901, four years in large wooden toneis and built to age for decades in bottle.
Tasting notes: Intense garnet colour with aromas of spicy black fruit, plum jam and ripe olives over a stemmy, minty hallmark; the estate's benchmark long-cellared red from the Carrapetos and Dourada vineyards.
A cult, limited-production Alentejo icon from Miguel Louro's Borba sub-region vineyard near Estremoz, first made in 1989.
Tasting notes: Powerful aromas of perfectly ripe red and black fruit, subtle spice notes, a slight touch of forest and a distinct vegetal freshness; concentrated on the palate, with structure and good volume, luscious and glycerine-rich, velvety texture with well-balanced tannins and acidity, well-integrated oak and a long, sophisticated finish.
The alentejo's original modern single-varietal syrah, now in its 17th edition.
Tasting notes: Cortes de Cima's flagship single-varietal Syrah, now in its 17th edition, showing the estate's warm-climate ripeness with peppery spice and dark fruit depth.
A modern revival of the ancient doc alentejo clay-amphora vinho de talha method.
Tasting notes: Esporão revived the ancient Alentejo clay-amphora method for this cuvée: unfined, unfiltered Aragonez and Trincadeira with a savoury, mineral edge from talha ageing.
Old-vines portalegre red from parcels planted in 1901 and 1903.
Tasting notes: Old-vines flagship from parcels planted in 1901 and 1903 on the Serra de São Mamede slopes, among the oldest continuously farmed vines in the Portalegre sub-region.
The soares family's flagship, named for the women of malhadinha nova.
Tasting notes: The Soares family's flagship red, named for the women (Marias) of the family, an Aragonez, Touriga Nacional and Syrah blend built for structure and ageing.
Herdade do rocim's flagship red from the cuba-vidigueira estate.
Tasting notes: Rocim's top-tier red, an Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez and Touriga Nacional blend from the Cuba-Vidigueira estate, built for structure and ageing.
Susana esteban's flagship, old alicante bouschet vines in the portalegre sub-region.
Tasting notes: Susana Esteban's flagship red from old Serra de São Mamede vines at Alegrete, built around Alicante Bouschet for structure and depth.
Joao portugal ramos' icon-tier red, made only in strong vintages.
Tasting notes: João Portugal Ramos' top-tier icon wine, an Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon blend built for long ageing in new French oak.
The flagship label that launched joao portugal ramos' alentejo winery in 1990.
Tasting notes: João Portugal Ramos' flagship red from the Vila Santa estate, an Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon blend with ripe, structured dark fruit.
Fitapreta's signature field blend from rare interplanted evora-area varieties.
Tasting notes: Named for the Brazilian emigrants (Paulistas) who returned to build grand houses near Évora, this field-blend red draws on rare Alentejo varieties including Grand Noir.
Adega mayor's flagship, named for grupo nabeiro founder rui nabeiro.
Tasting notes: Adega Mayor's top red, named for the estate's founder, a Touriga Nacional, Aragonez and Cabernet Sauvignon blend built for structure.
This tour is about two very important products for the Alentejo region: wine and cork. Come and discover the process from cork harvesting to the final bottle of wine. ...
Taste award-winning wines, learn from local winemakers, and immerse yourself in the authentic Portuguese wine tradition. Includes a visit to the winery and a tasting o...
Discover Alentejo’s timeless charm with a visit to UNESCO-listed Évora, medieval Monsaraz, a local wine tasting, and breathtaking views from Cristo Rei overlooking Lis...
Peak wine-travel season in Alentejo is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
If you only open one bottle, open Mouchão by herdade-do-mouchao. It is the wine most associated with Alentejo.