Vidigueiraannual, throughout November1 month
The Vidigueira cooperative's traditional Wine Month runs tastings, gastronomic pairings and producer showcases of talha and DOC Alentejo wines across the whole of November, tying together the harvest's end and the Sao Martinho talha openings.
Tip: Check the cooperative's programme for individual tasting dates; the events are spread across the month rather than concentrated on one weekend.
Vidigueira and Cubaannual, 11 November at 3pm, Sao Martinho's dayone afternoon
Every 11 November at 3pm, participating talha wineries across Vidigueira and Cuba open that year's clay vessels at the same hour, a coordinated ritual built around Sao Martinho's day that turns the region's oldest winemaking method into a single shared afternoon of tastings.
Tip: Pick one village and stay put; every adega taps its talha at the same hour, so you cannot hop between more than one before the moment passes.
Borbaannual, mid-Novemberabout a week
Borba has celebrated its Festa da Vinha e do Vinho since 1991, filling the marble-quarrying town with tastings of Borba DOC wines, regional gastronomy, live music and street entertainment across a week each November.
Tip: Borba's own cooperative and its marble-clad streets are worth the trip even outside festival week, but the town is liveliest during the fair itself.
Vila de Frades, Vidigueiraannual, first weekend of December3 days
Known as the Baquicas Festivities, VITIFRADES is Vila de Frades' long-running talha wine fair, now in its twenties-plus edition, with workshops, a hiking route through the vineyards, showcookings and a trail through the parish's own talha wineries.
Tip: The producer-winery trail is the highlight; small Vila de Frades adegas not normally open to visitors take part only on the festival weekend.