Wine & Food Travel Blog

10 Wineries you can't miss in Alentejo

Written by Wine Tourism in Portugal | 24-Aug-2021 15:17:43

The Alentejo region was elected by USA TODAY readers as the best wine region to visit in the world. It is a vast and one of the largest regions in Portugal with delicious gastronomy and great wines. The Herdades and Quintas (wineries) are part of its culture and identity and are definitely a must-tour in the Alentejo journey.

This fantastic list is important for many reasons: you want to visit the best and most inviting wineries, taste the best wines, enjoy the best views, enjoy the best wine experiences, and considering that this is one of the largest wine regions in Portugal, you don't want to waste time on unnecessary road trips. Enjoy our list of the best Alentejo wineries.

 

Adega da Cartuxa

This winery is located in the city of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, right in the heart of Alentejo. Here will find experiences such as a guided tour of the wine cellar, and food and wine tasting of some of the best Alentejo wines and regional products. Cartuxa has undergone several renovations and expansions over time, preserving the richness of its architectural and historical memory. The Cartuxa Cellar - Quinta Valbom is now one of the stage centers of the wines produced by the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation. 


The Adega Cartuxa got its name from the 16th century Mosteiro da Cartuxa (Cartuxa Monastery), which is situated right next to the winery and is part of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation's patrimony. Excellence, quality, and individuality in a style of its own are the values recognized by consumers of the Cartuxa brand.

 

Adega Mayor

In the beautiful and untouched landscape of the Alentejo plains of Campo Maior, the architect Siza Vieira created an original building, a horizontal whitewashed volume. The Adega Mayor wines have obtained unanimous recognition from critics having conquered over 100 awards worldwide.



Adega Mayor is an architectural reference worldwide that distinguishes and elevates the wine heritage of the region of Alentejo, in fact, it is a unique place in the Portuguese scene, and a tribute to the architecture of wine and life. You'll be able to enjoy great experiences such as guided tours, food and wine tasting, wine workshops, and even regional picnics.

 

Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

A traditional and sophisticated winery with unique characteristics that are perfect for the production of distinctive wines with the highest quality.

Located just a few meters away from the vineyard, the cellar of Herdade da Malhadinha Nova takes advantage of the sloping terrain which allows the entire wine-making process by gravity. The grapes arrive packed in small boxes of 12 kg and are unloaded directly into the modern refrigerated wineries where treading perfectly blends the traditional winemaking methods and technology in order to get the full potential that Nature offered the grapes in the vineyard. You can book a guided tour to its unique cellar, have regional food tastings, and taste great Alentejo wines.

 

Herdade do Esporão

The Herdade do Esporão presents itself as an Estate steeped in history, producer of outstanding quality wines. The Esporão vines are located in the heart of Reguengos de Monsaraz, where wines are more balanced and seductive, simultaneously thriving and pleasant, luxuriant, and with good aging potential. If the vines are the lung of the Herdade do Esporão, the cellar is the heart that beats to the rhythm of the harvest and as the result of the work defined by the calendar and by the enology team.

Book unique experiences such as a tour to Herdade do Esporão's Historic Heritage, a guided winery and cellar tour, a blind wine tasting, a bicycle tour with a picnic, or a bird watching experience.

 

Herdade dos Grous

The architecture of the cellar fits perfectly and harmoniously with the typical landscape of Alentejo.


The Herdade dos Grous cellar adopted a dominant renovation character in the production of wine. The cellar, which was built in 2005, uses the latest technology together with the traditional methods of winemaking. All the grapes that arrive at the cellar are selected manually on a table and the wine is produced by the gentle macerating of each grape variety, in order to ensure its excellent quality. You can book a guided tour to the wine cellar, wine tasting experiences, and have dinner at the wine cellar, definitely one of the most exquisite experiences in the Alentejo.

 

L'AND Vineyards

The culture of wine and vineyards is one of the essential features of the L'AND identity. All owners and L'AND Vineyards hotel guests will become exclusive members of the WineClub, a privileged space for the promotion of wine culture and the sharing of experiences, such as the access to the Cellar for producing wine, the harvest of the shared vineyard, enology courses, wine contests, and events or order bottled L'AND wine with customized labels. This incredible hotel offers guided tours to the vineyards and cellar, taste wines, and a wine tasting and Eno-gastronomic connections course.

 

João Portugal Ramos

Meet the legendary and fantastic calm of Alentejo while you taste the award-winning wines of João Portugal Ramos. The Adega Vila Santa, in Alentejo, part of the group João Portugal Ramos, invites you to enjoy the serenity of Alentejo while you taste some of the most renowned Portuguese wines. Dated in 1997, this Alentejo style Adega has about nine thousand square meters of covered area and is equipped with the most modern vinification technology, a bottling room, and cellars for the aging of wines. Here, modernity embraces harmoniously the centennial Portuguese winemaking tradition. Visitors can book a wide range of experiences like wine tastings, making your own wine, regional product tasting, tours to the wine cellar, cuisine workshop, and meals.

 

Monte da Ravasqueira

A winery committed to quality wines production that is the perfect reflection of the region's identity, history, and unique natural environment. Monte da Ravasqueira is located in the municipality of Arraiolos, one hour away from Lisbon, and covers a vast area of the typical Alentejo landscape. Monte da Ravasqueira enjoys excellent geological and climatic conditions for the production of the best wine that Alentejo can offer, taking advantage of its terroir. In addition to wine production, there are other activities related to a cork, olive oil, honey, and cattle breeding. 

The cellar of Monte da Ravasqueira is inspired in Napa Valley, California, and is equipped with the most advanced technology for a qualified and rigorous control of the winemaking process. Visit its fantastic Carriage Museum, vineyards, winery, and enjoy a wine tasting experience, a picnic in the vineyards, or take a wine course. They also offer an incredible activity for team building with lunch included.

 

Herdade das Servas

To perpetuate the history and the family connection to the world of wine but, simultaneously, designing and building a new path, the Serrano Mira brothers launched, in 1998, the beautiful Herdade das Servas.

The Serrano Mira family is one of the oldest in the production of wine from Alentejo. Clay jars that were used in the production of wine and date back to 1667 are still preserved in their property. Experience and tradition are shared in the creation of wines with history, in which the "Alentejo body and soul" is reflected in a unique and unmistakable way. Visit its winery and aging cellar, experience wine tasting, and discover new wines and flavors through a blind wine tasting.

 

Quinta do Carmo

The history of Quinta do Carmo dates back to the 17th century. King João IV ordered the construction of Quinta do Carmo for a lady of his royal court. There is nothing left of those times except, perhaps, the wine and the Herdade das Carvalhas, where the wine came from and where they are still produced today. The cellar, of attractive and modern lines, underwent considerable renovations concerning technology and wine production techniques. High-quality wines, such as the famous Quinta do Carmo white and Quinta do Carmo Reserva, among others, are produced here. These wines have a huge success not only in Portugal but abroad as well. Their guided tour with wine tasting is an unmissable Alentejo experience.

Besides these marvelous wineries, there are other suggestions, like Adega José de Sousa, Adega São Lourenço do Barrocal, and Casa de Santa Vitória.

Why book now your 2022 tour? Because by booking all your tours with us you will have flexibility in the future, plus an acquired "Clean and Safe" seal. Through these unique times, we are available to plan, reschedule, and move your trip around your needs, as always. If your new dates may no longer work with your initial travel plan, a dedicated consultant will be available to tailor and reschedule your time in Portugal according to your needs and preferences, and to assure you that you will have the best and most memorable experiences.