Visiting Lisbon? Then a tour to the wine estates is something a wine lover can't miss. Many people don't know that just outside Lisbon, this beautiful, trendy, awarded European capital they can find some of the best Portuguese wineries. The Lisbon Wine Estates are not located in the city, in fact, they belong to the Lisbon region, which extends to a much bigger area. Not only do these wineries produce great wines, but they also provide unmissable unique experiences, starting with a great scenic ride along the Atlantic Ocean Coast on the way there.
Discover these fantastic wine-producing estates in the Lisbon Wine Region. We selected 5 of the best wine estates in Lisbon, so you can enjoy and add to your tour while in Lisbon.
Colares has had an inimitable history since the foundation of nationality, perpetuated by various personalities such as Eça de Queiroz or Lord Byron. It is in a parish located between Sintra mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. With its own Appellation Origin since 1908, being the westernmost demarcated region of continental Europe and the smallest still-wine producing region in Portugal. The vineyards are planted in sandy and maritime areas, and need great care in their cultivation, forcing small productions, worked by hand.
Besides being produced under very special microclimate conditions, these wines come from native grape varieties such as Ramisco (Tinta) and Malvasia de Colares (Branca), which are so appreciated by some of the most renowned names in enology worldwide. Moreover, the winery was founded in 1931, but the building dates back to the 19th century. The main building has a large set of huge tunnels in which the wines produced by the winery age, and on the inside, you'll find the wooden barrels, casks, and vats maturing and aging the wines. This amazing winery breathes that vintage winery atmosphere providing a truly genuine experience.
Located in Quinta da Archeira, Parish of Ventosa, the first thing you'll notice upon arrival at the Adega Mãe is its modern architecture. It stands out from those old-looking wineries but nevertheless, they provide experiences just as genuine and authentic. Afterward, it's not only the architecture that stands out for modernity, but this winery is also famous for its innovative wine-producing technologies since it has an area of approximately 30 hectares destined to vineyards and a production capacity of 1.2 million liters per year, giving origin to a complete range of wines. When visiting, you will see and learn the presses, of course, the laboratory, the storage, and fermentation tanks learn about its wine-making process, and end in beauty with a wine tasting overlooking the whole estate covered with vineyards.
Quinta do Gradil has a strong and long wine tradition that has persisted for centuries. It's one of the oldest estates in the Lisbon region, since it dates back to the 16th century, and one of its ex-libris is its Seventh century Palace involved in the vineyards. Also, just 50 km (31 miles) outside the city, located between the sea and the mountains, this estate provides several experiences that invite wine lovers to discover and taste their fantastic wines, explore the vineyards, visit the mill, the aqueduct, the chapel. In the end, explore their restaurant where you can enjoy the best of Portuguese gastronomy paired with their best wines.
Quinta da Chocapalha is located in a stunning area, down to the Tagus. The road, which comes from Aldeia Galega da Merceana, has a very own charm, adorned by centenary and large trees, it is simply beautiful. In this estate, agriculture is seen as an activity of great nobility and that values all those who embrace this project. With 70 hectares in total, 46 are cultivated with vineyards.
The Pêra Rocha orchard, with Protected Designation of Origin Pêra Rocha do Oeste, has 4.5 hectares and the remaining space is made up of varied woodlands, some very old - the oldest is said to date from the 14th century, and the olive trees make a border on the property boundaries. As you can see the cultivation of the vine in this local is ancient, going back to the time of the Roman occupation. The amazing varieties that you will see while visiting the vineyards are Arinto, Viosinho, Gouveio, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc (white varieties). The red varieties consist of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Castelão, Syrah, Touriga Franca, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
Here you will find three wine estates but under just one name. This is also a winery with a very strong and long wine-making tradition. The Companhia Agrícola do Sanguinhal was established in the 1920s and, Abel Pereira da Fonseca, one of the most renowned names in the Portuguese wine business, established it to continue the winemaking tradition born in the nineteenth century. Here you can visit the 19th-century gardens, see their vineyards that are planted on gentle slopes of sandy-clay soil, and taste different remarkable wines and delicious regional cheeses.
You can book your visit with us to all these wineries. You can also customize your whole wine trip through Portugal quickly and easily with the help of a travel consultant.
Content reviewed and updated on 2020