When planning a trip to Europe for wine tasting in 2023, many will consider the usual suspects of Italy, France and Spain. But those are certainly not the only countries offering beautiful vineyard vistas and premium wine for enjoyment. Portugal is just as exciting.
José Luis Moreira da Silva is chief production officer at Esporão Group, one of Portugal’s premier wine companies.
Getting to Portugal is quick for those of us coming from South Florida. There’s a direct flight from Miami to Lisbon on TAP Air Portugal that will have you on the ground and on your way to tasting wines in about seven and a half hours overnight.
Once you land in Lisbon, it’s a 90-minute drive to one of Portugal’s idyllic and historic wine regions located in the southern part of the country. It’s here in the Alentejo (ah-len-TAY-zhoo) region where you can experience warm, sunny days; lots of traditional culinary dishes; and the rich history of a place that has been influenced by various cultures and religions over the centuries. Alentejo is home to some of the most popular Portuguese wine blends, it’s true, but there is so much more to explore.
João Roquette, CEO of Esporão Group
Visiting Alentejo Wine Country
Though there are many towns scattered around the entire region, the historic Alentejo capital, Évora, offers more options for hotels and dining. The city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a 16th to 18th-century preserved center featuring buildings with a blend of flamboyant gothic and nautical themes.
Évora offers much to see for history buffs, like a 16th-century chapel made from human bones, the remains of a Roman Temple and a church organ built in 1562 that can still be played today. Make this city your home base if you don’t mind short drives to wineries throughout the region.
Herdade do Esporão
(Jacqueline Coleman for Biscayne Times)
At Adega José de Sousa, the ancient practice of making wine in clay amphorae, called talha wine, is very much a part of the modern winemaking practices in Portugal.
You may recognize the Esporão label, as many of these wines are widely available in South Florida. The Herdade do Esporão estate is the largest family-owned winery and vineyard in the Alentejo region.
When visiting Esporão, you have the opportunity to not only taste a wide range of wines, but also the estate-made olive oils. The on-site restaurant offers exquisite and authentic Alentejano cuisine, with a focus on the nature of the area. It’s earned a Michelin Star and Michelin Green Star award, recognizing not only the high quality of the food and service, but the sustainability of the restaurant’s practices, including using only locally sourced products.
Adega José de Sousa
(Jacqueline Coleman for Biscayne Times)
Fitapreta founder and winemaker António Maçanita in his modern tasting room.
For a taste of history and wine, visiting José de Sousa is a must! This is an unusual winery, where the ancient practice of making wine in clay amphorae, called talha wine, is very much a part of the modern winemaking practices. Here, guests can see the giant pots, some as large as 2,000 liters, that date as far back as 1879 at this property, but thousands of years back in historical terms when Romans made this wine production practice popular in this very region. At José de Sousa, wine lovers have the opportunity to taste the unique minerality of wines that have been made 100% in this method.
Fitapreta Vinhos
Fitapreta is located just a short drive outside of Évora on an estate property that dates back to the 14th century. Fitapreta Vinhos founder and winemaker António Maçanita worked to restore the property, and it is now home to his wine-aging facility and a stunning medieval dinning space.
Driving through the Fitapreta property offers a glimpse into the romanticism of the past. At the modern tasting bar, visitors have the chance to sample traditional Alentejo grapes such as Arinto, Roupeiro and Antão Vaz for whites, and Castelão, Moreto and Tinta Carvalha for reds. The winery also offers wine and food pairings as well as picnic options on the historical property.
Adega da Cartuxa
(Jacqueline Coleman for Biscayne Times)
Cartuxa is located less than 2 miles from the historic center of Évora.
Cartuxa is located close to Évora, making it an easy visit if staying in town. For a full meal with Cartuxa wines, stop by the Cartuxa Enoteca in Évora.
Cartuxa is owned by a foundation established by wealthy philanthropist Vasco Maria Eugénio de Almeida. He started the foundation in 1963 with a mission of promoting the cultural, educational, social and spiritual development of the Évora region.
The building housing the winery and tasting room was originally a Jesuit retreat in the 16th and 17th centuries. Tastings and tours as well as food pairings are offered here, but to taste the exclusive Pêra-Manca red wine, visitors must first take the guided tour of Cartuxa.
Rocim winemaker Vânia Guibarra explains how wines are made in the clay amphorae
Herdade do Rocim
Herdade do Rocim is a wine estate located in southern Alentejo. The focus here is on sustainability, both in the vineyard and winery, and on maintaining a balance between traditional and modern winemaking. At Rocim, wines are produced in a modern winery and also by using traditional amphorae and marble Lagares, or the large vats where grapes are crushed by feet. Visiting this artistically designed facility is a real opportunity for oenophiles to taste wines made by differing techniques side by side.
Whether you’re interested in innovative winemaking or a glass of something reminiscent of an ancient time, Alentejo in Portugal has a lot to offer a curious wine lover!
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(Herdade do Esporão)
The Alentejo region in Portugal is the source of one of every two bottles of still wine consumed in Portugal./Herdade do Esporão
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(Jacqueline Coleman for Biscayne Times)
More than 90% of Cartuxa wine production is blends.