Alentejo Wine Tour

This morning your chauffeur will pick you up at either Lisbon airport or your hotel in Lisbon, and you will travel to the Alentejo wine country! Your first stop today is the tiny village of Igrejinha to visit the wild Herdade dos Coelheiros estate, fairly recently taken over by Alberto Weisser and Gabriela Mascioli, in 2015. This couple totally fell in love with the gorgeous estate, making it their home and investing considerably in the new era of Coelheiros. This extensive estate not only produces wines but also farms walnuts and cork trees. Tour the property by Land Rover, taking in the beautiful landscapes and finish with a tasting of their superb barrel fermented white wine (an elegant chardonnay) and the powerful Tapada de Coelheiros (made with Cabernet Sauvignon × Alicante Bouschet and aged in new French oak for 18 months). Carry on to the nearby village of Arraiolos from where the famous “Tapetes de Arraiolos” (woven rugs) originated, you will have noticed that the Coelheiros bottle labels are inspired by the woven designs. Here enjoy some free time for lunch, visit the tapestry museum and take a stroll around. read more

Your first stop this morning is only a 10-minute drive away, so you’ll have time for a leisurely breakfast before your chauffeur takes you to Cartuxa, just out of Évora town. Now a privately owned charity, the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, created by Vasco Mária Eugénio de Almeida on 12 August 1963 when he decided that as he had no descendants to carry on his legacy he would give it back to the people of Évora. The foundation focuses on the cultural, educational, social and spiritual development of the local region. When you taste the wines you will have no doubt about how Cartuxa has grown to their level of success, even the mid-level table wines EA are notable. But what many will know Cartuxa for is Pera-Manca both the red and white are exquisite wines – pure finesse and harmony in a bottle. (You will be given the opportunity to purchase a bottle at the end of the tasting). read more

This morning you will drive south-east for about 45 minutes before arriving at Reguengos de Monsaraz at the splendid Esporão estate. This is one of the leading wineries in Portugal, making excellent wines and olive oils. Australian David Baverstock is their famous flying winemaker who makes many single varietal wines with native Portuguese grapes. You will have a private guided wine tour followed by a tasting of a selection of their wines. Sit down to lunch next in their bright and airy restaurant, relax and enjoy the tasting menu planned for you which is perfectly paired with different wines than from your tasting so you really do experience the maximum from this fabulous winery. The menu is ever evolving but you can expect something like; the Esporão Patês (olive and tuna) to start, paired with their zippy white Vinha da Defesa. Next up is baked stone bass in a grape sauce and a vegetable crepe with apple vichyssoise paired with the Esporão Reserva white. Continue with red wine marinated wild boar and chestnuts served with their Trincadeira single varietal, followed by the famous Esporão Roast (slow cooked beef, seasoned with mint and red wine) with Arabian Rice (with raisins) served with the Esporão Reserva red. You will be amazed at how you find room for the “Sericaia” dessert (Regional cake made of cinnamon, lemon, and eggs) accompanied by a fortified (“Licoroso”) red wine. Their superb olive will undoubtedly be served at lunch, but you will also be invited to visit the mill and taste the oil there. read more

This morning you will head to Estremoz, enjoy some free time to have a coffee at the stunning Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel, a majestic castle that Portuguese King Diniz built for his wife Queen Saint Isabel in the 13th century. Isabel was given sainthood for dedicating her life to the poor, despite being forbidden by her husband. She founded orphanages and convents and is one of Portugal’s most cherished queens. Stroll through her wonderful palace, now transformed into a Pousada hotel. Then it’s on to Dona Maria wines by Julio Bastos. The palace and estate are also known as Quinto do Carmo due to the chapel erected in 1752 being dedicated and consecrated to “Our Lady of Carmel”. There really is a “wow” everywhere you turn here from the striking palace and its beautiful grounds to the incredible range of wines and your adorable host, Isabel. Isabel effervescently leads you through the tasting of her husband’s superb wines, before accompanying you to her family dining room, with many original 18^th century features still immaculately preserved. Lunch is a typical Alentejo affair, rich tomato soup with poached egg, cod over home-grown spinach and a selection of local sweeties to finish. read more

This morning at your preferred time your driver will take you to Lisbon’s airport for your outbound flight or next port of call. This concludes your marvelous wine tasting adventure in Portugal’s romantic Alentejo region, we hope you had a great time!read more