Alentejo

Alentejo is, in my view, the most underrated wine region of Portugal, loved by the Portuguese but not very well-known outside of Portugal. With a marvellous landscape of olive trees, pine trees, fields upon fields of vineyards and a rugged coast line of high cliffs and wavy ocean, in here you can enjoy the sunsets whilst breathing in the salty air from the ocean and appreciate the ‘slower’ way of living.  

It’s the largest area of the country and there’s a style of wine for everyone, from the quaffable easy drinking wine to the refined, complex and ageing worth fine wines. Red wines are the more popular in this region due to its hot weather, but areas like the São Mamede mountains, due to its cooler temperatures and higher rainfall, are extremely sought after to plant white grapes giving the wines a desired freshness and vibrancy. The region is versatile but its what the winemakers do with it in their cellars that will make all the difference. Look at what *Herdade da Malhadinha, Fita Preta and Susana Esteban are doing and explore the wines of Alentejo knowing you are experiencing an outstanding quality vs price wine. Popular grape varietals here are the Antão Vaz, Arinto, Roupeiro, Diagalves, Rabo de Ovelha for the whites, and for the reds, Aragonez (also known as Temperanillo), Alicante-Bouschet, Alfrocheiro, Castelão and Trincadeira.  

(*Monte da Peceguina) Susana Esteban, Fitapreta