Detailed itinerary
with Richard Hewitt, Sommelier and PVCC professor.
Tuesday October 22th:
We pick you up at hotel 9AM and depart in microbus for Vila Nova de Azeitao to visit the world famous Quinta de Bacalhoa and Bacalhoa Wines. The Quinta (estate) of Bacalhoa is one of the most historic (15th century) properties in Portugal and contains the oldest examples of azulejos (Portuguese tiles) in the country.
Once owned by the Scoville family of Washington, D.C., it is now owned by wine magnate Jose Berardo. We will tour the Quinta with a local guide and view the famous tiles then return to the winery for a tasting of Bacalhoa’s finest wines.
We then continue into the Alentejo with a lunch stop at Enoteca Cartuxa in the center of Evora.
After lunch we head to our lodging at Convento do Espinheiro, a converted 15th century monastery with its own attached church! Later in the afternoon we take a two minute ride to Adega Cartuxa, producing fine wines since 1776.
The Cartuxa winery, home to one of Portugal’s most famous wines, Pera-Manca, also produces their own olive oil.
Around 6PM we attend a Welcome Party hosted by the Alentejo Wine Tour Association in Evora.
Dinner will be at Divinus, Convento do Espinheiro’s gourmet restaurant, located in the convent’s ancient wine cellar.
Evora, one of Portugal’s most beautifully preserved medieval towns.
Wednesday October 23h:
We depart in the morning for a private guided tour of
14th century walls we will see striking architectural works including a medieval cathedral and cloister and remnants of a Roman temple.
We travel next 30 kilometers to one of Portugal’s most famous and successful wineries, Herdade de Esporao. Esporao (spur in English) has over 1,700 acres under vine and olive trees, including 40 different wine varietals.
Long time Australian winemaker David Baverstock oversees production and keeping Esporao’s famous cellar of 1,500 barrels stocked. The cellar is made up of tiles from the Lisbon metro system and sits 50 feet underground! We will tour and taste then have lunch in Esporao’s award winning restaurant.
After our tour and tasting we proceed to Herdade de Sobroso, a luxury hotel and organic winery and our hosts for the next two nights. Sobroso has over 180 acres of vineyards on a 2,000 acre estate. We appreciate a wine dinner this evening, pairing wines of the estate with local organic cuisine.
Thursday October 24th:
This morning we are off for a tour of the ancient city of Beja, breadbasket of the Roman empire. See Roman mosaics, an ancient convent and Europe’s tallest tower.
After our tour we head to Quinta de Quetzal owned byCees and Inge de Bruin. The de Bruins are collectors and patrons of contemporary art and Quetzal boasts a fine contemporary art museum. “The art of wine and the wine of art” is their motto! We will enjoy a tapas style lunch paired with Quetzal wines.
We next travel to visit Cortes de Cima winery, established in 1988 and owned by a Dutch/American couple, the Jorgensens. The estate has over 1,000 acres of vineyards and olive groves and features wines made of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Verdelho, Tempranillo, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
This evening we travel to Beja to enjoy one of the area’s newest restaurants, Pais das Uvas (Country of Grapes).
Friday October 25th:
We leave Herdade dos Grous this morning and head north to Adega Jose de Souza, also known as Adega dos Potes (pots), famous for its 114 huge ancient clay vessels still used to make wine in the Roman style. Winemaking here has changed little in the last few centuries.
Grapes are picked then de-stemmed and trodden, undergoing fermentation in the clay pots then later aged in French barrels. This is the Alentejo’s oldest winery and the only one using this ancient system to make wine. There is also a modern winery in another wing of the Adega.
After visiting Jose de Souza, we take a cultural excursion to one of the Alentejo’s smallest and most iconic villages- Monsaraz. It’s a charming village of just 700 inhabitants and has a castle and great views over the surrounding olive groves and the new Alqueve dam, one of Europe’s largest.
Founded back in Roman times, Monsaraz was taken by the Moors and then reconquered by Christian forces in 1167. The Castle dates from the 14th century. Visit Casa de Mizette, the last shop still producing the famous Alentejo ‘mantas’ (mantles)
For lunch today we travel to the extraordinary Herdade de Sao Lourenco de Barrocal. In the same family for over 200 years, Barrocal is a huge working farm that welcomes guests in its renovated farm cottages. Here are some amazing numbers:
Size of Estate: 7.5 million square meters
Age of the estate’s menhirs: 7,000 years old
Number of neolithic dolmens: 16
Olive groves:600.000 square meters on the property
Vineyards:150.000 square meters on the property
Vegetable garden:10.000 square meters
Olives:160.000 kilos per year
Grapes :100.000 kilos per year
Oats :45.000 kilos per year
Bird species: 75 different species on the property
Cows:220
Horses:8
Lunch prepared by Julio Vintem, one of the most famous Portuguese chefs.
We then head toward Estremoz where we check into one of Portugal’s most iconic Pousadas (State owned Inn, similar to Spain’s Paradores), the Pousada de Rainha Santa Isabel. Enjoy the gardens, pool, and the historic tapestries before we head 25 meters to ‘jail’ our dinner venue, actually a converted 16th century judicial prison now a gourmet restaurant called Cadeia (jail).
Saturday October 26th:
This morning we have the opportunity to visit one of the oldest open air markets in the world. The Estremoz Saturday market has been taking place for over 500 years in the central square of the city. Here you’ll find everything you’ll ever need from veggies to livestock, plants, trees and bric-à-brac sold by local gyspies. Remember to bargain hard if you find anything essential!
Around 11AM we head off for a 5 minute drive to Adega Joao Portugal Ramos, the behemoth of Alentejo wineries with a production that equals the total wine production of the state of Virginia! We will lunch at JPR after our introduction.
In the afternoon we strike out for Dona Maria Vinhos, located in one of the most elegant 18th century palaces of Portugal. Wine has been made here for over 130 years and wine making methods were just recently modernized although they still foot tread grapes in large marble ‘lagares’. The ‘Julio Bastos’ bottling was elected best red wine in Portugal this year.
In the evening we head down to the central square to dine in a converted grocery store, Merceraria Gadanha.
Sunday October 27th:
In the morning we start back toward Lisbon, stopping at Arraiolos to view the carpet museum (and buy?) the world famous carpets made here. Then we head to Monte Ravasqueira to tour, taste and have a ‘typical’ lunch. Ravasqueira is owned by the Mello family and besides producing great wines also maintains an impressive collection of horse drawn carriages and tack.
We now return to the great city of Lisbon and our lodging at Casa Balthazar with a few hours to relax until we reunite for our farewell dinner at Aqui Ha Peixe just around the corner, a dinner accompanied by some of Portugal’s greatest wines.
Monday October 28th:
After breakfast we say goodbye and some head to the airport while others prepare to see unforgettable sights in Lisbon. Whatever your pleasure we’re sure you will remember your Alentejo tour fondly and carry these memories with you until you return again…AND don’t forget to sign up to join us for our Spring tour of the Douro, the world’s most dramatic wine growing area and oldest demarcated vineyard region (1756).