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The Alentejo District covers
about one-third of the total wine growing area of Portugal
and lies between Lisbon and the Algarve in the very south.
It is already established in producing some good red wines mainly from the
"Aragonez" variety
with have a bouquet of ripe fruits whilst remaining soft on
the palate. They use six principle grape varieties;
Alfrocheiro, Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão, Rabo
de Ovelha, Síria, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional
and Trincadeira. Their white wines are pleasantly
palatable and are not in the same category tending to be
fruity and slightly acidic and common grapes are Antão
Vaz, Arinto, Marsanne, Rousanne, Roupeiro and
Sevillon. This regions around Beja, Borba, Estremoz
and Reguengos have recently taken to producing a Rosé wine.
Some of these wines are named after their respective towns
and the wines tend to be placed under sub-regions:
Borba
The sub-region covers most of Estremoz, Orada, Vila Viçosa,
Alandroal and Rio de Moinhos. The red wines are blended grapes
from the varieties Alfrocheiro, Alicante Bouschet, Argonez,
Carignan, Castelão, Pontval and Trincadeira. The white wines
are blended from Antão Vaz, Rabo de ovelha, Síria and
Tamarez.
Évora
The area covered by this sub-region is to the south and west
of the City of Évora. It's wine reputation has been well
established wining international awards. The red wines are
produced from Aragonez, Castlão, Tinta Caiada and
Trincadeira. The white wines are from the grapes of
Antão Vaz, Arinto, Síria and Tamarez.
Moura
Although a sub-region its wine production is of high quality
and has been recognised as a "Denomination of Controlled
Origin". The red wine is from Alfrocheiro, Aragonez,
Castelão, Quatra Caminhos and Trincadeira. The white wines are
produced from Antão Vaz, Arinto, Bical, Fernão Pires, Rabo
de Ovelha, Síria and Tamarez.
Portalegre
Due to the elevation of the hills of the "Serra de São
Mamede" area the wines have a character different from the
others sub-regions. The red wines are blended from a mixture of
Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão, Moreto and
Trincadeira. The whites are blended from Arinto Galego,
Assario, Fernão Pires, Manteúdo and Síria.
Redondo
This sub-region is located between Évora and Estremos and is
limited to the hills of "Serra d'Ossa" and the Vigia
Dam. The dominant varieties for the red wine are Aragonez,
Castelão, Tinta Caiada and Trincadeira. The white
wines are blended from Antão Vaz, Arinto, Fernão Pires,
Rabo de Ovelha and Síria.
Reguengos
The wines produced from this region are now winning medals on
the international stage. The red varieties used are mainly
Argonez, Catelão, Moreto and Trincadeira. The white
wines are blended from Antão Vaz, Arinto, Rabo de Ovelha
and Síria.
Vidigueira
The sub-region is probably the oldest wine producing area in
the Alentejo and dates to Roman times. The region is located
to the north of Beja and stretches westwards across the plains.
The dominant red varieties are Alfrocheiro, Alicante
Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão, Herdade Grande and Trincadeira. The
whites are produced from the varieties Antão Vaz, Arinto,
Perrum, Rabo de Ovelha and Síria.
Labels to look out for are Adega do Passos, Alfaraz, Alter,
Anta da Serra, Arealva, Avillez, Baron de B, Bolonhês, Bom
Juiz, Cartuxa, Casa de Santa Victoria, Charneco, Comendador,
Convento da Vila, Conventual, Cortes de Cima, Couteiro-Mor,
Cruz Miranda, d'Avillez, Dolium, Dom Martinho, Dona Maria,
Dolium, Dumonte, Encostas de Estremoz, Esporão, Farizoa,
Fernandes Tinto Velho, Floral de Évora, Francisco Nunes Gracia,
Gaião, Gloria Reynolds, Herdade de Esporão, Herdade da
Figueirinha, Herdade Grande, Herdade dos Grous, Herdade da
Mingorra, Herdade de Monte Novo, Herdade de Mouchão, Herdade
Paço do Conde, Herdade Perdigão, Herdade de Peso, Incógnito,
João Portugal Ramos Aragonês, João Ramos, José de Sousa Rosado,
Marquês de Borba, Monte de Cal, Monte de Ferra, Monte de Penha,
Monte Seis Reis, Monte Velho, Morgado da Canita, Mouchão,
Pera-Manca, Planura, Porta da Ravessa, Pousio, Pontual, Porta
da Bouga, Porta de Santa Catarina, Quatro Caminhos, Quinta do
Carmo, Quinta do Mouro, Quinta de Pancas, Quinta da Terrugem,
Quinta da Viçosa, Régia Colheita, Sanots Jorge, Sogrape,
Sovibor, Tapada de Chaves, Tapada de Coelheiros, Terras d'Uva,
Tinto da Anfora, Verdelho, Vila dos Gamas, Vila Santa, Vinha
da Defesa, Vinha D'Erivideira, Vinha Pera Manca Visconde de
Borba, and Zambujeiro.
List of contacts and
addresses of main Alentejo Wine Producers: (Click
Here)
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