A photo of The Best Wine Tasting Tours in the Center of Portugal

Center of Portugal
wine tasting tours and winery visits

As seen in:
The Times
Daily Mail
Los Angeles Times

Best wine tours in Center of Portugal

Why Visit Center of Portugal?

It's time to discover the beautiful Center of Portugal, home to five extraordinary wine regions defined by their own unique characters, but brought together by exquisite flavours of wine. Each region, including Dão, Beira Interior, Tagus, Lisbon, and Bairrada, offers a variety of local wines which are produced by passionate and practised wine makers, all of whom warmly welcome visitors onto their estates to share their love for the wine experience. Of course, no two regions are the same, with an array of contrasting landscapes available to feast your eyes on as you explore the areas. You'll see everything from the sea to the mountains and the hillsides to the cities within a number of days, with vibrant vineyards visible amongst them all. To find your ideal wine tour in the Center of Portugal, click here

WINE TASTING TOURS IN THE CENTER OF PORTUGAL

Wine tasting experiences in the Center of Portugal are endless; the Pereira da Fonseca family and a dedicated team at the Quinta do Sanguinhal winery in the Tagus Wine Region, for example, annually welcome thousands of wine visitors for tastings and tours. The estate is home to one of the earliest distilleries ever constructed in the area, complete with stunning column copper alembic stills. Unique to the Iberian Peninsula are the granite cellars with wood and granite screw presses, one of which dates back to 1871. Visitors can follow the wonderful wine routes through the regions, selecting to stop at a diverse array of wineries, from traditional, historical estates to modern architectural masterpieces. You'll find a warm welcome wherever you visit and plenty of opportunities to explore the wineries, meet the winemakers, and of course; taste the wine!

FOOD TASTING EXPERIENCES IN THE CENTER OF PORTUGAL

We advise you to go to as many of the local restaurants as possible to experience the excellent gastronomy of the Center of Portugal while you savour the region's wines. The regions in the Center of Portugal have outstanding eateries serving every type of cuisine imaginable. Of course, many of the top restaurants place a strong emphasis on the region's unique culinary heritage with ancient family recipes taking centre stage. If you're a fan of homemade preserves, make sure to visit Quinta do Côro in the Tagus Wine Region, a family business committed to producing high-quality goods from its own vineyards and orchards that are always manufactured from scratch without the use of preserves or food colouring. There is also the vibrant Praça da Fruta in Caldas da Rainha (the Lisbon region), home to the only daily open-air fruit and vegetable market in the entire region. Since the 15th century, this famous market has been conducted in the same location and has drawn local manufacturers in a true tribute to the finest and most genuine goods. You may find the traditional fruit market there. Every day of the year, without fail.

MORE REASONS TO VISIT THE CENTER OF PORTUGAL

It is not just the wine and gastronomy that capture the essence of these regions: the cities and villages in each region are equally delightful, with history and culture available around every corner. Viseu city and the Santar Garden Village in Dão are must sees, as is the Historical Village of Castelo Rodrigo in the Estrela Mountain and the village Sardoal in the Tagus region. Each region is unique, and there are historical towns, the largest waves in the world, castles, canals, cherries, wine, and thermal springs throughout them. Every one should be known and appreciated. 

Plan Your Visit

Best Known Grapes

The variety of grapes known to Portugal are endless, and the regions in the Center are home to some of the finest. Notable varieties include Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Jaen, Alfrocheiro, Malvasia-Fina, Encruzado and Bical which can all be found in the Dão Region, with the Baga variety found in the Bairrada region.
Read more »

Best time to visit

Spring is a great time to visit the Center of Portugal (April, May and June) for its beautiful warm weather, as is September – October in autumn because is grape harvest season. Excitement is in the air with the opportunity to participate in the picking and crushing of the grapes in the traditional underfoot way.
Read more »

How long to stay

We advise a stay of 4-5 nights, beginning in the Dao region and ending in Bairrada, to get a taste of the Center of Portugal regions. If you have the time, a full week tour is the best way to experience everything that this region of Portugal has to offer. This includes tours of beautiful cities and visits to the best wineries of Santar Vila Jardim, Caminhos Cruzados Winery, Chão de São Francisco, Quinta dos Termos, Adega 23, Quinta do Côro, Quinta do Sanguinhal, Quinta de Chocapalha, Caves S.João, Luís Pato, Quinta das Bageiras and Júlia Kemper. 
Read more »

How to get there

The best way to reach the Center of Portugal is to arrive in Porto Airport (OPO) is the best airport to travel  and TAP Air is our recommended company to use. 
Winerist uses 3rd party cookies to give you personalised content, advertisements, and to provide a reliable experience. If you continue browsing, you agree to the use of cookies. More details can be found in our privacy policy.