4-Day Essence of Alentejo Wine Experience

Discover the secrets and charms of Portugal's most beloved region, the Alentejo, where the vastness of the fields is filled with olive trees, cork trees and rolling vineyards, and human presence is marked by millennia of history from the oldest representations of primitive human beings, passing through marks of the Roman Empire, Moorish architecture and medieval castles.

Itinerary:

Day 1: In the morning depart from Lisbon to the city of Evora, but instead of going straight to Alentejo, enjoy a first stop at the Serra da Arrábida´s jewel, the Bacalhôa Palace. This historical building dating from the XV century, a palace of distinctive wines and magnificent samples of Portuguese tiles, is a must see on your trip.

For lunch, enjoy a tasty stop at the Wine Corner, by José Maria da Fonseca, a cozy restaurant on the peninsula, that follows the easy concept of food to share. Have a fresh glass of a Setubal regional wine and local dishes before continuing your journey.

Back on the road heading to the Alentejo region, before you arrive in Evora, visit the archeological site Cromlech of the Almendres, a Megalithic complex dating from 6.000 BC. A local historian will host you at this place and will take you back in time to better understand the site, one of the largest existing groups of structured rock menhirs in Europe, known as the "Megalithic universe of Évora".

Arrive in Evora, the main Alentejo´s city and a place of great importance for the history of the Iberian peninsula, where good wineries, nice gastronomy and cultural events make their presence known.

By the end of afternoon, check-in in your selected hotel.

Day 2: The day starts with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of old Évora. The inner city is a treasure initially shaped by the roman empire to be the capital of Alentejo. Your guide will take you through the ages on a walk in the old city, with emphasis on the visits of the Roman Temple of Diana, Chapel of Bones, the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral and their charming backstreets and colorful alleys. After loading your camera with Evora´s monuments, escape from the urban life to the countryside to meet a prizewinning olive oil maker and find out what makes a perfect azeite. 

During the experience, enjoy a private wine and olive pairing lunch immersed in a quiet countryside atmosphere. After the meal, call on a small producer of goods made of cork, and see how this Alentejo jewel is handled giving shape to a plethora of cork products. 

The day is not over without visiting and tasting great alentejanos wines at the Herdade do Morgado, an estate originally dating from the XV century and established in a manor house of the middle ages, although partly renovated to become a headquarters of one of the most prominent Portuguese contemporary wines, the Fita Preta wines. Appreciate their wines made by the inventive and award-winning winemaker Antonio Maçanita.

Day 3: Today is set to bring you closer to the core of Alentejo, where the relationships between the native soil and the people are brought together with wine, cork and history. 

In the morning, your guide will present to you the Herdade da Maroteira, a centenarian property in the heart of Alentejo, to discover a forest of cork trees. During this captivating visit, a native guide will show and explain all the details regarding the cork trees and how they process this valuable raw material. Explore the Maroteira estate and its many vistas on the back of a Land Rover with many opportunities to catch that perfect holiday snapshot.

On the next stop, enjoy the view of the vineyards of the Herdade do Esporão, when you savour a wine-pairing lunch in the most iconic estate of the Alentejo. After the meal, time to explore the underground caves and learn more about Esporão high-quality wines and their sustainable practices related to the vineyards and olive oil production. 

Your afternoon is reserved to discover Monsaraz, a charming white washed village on a hilltop. From the top of a 15th century castle you will see the immensity of the region (and the largest manmade lake in Europe). Great views from the XIII century castle and nice alleyways make this a truly ‘out of bounds’ visit.

Before going back to your hotel, have a quick stop in one of the local hand-made pottery artisans, located at the base of Monsaraz hills and learn about their specialised artwork.

Day 4: Appreciate your last moments in the city of Evora at your leisure, departing in the morning to Lisbon. 

In between, you can make a stop at the friendly Arraiolos, an ancient small town, known for its particular circular walls around the gothic towns castle and known also for their locally woven rugs. An artwork characterised by their unique stitches, inherited from the Persians through the long marroquian muslim tribes occupation, occurring during the Middle Ages throughout all the Iberian Peninsula, well worth seeing this tradition still being lived out day to day.

Departing from Arraiolos town at the time that best suits, in the direction of Lisbon.