Where To Celebrate The Wine Harvest In Portugal: 12 Top Wineries

It could nonetheless be prime seashore season, however for wine fanatics, probably the most thrilling time of the 12 months is simply across the nook. (In reality, some hot-climate wineries are already choosing grapes.) From the Algarve to the Douro Valley, many prime wineries are planning particular occasions, dinners and promotions to have fun the harvest. And now that Portugal is totally embracing wine tourism, the choices are higher than ever. Right here’s the place to eat nicely, drink nicely, study extra about wine and watch the magic occur.

Algarve

Morgado do Quintão

Final 12 months, the proprietor of this boutique winery and estate (with pretty visitor homes) put collectively a celebration—referred to as Harfeast, a celebration of “land, that means and sweetness”—with nice meals and wine, two bands and a pig on a spit. This 12 months, he’s kicking it up a notch with CAMP, a three-day homage not solely to wine and meals but additionally to individuals, thought and creativity. Throughout the second weekend of October, musicians Carminho, Bruno Pernadas and Mário Laginha will carry out, and there can be talks (in English) with makers, designers and cultural thought leaders. (Regardless of the identify, you’ll be able to’t truly camp or keep over, although future editions might contain glamping.) Within the meantime, the property can be internet hosting a sundown harvest dinner on August 25 in collaboration with the Porto restaurant Rosa et Al Townhouse—a approach to have fun the variations in Portugal whereas gathering dozens of individuals at a protracted desk in a newly planted winery to share a five-course meal with three or 4 wines, together with the property’s very first glowing. Ebook each online.

Alentejo

Casa Relvas

For a full month, beginning August 20, this family-owned winery is opening its property, Herdade de São Miguel, to wine lovers who need an up-close view of the harvest and Alentejo traditions. The roughly five-hour program features a guided stroll via the vineyards; a session with a winemaker to study totally different grape varieties and make a sensory evaluation of the berries, seeds and stalks; a flip at truly reducing the bunches of grapes; a little bit of foot treading; a tasting of the musts; and a tasting of the present wines; and an non-obligatory lunch of typical dishes from the area. Ebook a minimum of 72 upfront with an electronic mail.

Torre de Palma

Top-of-the-line harvest experiences—particularly for worldwide guests—is that this one at this estate that has Roman roots. The harvest applications, which final till October, embrace time for visitors to spend working within the vineyards, serving to with the harvest, having instructional periods within the cellar and tasting the most recent releases of the property’s wines. The reward after the work is a lunch or a dinner on the resort’s Palma restaurant, overseen by a chef who has a Michelin star on his resume. Reserve by way of electronic mail.

Fita Preta

To participate within the harvest at this gorgeous winery means getting up early and sporting a headlamp—the grapes have to be harvested with out solar to retain most freshness (it’s additionally extra comfy for the employees throughout an Alentejo August). After dawn there’s a break for breakfast, adopted by (watching) the work within the vineyard: sorting, remounting and laboratory evaluation. It’s adopted by a tasting of fermenting musts and 5 wines from earlier harvests, and a lunch with the entire winemaking workforce within the courtyard beneath the magnificent medieval tower on the property. Other than the harvest program, the winemaker for a day program offers visitors a shot—armed with pipets, funnels and skilled recommendation—at making their very own blends. Ebook online.

Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

A producer of excellent wines and one of the soulful and quietly luxurious hotels in Portugal, this southern Alentejo property doesn’t minimize any corners in terms of harvest experiences. There are three ranges on supply till September 17: The 2-night Harvest Escape contains lodging in one of many resort’s suites or homes and a gourmand lunch—the consulting chef has a Michelin star—in a winery, amid all of the motion. The three-night Harvest Expertise has all of that, plus a scorching air ballon trip, for a birds-eye view of all of the exercise beneath. And the Harvest Skilled begins with the identical after which features a hands-on day, additionally beginning at 4am within the vineyards, with breaks for breakfast and lunch, adopted by a wine remedy {couples} therapeutic massage and a particular dinner. Ebook online.

Adega José de Sousa

For one month, beginning on August 20, this wine estate in Reguengos de Monsaraz—which dates from 1878—is providing a harvest program. The concept is to go to the property and vineyard, take part with the employees within the fields and revel in a wine tasting or an non-obligatory lunch that’s paired with prime wines from producer José de Sousa. Ebook by way of electronic mail.

Tapada de Coelheiros

For the primary time ever, this boutique winery has created a program that’s out there to the general public, for 2 weekends, September 3, 4, 10 and 11. Every day’s particular occasion contains lunch with a wine tasting and a tour of the property. On the primary and closing days, visitors can be a part of within the harvest actions—early within the morning, in fact—after which have a extra relaxed take a look at the property. Reserve by way of electronic mail.

Dão

Quinta de Lemos

All through the month of September, this winery is providing a program for guests who wish to study concerning the artwork of grape choosing and the experiences of the harvest, similar to urgent the grapes. It’s accomplished with a guided go to and wine tasting with snacks. Though it’s not a part of the two-hour program, sticking round for lunch or dinner within the Michelin-starred Mesa de Lemos restaurant is a good suggestion. Ebook by way of electronic mail a minimum of 48 hours upfront.

Taboadella

The harvest expertise right here contains the same old guided go to to the winery and vineyards, a flip with the scissors and a tasting of one of many vineyard’s signature wines, on this case, the white Villae mix. It additionally features a lunch basket—to be loved within the shade of the balcony overlooking the vines—with conventional meals like codfish truffles and sandwiches with Serra cheese and salpição (a typical hen salad). Ebook by way of electronic mail.

Douro Valley

Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo

This system right here—held September 9, 10, 13 and 14—contains harvesting the grapes as common, however with a couple of particular twists. It features a guided go to to the estate’s glorious Fernanda Ramos Amorim Wine Museum Centre, showcasing the house owners’ fascinating assortment of instruments, clothes and implements utilized in port wine manufacturing throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. (Watch the movies of loading the wine onto the ships and their harmful journey down a river that was once significantly extra feisty.) There’s additionally a tasting of the “first wine” (freshly squeezed fruit), adopted by a tasting of earlier vintages and a harvest lunch with conventional leisure. Ebook online.

Quinta de Ventozelo

On September 24, this winery is providing resort visitors and outdoors guests an all-day occasion that begins with a guided tour of the hilly vineyards and an opportunity at harvesting the grapes—after a snack of a codfish ball, onion soup and a glass of wine—after which strikes on to a full-on lunch with wine pairings. The restaurant is great, and the menu contains sardines in escabeche, ox coronary heart tomato salad, rancho (a hearty multi-meat stew), and cheese with port. The conclusion is a ship journey alongside the Douro River. Reserve by way of electronic mail.

Azores

Picowines

It’s means off the overwhelmed path, however the a few of greatest wines in Portugal are produced on this volcanic archipelago that’s in the midst of nowhere within the Atlantic Ocean. The wines—particularly on the youngest island, Pico—have a pleasant salinity together with their minerality. The Picowines cooperative has partnered with an area communications company for a pop-up expertise underneath the Art of Tasting Portugal umbrella. On September 3, wine followers (who’ve signed up upfront) will get to go to a few of the most scenic spots on the island, work within the vineyards, and revel in a picnic lunch among the many vines. Ebook by way of electronic mail.