Harvest Season: Explore Cork & Wine in Portugal’s Alentejo

Alentejo (pronounced ‘Al-an-tey-jo’) is a golden, fertile region situated just south of Lisbon. It extends from the Atlantic West Coast to the Spanish borders and is often referred to as the ‘breadbasket of Portugal’ as it’s responsible for half the country’s wine production and is the largest producer of cork in the world.

People say it’s 50 years behind the rest of Portugal because life in many ways seems unchanged, it’s a region rich in cultural traditions with vast arable landscapes stretching far into the horizon and dotted with beautifully scenic and historic towns and villages. September and October are great times to visit because you can really get close to the way of life that’s at the heart of Alentejo and celebrate the harvest season with the locals with all that entails!

Epic visitors can benefit from specially designed immersive tours that bring the Alentejo and its people to life. Picture driving through sunflower fields, stopping by villages with local women chatting outside their white-washed houses, and discovering sun-drenched vineyards that stretch out for miles before enjoying a picnic on a cork oak farm. Alentejo delivers Portuguese rustic life at its best.

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The cork harvest in Portugal

The cork harvest starts in the spring and continues to late summer at the end of August. It takes nine years for stripped cork to re-grow and each trunk is painted white with a numeral to mark the year it was last harvested

The largest cork supplier in the world is the Herdade de Maroteira farm set at the foothills of the Serra D’Ossa, it’s a farm that has been passed down through five generations with the land that houses not only a vast cork forest, but also a vineyard producing a small number of exceptional sell-out wines.

Here you can enjoy the landscape’s natural springs and hike up to the top of the estate for a 360-degree view of the farmland boundaries, where we can organise a gourmet picnic with wine, featuring the best seasonal produce.

Nearby is the town of Redondo dates back to 1318 and is famous for its historic sites and local potters. You can visit to local pottery workshop to turn your own pot. End the visit with supper in a local tavern, where locals come to enjoy the famous black pork and regional cheeses.

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Vine to glass – winery visits during Portugal’s harvest season

There are some really stunning wineries in the Alentejo. Herdade do Esporão is one of Portugal’s most impressive estates with its iconic white castellated tower, which has become a mark of the brand. The winery is now a leading producer with a focus on the environment and sustainable winemaking. Since 2019, all their vineyards have been certified organic.

We organise a privately arranged visit so you can see the winemaking process from grape to bottle and enjoy a wine tasting of some of the house’s favourite wines with a food and wine pairing lunch.

As an alternative to this rather upscale experience, amateur viticulturists can visit smaller family-run wine estates, which allow you to get a bit more hands-on by actually harvesting some of the wine.

You will be provided with all the necessary kit including cloth, appropriate footwear and grape pruning tools. Once you’ve picked your fair share of grapes, the winemaker will take you to the cellars for an explanation of the post-harvesting process. At this point it’s time for a traditional lunch with regional food and wines to be enjoyed with your fellow harvesters and is often accompanied with a toast and a few local songs.

The more traditional, small-scale wineries, who still hand-press their grapes, will allow you to participate in “Pisa a Pé” during the harvest season. This is the process of stomping on the grapes in order to extract the juice from the skins.

It’s one of the oldest traditional wine-making methods and the Portuguese certainly know how to have fun with it! Expect live music in the background as you dance around the grapes in large marble vats, you’re always rewarded with a glass of wine for your efforts upon exiting!

Where to stay in the Alentejo

São Lourenço do Barrocal is one of the most exceptional stays with an old olive oil mill room, ancient bee garden, winery and a walk that will take you along a trail of olive trees, some of which are more than a thousand years old. You can enjoy horseback riding, stargazing, bike rides and family picnics or take a dip in the pool, afternoon in the spa or enjoy al fresco dining.

Epic have good relationships with a number of authentic rural retreats in the region, within different price brackets. All have been vetted and curated by our team to fit with the kind of style and service level our customers like and expect.

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Ancient Alentejo towns and villages to explore

Évora, also referred to as the capital of Alentejo, features the Roman ruins of the Temple of Diana, and signs of Moorish gates, defenses and an old Kasbah. It is a historically significant city and became home to many of Portugal’s kings, and it is often best known for its famous ghoulish medieval cathedral and the chapel made of bones.

Monsaraz know as the ‘Museum village of Alentejo’ is a walled medieval town with a population of only a few hundred. It oozes peaceful charm and tranquillity, featuring whitewashed schist stone houses encased within the castle walls, a 16th-century church, and shops selling traditional Alentejo handicrafts. There’s no better place to see the sunset. 

Epic can provide guided tours and, of course, curated restaurant recommendations and bookings.

Hiking and cycling in the Alentejo

The flat golden planes make a perfect destination for a bit of light hiking and cycling, there are rolling hillsides in some areas too if you prefer a bit of a challenge. Epic can provide cycle hire and map out routes as well as organising the delivery of a delicious picnic lunch on the way.

To design and book your perfect Alentejo harvest experience contact info@epic.travel. For more information visit the Portugal page on our website.

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