Red grape · also Alicante
The teinturier that became an Alentejo icon.
Aromas
Blackberry, blueberry, cocoa, eucalyptus
Structure
Inky colour, dense tannins, full body
Ageing
15–30 years in top examples
A French crossing with red flesh, Alicante Bouschet arrived in the Alentejo in the 19th century and found a true home. Estates such as Herdade do Mouchão built legends on it.
Powerful Alentejo reds and blends.
Wild boar, oxtail, aged hard cheeses.
Alentejo
Casa Branca, Sousel · Est. 1901
Foot-trodden Alicante Bouschet in stone lagares — a family-held cult estate whose Tonel 3-4 is legendary.
Douro Valley
Numão, Douro Superior · Est. 1823
Dona Antónia Ferreira's grandest quinta, where single-quinta Vintage Port is still foot-trodden in granite lagares.
Alentejo
Cuba, Vidigueira · Est. 2000
A minimalist white-concrete winery on the plains of Vidigueira, champion of the revival of talha amphora wine.
Alentejo
Albernoa, Beja · Est. 1998
A Relais & Châteaux country house on 450 hectares, with horse riding, a celebrated restaurant and its own organic wines.
Alentejo
Estremoz · Est. 1989
Miguel Louro's tiny, uncompromising estate whose marble-soil reds are hunted by collectors across Europe.
Alentejo
Albernoa, Beja · Est. 2004
A 700-hectare country estate with a rural hotel, lake, horses and a farm-to-table kitchen around its vineyards.
Alentejo
Reguengos de Monsaraz · Est. 1880 (family)
A fifth-generation family house near Monsaraz, famed for 'Água' wines aged underwater in the Alqueva lake.
Alentejo
Vidigueira · Est. 2000s
A 1,600-hectare country estate by the Guadiana with a wine hotel, horse riding and safari-style vineyard drives.
Alentejo
Arraiolos, near Évora · Est. 1943 (family)
The José de Mello family estate, with a carriage museum and precision-farmed vineyards north of Évora.
Alentejo
Monsaraz · Est. 19th century (estate), restored 2016
A 200-year-old farm village restored by Souto de Moura into one of Europe's most celebrated rural hotels, with its own wines.
Alentejo
Estremoz · Est. 17th century manor
A baroque azulejo manor once partnered with Lafite Rothschild — a pioneer of fine Alentejo red.