Occupying an area that’s about a third the size of Portugal, it’s one of the regions that’s been at the forefront of claiming recognition for the quality of the wines it produces.
In recent years, this vast region, which covers much of the southern half of Portugal, has become a major producer of the wines, mostly fruity and easy to drink, which figure prominently on the wine list of Lisbon restaurants.
Alentejo became a recognized producing region in 1989. Portugal's entry into the European Union led to investments and a major breakthrough in the viticulture and winemaking processes. Modern technology – especially climate control – has made it possible to produce excellent wines: sweet whites and rich reds. The heritage of the region is made up of hundred-year-old vines which enhance and qualify the wines produced there.
The Alentejo region is vast and varied, but only five percent of the land is devoted to wine production. One of the most interesting areas is around the town of Portalegre, towards the Spanish border, where the altitude and the cold climate make it possible to produce very elegant wines. In turn, the central region surrounding the towns of Évora, Borba, Estremoz and Reguengos is warmer and the wines are characterized by balanced acidity. Further south, near Beja, the great wines are influenced by soils ranging from granite to limestone schist.
An increasing number of regional wines are labelled “Vin régional de l’Alentejo” (Regional Wine of Alentejo). Some are manufactured within the DOC (Protected Designation of Origin), but outside the rules required to have the designation. A long list of grapes is permitted for the regional Alentejo wine, including many foreign varieties such as Syrah, which is becoming increasingly important.
The most beautiful and pleasant months to visit the Alentejo region are April and May, when the green earth becomes aromatic and before the summer heat and dryness take hold. Less than five percent of the Portuguese population lives in the Alentejo region, famous for its deliciously moist and tasty meat and for its “black pig” (Bigorre pig) meat, an animal that roams freely in the Sobreiro forest (unspoiled areas of the cork tree forest).
Large red grapes (variable depending on the sub-regions):
Aragonez, Trincadeira, Castelão, Alfrocheiro and Alicante Bouschet
Main white grape varieties (variable depending on the sub-regions):
Arinto, Antão Vaz, Wardrobe, Fernão Pires, Perr
The Tinta Roriz/Aragonez grape variety produces fine and elegant red wines with aromas of red fruits, plums and blackberries with solid tannins giving them good aging potential.
This grape variety called Tinta Roriz in the North of Portugal is one of the best grape varieties for Port and Douro wines, and is also very present in the region of Dão.
In Alentejo it’s called Aragonez and is generally used for blends with other varieties such as Trincadeira.
The Trincadeira Tinta Amarela grape can produce red wines with exceptionally sharp flavours of raspberries, spices, pepper and aromatic herbs with a very refreshing acidity.
This red grape is cultivated all over Portugal, especially in dry and hot areas, but its ideal location is probably Alentejo.
In the Douro region, this grape is better known as Tinta Amarela.
At the highest level of the European wine hierarchy, Portugal has 31 DOC / DOP (Protected/Controlled Designation of Origin). For the moment, these two designations are used in Portugal, namely the traditional local term “DOC” (Denominação de Origem Controlada) or Controlled Designation of Origin and the new pan-European term « DOP » (Denominação de Origem Protegida) or Protected Designation of Origin. Each of these regions has well-defined geographic boundaries. NB: the numbers on the map only go up to 28 because three of these regions (Douro and Porto, Madeira and Madeirense, DOC Setúbal and DOC Palmela) share the same “territory” and are designated collectively. DOC regulations also prescribe maximum yields per variety, recommended and permitted grape varieties, and various other recommendations, and all wines must be officially tasted, tested, and approved.
The whole country is divided into 14 “regional wine zones”. For years, these wines from these territories have been labelled in Portugal as Vinho Régional. Now, the European Union has introduced new designations for this category of wine: “GI” for “Geographical Indication” or “PGI” for “Protected Geographical Indication”. Most of the Portuguese regions have chosen to keep the old designation, VR. The rules that govern the production of Vinho Régional are much less restrictive than those that govern DOC wines. However, many prestigious Portuguese wines are labelled Vinho Régional. Often, this is because the producer has chosen to use grape varieties that are not authorized by the local DOC, or at least not for the combinations or in the proportions used specifically. The more flexible regulations for Vinho Régional give producers greater latitude to express their personality, even if these wines must nevertheless meet certain criteria in terms of grape varieties, minimum alcohol level, etc.
Vinhos (table wines) are the least developed Portuguese wines, which are not subject to any of the rules stipulated above for quality wines or regional wines. Note, however, that a limited number of critically acclaimed table wines are simply labelled table wines. These are usually ambitious winemakers who have chosen to work outside of official rules, and have deliberately chosen to label their wines as table wines.
