Viticulture of Alentejo Grapes
There is something wonderfully refreshing about the Alentejo landscape, with its endless open fields. Here in Vidigueira, softly rolling plains reach out to vast blue skies, and far-off horizons. The Quintas blends seamlessly with both vineyards and cereal fields, creating a shifting tapestry of colors: lush green at winter’s end, golden straw by late spring, and rich ochre in the final stretch of summer.
Photo by Carlos Lima on Unsplash The calm life of agriculture creates beautiful scenes across fields of crops
The Pillars
of Wine Craft
All humanity, seeing a vista spread before them marvel at the sheer scale and beauty of the land stretching out as far as the eye can see.
In contrast, the Quintas of Portalegre, in harmony with their neighbours in the Alentejo's eight regions see and have the greatest respect for their terroir. The seasons, the sun, cold winters and rain define the nature of their soil. Since 2015 many vineyards and wineries have undertaken the rigorous WASP - Wines in Alentejo Sustainability Programme which has contributed between 20-30% reduction in costs, with water as one of the main sustainability focus.
In each region the
viticultors or grower
have developed their own distinct craft profile due entirely to the diversity of soils in their fields ranging from granite and schist to marble and limestone.
But it is their eclectic mix of vines as an assemblage, often termed the
field blend
where native varieties like Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, and Trincadeira (reds) or Antão Vaz (whites) achieve the balance that each
vinicultor
or winemaker seeks, to create their own unique flavour.
Photo opposite by Maria-das-Dores on Unsplash Wine from Portalegre
Evora - A UNESCO CITY
Roughly one third larger than Wales, Alentejo is a sparsely populated region of white washed, red roofed towns and villages scattered around its hilltop castles, huge lakes, rolling hills and plains and within its two national parks.
Everywhere in this huge space are vast rolling plains of cork oaks, vineyards and wheat fields. The region has a sophisticated network of wineries offering vineyard tours with winetasting, a growing number provide restaurant facilities with sommelier expertise matching different wines with food. Several vineyards provide high quality accommodation offering an authentic, soulful experience for those who are seeking how the ancient heritage of Roman times has evolved into the sustainable viticulture of today.
Respect the Land in Front of You
First you have to see this land
Not so much in the way of plains or hills or slopes
But to understand the wealth in its soils
Where wealth is as much in the micro-climate as in the earth
The Arts of the Field
How does soil respond to seasons
to the hot summer's sun and to winter's rain
Yet know that wherever on this land you toil
Your labours' knowledge will earn you just reward
The soil under your feet is your wealth
If your labour be a tool of nature
for then you will have a grape
and then you will have wine.
Photo by Annie Lang on Unsplash
It is a region we have come to respect
- A place where ten years ago in 2015 they put
sustainability to work across the entire region
- Today it is a kind of 'living laboratory' you can visit
- Where being sustainable is not a tax on life
- But a proven tool for prosperity
Many of us fly over this region on our way to the Algarve in Portugal, but more and more people are "discovering" the Alentejo in central southern Portugal. They have heard about how WASP, its sustainability programme has really taken off. But it is the results that people are excited about, how the region, whilst keeping its rural charm has become sophisticated with a definite feel of luxury.
Wines of the New World
Consistent Quality at Attractive Prices
The rise of supermarkets from the 1960's onwards created a 'fruit-forward' shift. New world producers in Australia, New Zealand, USA and Chile introduced wines that were riper, fruitier, easier to understand often labelled with a single grape rather than the complex European names. New world vineyards are designed on a large scale where grapes are harvested mechanically during the cool of the night to protect freshness. Millions of tonnes of grapes are handled, sorted and fermented in massive, high tech, industrial scale wineries specifically designed for maximum efficiency and throughput.
Australia in particular created a market-led plan where science, education, production and marketing operated in a single cohesive approach.
In contrast, Portugal, in the early 1980's not even then a member of the EEC, was at a huge disadvantage because inherent bureaucracy, customs duties and quotas created overwhelming trade barriers.
wisdom in a glass of wine
The ethos of wine you will remember is in its aroma
In a painful adjustment spanning twenty years the vineyards and wineries of Portugal and Alentejo adapted their structures to compete in world markets. The paradox is that traditional ways of life were not swept away, but adjusted to meet the challenges of a country, now a member of the European Union with all that such membership entailed.
Today over 90% of wine production in the Alentejo is highly mechanised. The region has transformed itself; architect inspired vineyards with major, market driven investments in harvesting, stainless steel temperature controlled fermentation producing high quality wines with a rich diversity of aromas and flavour. The region operates strict quality control where only authorised and certified wines can carry the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
Although the WASP programme is voluntary many vineyards have been awarded WASP Certification proving a global winner among eco-friendly buyers.
With a growing reputation as the
California of Portugal the stage is set for the Alentenjo to its grow its market share with the United Kingdom positioned at the very centre of its growth plans.
Photo Opposite by Louis Hansel on Unsplash Image as featured in Food and Drink
Rural charm employs high tech in a win, win.
It is a hot dry region in summer and water has to be managed and it is expensive.
The vineyards worked out a way to save between 30 and 50% of water consumption using precision irrigation and soil moisture sensors. By working together as a sustainable region they have learned that sustainability offers gains that would have otherwise have been inaccessible. Innovation in the use of drones to monitor soil health, energy savings using solar driven pumps to distribute water to their precision irrigation systems and recycling cork into fashion items are just some of the gains that have, quite simply replaced a lot of pains.
As Luis Sequeira, president of the CVRA, pointed out, these are essential shifts in a region experiencing extreme heat deep into October.
The result is high quality wine, often at a fraction of the price of competitors across Europe. Alentejo wine exports are booming in major global markets, whilst other wine growing regions are suffering from the global downturn
This month we highlight Borba one of the eight regions in Alentejo
ADEGA COOPERATIVA
DE BORBA
The oldest cooperative in the Alentejo (1955) is one of the largest producers in Portugal (almost 300 associated winemakers). This vineyard is one of the best known in the region, you will find its wines in all restaurants and many supermarkets. The adega organizes various activities related to the world of wine, such as tasting courses, seminars on wine conservation. The ideal address to buy good bottles of local wines.
Courtesy of Adega Cooperativa de Borba
Adega de Borba is a Sustainability Program for Alentejo Wines (WASP) certified winery. As of 2025 around 80% of their vineyard area is enrolled in the WASP program, reflecting their commitment to sustainable practices.
Riccardo Cotarelle said to be one of the most influential oenologists in the world describes Portugal's natural aptitude for blending of its native grapes as "A rare art in the wine world".
Courtesy of Drink Retailing UK January 2026
Publishing the official announcement of his first professional collaboration in Portugal with Luisa Amorim of Amorim Family Estates.
Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Programme (WASP)
Launched in 2015, although still a voluntary programme it has evolved into a rigorous certification where members must meet at least 86% of 171 criteria across 18 chapters covering environmental, social and economic sustainability. Wine buyers in the UK increasingly prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing making Alentejo's certified eco-friendly wines highly attractive. Major markets in Scandinavia, Canada and the USA have established mandatory sustainable certification proofing. WASP Certification meets market standards and just as important consumers, especially GEN Z can see the certification is from the entire region of Alentejo, it is this collective accountability which encourage consumers to believe in the product.
