ALENTEJO
This huge, sun-drenched area, covering much of the southern half of Portugal, has in recent years become an important source of big, ripe, fruity, easy-drinking reds which often dominate the wine lists of Lisbon restaurants.
The Alentejo is vast and varied. Only 10% of the land is planted with vines. One of the most intriguing areas lies in the northern part of the region as the mountainous area has much cooler climate than the rest of Alentejo, creating the potential for elegant fresh wines.
Central Alentejo, wide, rolling country around the towns of Évora, Borba, Reguengos and Estremoz, is hotter, and makes wines with good balance of acidity. Even further south, in the hot region around Beja, winemakers are also producing varied wines. Soils vary hugely, from granite and schist to chalk.
Between towns, you can drive for miles without seeing a soul, through cork and olive groves, past sweet-scented lavender fields, golden wheat, maize, sunflowers, vines, and grazing livestock.
