Get to know the largely undiscovered Algarve Wine Region

All you need to know about the Algarve wine region: The best wineries in the Algarve in Portugal for wine tasting and more

Without thinking too long, what is the first wine that comes to mind when you hear Portugal?

Chances are high, it’s port wine. On second thought, it might be Vinho Verde, the crisp white from Minho in the north of the country.

On the other hand, you might be well aware that Portugal is a highly diverse wine making country with distinct wine regions across the whole country.

The excellent dry wines coming from the Douro Valley are now well-recognized internationally, and while those from Alentejo are still flying somewhat under the radar, they are now featured regularly in wine magazines around the world.

Wines from other wine regions like those from the Algarve on the other hand are only now starting to get noticed outside of Portugal.

I recently had the opportunity to visit some of the Algarve’s exciting wineries and taste local Algarve wines during a trip down to the southernmost part of Portugal.

Though the trip had some downsides – it was too short with only few days in the area, the weather not collaborating (rain, wind and cold temperatures), and the local wineries are notoriously difficult to track down, meaning I only managed to seek out five of them on-site – if you love discovering new wine regions, the Algarve is a destination I could not more highly recommend.

Read on to learn more about the trip and why you should put Algarve wineries on your bucket list.

Discover everything you need to know about the Algarve wine region in the south of Portugal

While the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region, is a popular travel destination, attracting around five million visitors each year, only few will be aware of the region’s thriving wine business.

You may not have heard a great deal about Algarve wineries but trust me when I am telling you it is well worth planning a tour of the local wineries.

Where to find the wineries of the Algarve, and how to get there

Most of the local Algarve wineries are located slightly inland in the area around Portimao and Albufiera. More precisely, most are found in and around the villages and towns of Estombar, Silves, and Lagos.

If you want to visit some of the local wineries, there are two options. Renting a car and driving yourself (or appoint a driver from your group) or join an organized wine tasting tour.

If like me, you prefer going independent and therefore getting around with a rental car, be aware many of the wineries are located in spots your GPS will likely not pick up. And while most of Portugal’s wineries are open to the public, including most in the Algarve region, and wine tourism is becoming an important part of the local wine scene, signposts directing you to wineries are almost non-existing.

Your best option is to navigate with Google maps, which should work fairly well, including the offline version. Whishing I had found out earlier as I only tried this the second day after trying to locate some wineries with the car’s GPS, with very little success. So don’t make the same mistake.

What is the best time to tour Algarve wineries

With around 300 days of sunshine each year, the Algarve is a year-round destination. That said, winter months can be rather stormy and thus feeling cold. Being a real wine geek and coming for the wineries and wine tasting, this might not stop you.

On the other hand, the Algarve has plenty to offer beyond wine; and those ‘other’ attractions are still the main reason for most visitors to come here. From the beautiful beaches, rugged coastline, whitewashed coastal towns, the many local golf courses, and fantastic local food (from west to east there is a total of eight Michelin-star restaurants), there is a lot to discover. And not to forget the many upscale resorts, villas and boutique hotels turning your stay into a real bliss.

So what is the best time to visit the Algarve and its local wineries? The mild climate and plenty of sunshine makes this region a perfect destination for shoulder season (from end of March to mid to end-June and September to October).

While the constant breeze from the Atlantic Ocean typically prevents scorching summer months, this is still the peak season for travellers including many from the northern part of Portugal. If you don’t mind the crowds at the coast, summer is still a good time for a trip to the Algarve.

A short introduction to winemaking in the Algarve

The Algarve wine region is classified as Vinho Regional (VR), which refers to a second-tier wine region. However, this term is a bit misleading as it’s not referring to status or quality. Instead, being a Vinho Regional designated wine region means there are less strict rules on grape varieties and yields. Which in the end can be positive as winemakers have the freedom to create unique wines from grape varieties (and blends) not allowed under DOC rules.

The Algarve boasts excellent winegrowing conditions. Protected from the northern winds by the Monchique Mountain range, there are an average of 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Soils are mostly clay and lime, forcing the vines to grow deep roots. Finally, the nearby coast guarantees a continuous fresh breeze, balancing of hot summer temperatures.

Both white and red grapes are grown in the Algarve while local growing conditions particularly benefit red varieties. The most planted red grapes are Negra Mole, Trincadeira, Castelão and Touriga Nacional while Siria, Arinto, and Malvasia Fina are the leading white grapes. Meanwhile, the main international varieties are also cultivated including Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon along with Sauvignon Blanc.

The wines made in the Algarve range from fresh and light whites to full-bodied complex reds. In between these, there are excellent rosés, and you will even find some wineries making orange wine. And most have started to make sparkling wines as well.

The best Algarve wineries to visit

Portugal’s southernmost region today is home to over 30 wine estates (with some statistics claiming the number by now is arriving to 50), and most are open to visitors at regular opening hours.

However, if you are setting your eyes on a particular winery, check their website and ideally call ahead to make sure the winery will be open on your planned arrival.

Below are five great wineries to include in your itinerary.

Adega do Cantor – Quinta do Miradouro, Albufiera

Translating into ‘Winery of the Singer’ the name is to be taken literally. The owner of Adega do Cantor is no one else then British singer Sir Cliff Richard.

The winery was just recently founded and produces wines from three surrounding farms, Quinta do Miradouro, Quinta do Moinho, and Vale do Soreiro.

The wine range includes red, white, and rosé along with sparkling wines. The flagship wines are those produced for Adega do Cantour, the award winning Vida Nova and Onda Nova wines.

Visits are possible to the Quinta do Miradouro winery where a small wine shop provides the opportunity to sample and buy wines from the participating wineries. Here you can also take guided tours through the cellar and vineyards, ending with a wine tasting. If you do not go on a tour, you can also book a tasting only. If you join a tour, you will also get a great glimpse of Adego do Cantor.

The winery is open on weekdays (closed for lunch break from 1pm to 2pm) but if you want to go on a tour or book a tasting, prior reservation is required.

Adega do Cantor is located in Guia at the outskirts of Albufiera.

Quinta do Frances, Silves; Sito da Dobra, Odelouca

The small 9 hectares family-owned winery is among the oldest in the Algarve.

Quinta do Frances is located outside of the village of Odelouca in the Odelouca River Vally, around 10 minutes from Silves.

Founded in 2001 by husband-and-wife team Patrick Agostini and Fátima Santos, Quinta do Frances made their first wine in 2006. Meanwhile, the winery building was finalized in 2008. Located in the middle of the vineyard area, it follows typical Portugues style in blue and white.

The views over the surrounding area from the terrace are just stunning.

Inside is a large showroom where you can taste and buy wines along with olive oil and other regional products. Quinto do Frances also offers guided tours of the cellar. If you want to join one of the tours, making an appointment in advance is recommended. The tour will take around 30 minutes plus a tasing at the end which also includes some tapas, and I can only recommend joining the tour.

The wine range includes red, white, and rosé wines, focusing on red varieties of Trincadeira, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah while white wines are predominantly made from Sauvignon Blanc.

The winery is open from Monday to Saturday from mid-March to mid-November and Monday to Friday during the reminder of the year. It’s closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Cabrita Wines, Silves

Family-owned Cabrita Wines started with a wine made only for family and friends while bottling its first wine under the Cabrita brand in 2007. The wines are made at the Quinta da Vinha winery owned by the Cabrita family for more than 50 years.

Today the winery is located in a new, modern building at the outskirts of Silves at Sítio da Vala.

Cabrita offers a special tasting (advanced booking required) including a cellar and vineyard tour, tasting of four wines with matching tapas, which is a really nice way to discover the excellent wines made here.

The winery produces a wide range of wines including red, white, rosé, and sparkling (white and rosé) wine. In addition, there is also an orange wine, the Cabrita GOAT, a white wine made with skin contact from local Arinto and Encruzado grapes which is a real revelation.

Winery Convento do Paraiso, Silves

The winery officially operates under the name Quinta De Mata-Mouros. While calling the 12^th century Convent of Nossa Senhora do Paraíso its home, it was founded as recently as 2000 with the first wines released in 2005. 

Since 2012, the winery has a cooperation with renowned Alentejo winery Herdade de Malhadina Nova (and one of my favourite in the Alentejo – check out my post on a vineyard stay at the stunning winery-hotel here), a definite guarantee for quality winemaking.

The winery today makes three different range of wines, each including red, white, and rosé wines. They can be sampled during wine tastings and winery tours on-site, which require booking in advance. From May to October, tasting experiences also include a special picnic wine tasting among the vineyards.

Quinta De Mata-Mouros winery is located on the left bank of the Arada River, just outside of Silves. While it is one of the easier to located wineries – as you approach Silves there is a sign leading you to the estate – taking more time than expected to get to Quinta do Frances, I was regrettably late for an on-site visit. Still, thanks to the great wine menu at my hotel, I was able to sample one of their wines, and it was among the most excellent of the local Algarve wines I’ve tasted during my visit.

Quinta dos Santos, Estombar

Both a winery and brewery, the stylish Quinta dos Santos is located just outside the Pestana Golf Resort in Estombar and only a few kilometres from the popular Vila Vita Park hotel (which you can see across the valley when seated on the outside patio of the winery).

While Quinta dos Santos is among the more recently founded Algarve wineries, opening its doors in 2018, the place is popular for both craft beer and wines in both the tapas bar or Esquina restaurant featuring modern Portuguese food.

With only few years of winemaking under its belt, the Quinta dos Santos only produces a limited number of wines in two different wine ranges, including both red and white wines (and a sparkling wine in the making), along with a craft beer range and their own handcrafted small-batch gin.

The winery or respectively the tapas bar and restaurant are open from Monday to Saturday in summer (June, July, and August) and Tuesday to Saturday during the reminder of the year from 1pm to 10pm.

Final thoughts

This still off-the-radar winemaking region is the perfect destination if you want to discover some of the lesser-known quality wines from Portugal. And while it can be tricky to locate some of the wineries (don’t count on your GPS, come equipped with Google maps directions), most of the local wineries offer excellent tasting experiences and tours.

If the Algarve is on your travel bucket list, I definitely recommend setting aside at least one day for a tour of local wineries, sampling wines which are still not easily accessible outside of Portugal.

With all the other benefits of the Algarve, this is a wine region I know I will be back to do some further exploring local wineries.

Have you ever tasted a wine from the Algarve? Let me know in the comments below.