The Alentejo is the second most famous wine region in Portugal, after the Douro and the Port wines. This province is known as the « granary of Portugal ». To discover this agricultural land, you have to go inland, south of Evora, to find the blessed region.
Herdade Grande is located in the Vidigueira region. It is part of a group of eight sub-regions that form the famous DOC Alentejo. It has a unique microclimate, thanks in part to the presence of the natural barrier formed by the « Serra do Mendro ».
This small massif separates the upper Alentejo from the lower Alentejo and offers the Herdade Grande cool nights. This is a paradox compared to the classic temperatures of the Alentejo, which are often the highest in Portugal.
To understand who is at the head of this beautiful wine estate, we have to go back in time to 1920. A leap of 100 years back in time to find the founder, who fell madly in love with what would become the Herdade Grande : Ernesto dos Santos Lança.
The founder, in keeping with his Alentejan heritage, practised the fermentation of wine in « Talha », similar to clay amphorae. He passed on this ancient knowledge to his son Antonio, born in 1946. With his feet firmly planted in the soil and his head well shaped, he returned to the cradle of his birth with a degree in agricultural engineering. Today he is the patriarch.
Strongly linked to the regional adega cooperative, Antonio nevertheless decided, in 1997, to become an independent producer. Once bottled, the name Herdade Grande now resounds as that of one of the most renowned families in Vidigueira.
What happened next? Antonio’s daughter Mariana, with degrees in agronomy and viticulture, is following in the footsteps of her ancestors: being at the forefront while preserving the traditional heritage. On the spot, you will be welcomed by the human warmth of the Alentejan people. A good introduction to savouring the wines of their production.
Grape varieties : Roupeiro, Verdelho, Viosinho, Antão Vaz. Colour: lemon yellow, clear and bright. Nose : tropical fruits, citric notes. Round, rich but balanced, freshness, structure and smoothness.
Grape varieties : Antão Vaz, Perrum, Roupeiro, Alvarinho. Colour : golden yellow. Complex, fruity wine, with balsamic notes from the amphora maturation. Structured, with fine tannins. Good length.
Grape varieties : Viosinho, Rabigato, Arinto. Colour: crystalline, lemon yellow with green highlights. Rich, mineral, with tropical aromas and subtle notes of barrel. Elegant, complex, balanced and persistent.
Grape varieties: Tinta Grossa, Tinta Caiada, Touriga Franca. Colour : ruby. Aromas of red fruits and balsamic notes. Round, with fine tannins. Fresh and elegant finish.
Single variety : Sousão. Colour: deep ruby. Intense fruitiness with floral notes. Rich, round, with hints of toast. Long and persistent finish.
Grape varieties : Alicante Bouschet, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca. Garnet colour. Aromas of ripe fruit, woody and spicy notes. Firm but elegant tannins. Long and persistent.
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To go further :
1- Lisbon wine tasting, through a private visit. Click here for more information.
2- Portugal wine guide. Discover the most complete post on the wine regions of Portugal.