TURIVENTOS - Turismo e Eventos

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Tourism Consultants - Tour Operators - Travel - Tours - Event Organization Travel - Tour - Events

INFORMATION
We look for the best solutions to organize sightseeing, excursions, stays, transport from 5 places.

Ask for information through the following contacts:

mail: turiventos@sapo.pt;

Tel. 910 233 251.

Tell us what you want and we will give you the best solutions without any compromise.

For more information we can go to a meeting.

Vinho Verde (Green Wine)

Some say that the term "green" is due to the acidity and freshness characteristics of Vinho Verde and reminiscent of the fruit still green. Others claim that the "Green" origin is explained by the fact that wine be produced in a region rich in vegetation and therefore very "green" even in winter.

Vinho Verde is the biggest DOC of Portugal, up in the cool, rainy, verdant North West. The vines grow in fertile, granite soils along rivers that flow from the mountains of the east to burst out into the ocean between golden surfing beaches.

The outer boundaries of both the “Vinho Regional” Minho and DOC Vinho Verde are the same, stretching from the River Minho in the north, which forms Portugal’s border with Spain, as far down the coast as the city of Porto (Oporto), but inland extending a further 30km south of the river Douro. 

Cool, wet weather always makes ripening more difficult, but the climatic problems were long compounded in the region by the tradition of training vines along pergolas on the edges of fields, and sometimes up trees, in order to gain space and free up the centre of fields for other crops. 

There are many smallholdings (many are really small), and grapes are still often trained in this way, but modern vineyards, and certainly the vineyards of major estates, are now low-trained on wires, giving better exposure to the limited sun, and better ripening.

Vinho Verde is still distinguished by its high acidity. Flavour depends on the grape varieties used - floral Loureiro, steely Trajadura, mineral Arinto (known here as Pedernã), creamy and mineral Avesso, and the fine, mineral, subtly fragrant Alvarinho. Azal Branco is hard to ripen and declining in popularity, and in any case tends to get blended with more aromatic grapes. Most white Vinho Verde can be relied upon to be light, crisp and aromatic, often with a light prickle of fizz, sometimes with a touch of sweetness. 

The fine Alvarinho grape rules around the towns of Melgaço and Monção in the north, along the Minho river. The climate here is warmer and drier, the maritime influence partially blocked by hills, and the combination of grape and climate makes for richer, fuller, subtly complex wines, made dry and totally still.

 
The DOC Vinho Verde has also permitted fully sparkling wines since 1999 – a growing and promising venture. And there is a lot of red Vinho Verde, too - dark, high in acidity, low in alcohol, made principally from the late-ripening, red-fleshed Vinhão grape. 

There are nine sub-regions to the DOC, named after rivers or towns: Monção, Melgaço, Lima, Basto, Cávado, Ave, Amarante, Baião, Sousa and Paiva.

Wine tourism

Quinta da Aveleda

A trip to the Quinta da Aveleda is not only synonymous with vines lose sight and a cellar with advanced technology which produces one of the Vinho Verde sold worldwide. Sign in Aveleda is to make a real trip to the time of Minho families living on solar typical of the region.

Wine tourism services:

Wine Tasting

Vineyard and winery

Store

Meals for groups (by appointment)

Awards

Best of Wine Tourism - Great Wine Capitals 2010

Best Film - Category Rural Tourism, Art & Tur International Tourism Film Festival 2008

Quinta Brejoeira

Who goes through Monsoon is not indifferent to the imposing Palace of Brejoeira. Considered a national monument since 1910, is a grand building in neo-classical style of the early nineteenth century.

Wine Tourism:

Fifth program (Grove, Gardens and Old Cellar)

Palace & Farm Program (Inner Palace Chapel Gardens, Grove, Old Cellar, Vineyards)

Alvarinho & Heritage Program (Palace, Farm and proof Albariño wine Brejoeira Palace)

Tras-os-Montes

In Tras-os-Montes region vine growing is secular. There are references that show wine production during the Roman occupation in the region. These wines were known for their great quality.

In the remote north east of Portugal, cut off from the coast by a series of mountain ranges, Trás-os-Montes is wild, high country, its soils poor and unproductive, granitic with here and there the odd patch of schist. The extreme continental climate brings long, hot summers followed by long, icy winters.

The region is divided into three sub-zones, Chaves, Valpaços and Planalto Mirandês, the first two in the centre of the region, while Planalto Mirandês is on the plateau of the Serra do Mogadouro in the south east, bordering on Spain.

The wines are a product of the high altitude and extreme climate, reds made from Bastardo, Marufo, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira (Tinta Amarela), whites from Côdega do Larinho, Fernão Pires, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Síria (Côdega) and Viosinho.

Wine tourism

Casa Grande

In eighteenth-century building, the mid-18th century, the Casa Grande do Seixo as it is known, is in the village in which it operates a marked presence of great architectural, historical and cultural value. Casa Grande do Seixo supported on the main street of the village prevails over all mesh built as a major element of rural and religious experience which remain to this day. Set in a fertile plain located between the hills of Falgueira east and the mountains of the Barrocal to the west which flows the river of Oura, is crossed by paths that connect the beautiful rural roads of secular characteristics where a landscape of pure nature.

In addition to the evidence of wines and liquors, also can make cycling in the area and hiking the trails that surround the vineyards.

Lunches, snacks and dinners.

Porto and Douro

Long famous as the source of port wine, the Douro is now also renowned for its fine, rich unfortified wines, both red and white.

This is one of the wildest, most mountainous and rugged wine regions of Portugal, cut through in deep twists and turns by the River Douro. Defying gravity on the steep slopes along the banks of the river and its tributaries, the vines are planted in poor, schistous soils. 

Man has engraved his own contours here – in the centre of the region, the historic, narrow, stone-walled vine terraces have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while elsewhere, modern terraces are wider, buttressed by steep banks of earth.

The wine region follows the course of the river down from the Spanish border to a point near the town of Mesão Frio, about 90km up-river from the city of Porto (Oporto). Here the Serra do Marão rises up, protecting the region from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Rain falls mainly on the western side of the Marão range, and to a certain extent in the western end of the Douro wine region, but dwindle further up-river, and by the Spanish border conditions are almost desert-like. 

The Douro region is divided into three sub-regions: from west to east the Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. The fertile, cooler, rainier Baixo Corgo, closest to the Serra do Marão, is the sub region with the most vineyards. 

The Cima Corgo, including the towns of Pinhão, São João da Pesqueira and Tua, is the heartland of fine port production, also the source of many of today’s fine unfortified wines. The Douro Superior, very cold in winter, infernally hot in summer, is the biggest of the sub-regions (by no means all planted but much planting is underway). 

The Douro has a huge selection of local grape varieties, and many vineyards of impressive, gnarled old vines that give small yields of rich, complex wine, whether for port or for unfortified wines. Dozens of different grape varieties may be mixed together in these old vineyards. In modern vineyards, vines are planted separately, and five grapes have been declared the top choice for port: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão. 

Plantations of the red-juiced, high-acid Sousão, as known as Vinhão elsewhere, have increased recently. Another black grape much planted in older vineyards is Tinta Amarela (as known as Trincadeira). Amongst whites, notable grapes are Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Moscatel, Rabigato and Viosinho. Some of these, from old, mixed-variety vineyards at high altitudes, are being used for a new generation of dry white wines.

Brandy

With the development of exports of port began the practice of adding him brandy. Thus, the wine resisted unchanged to travel at sea and stopping the fermentation with brandy made the wine sweeter and suitable to the taste of the English market.

Douro: DOC

In 1756 created the General Company of Agriculture of the Upper Douro Vineyards. This body had as its main responsibilities to the limitation of the region and vineyard register, classify wines according to their quality and establish certain wine practices in the region. It was the birth of one of the first specific regions of the world.

The Porto name

The name "Porto" is explained by the fact that the wine be stored and marketed from the port located between the city of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. The wine went down the river Douro in Rabelo boats and aged in warehouses of Vila Nova de Gaia, as this area has few variations in temperature during the year.

The rarest Porto

The most expensive Porto wine and rarest in the world is produced by Quinta do Noval. Your Porto Nacional Vintage is produced few times and always in limited numbers (200 to 250 boxes). One of its peculiarities is that the grapes come from vines planted without rootstocks, very old and rare in the region.

Wine tourism

Aquapura Douro Valley

Opened in June 2007, in the fifth valley of Abraao, the Aquapura Douro Valley results from the recovery of a solar-19th century, having been transformed into a modern space set in a bucolic setting. It is characterized by sophisticated atmosphere that ranges from the intimate ambience of the rooms and public, large and bright spaces.

Servicing

Hotel:

SPA

Restaurant

CS Vintage House Hotel

In the heart of the Douro region, this hotel resulting from an adapted cellar and which was renovated in 2009 is situated in the bank of the Douro and offers spacious and comfortable rooms enjoy views of the river.

Servicing

Hotel:

Restaurant

Tennis Court

Wine Tourism:

Course / Wine Tasting

Store

Quinta da Pacheca Wine House Hotel

The Wine House Hotel is set in Quinta da Pacheca, one of the oldest properties of the Douro and pioneer in private label wine bottling.

The estate house, with typical architecture of the 18th century, was restored in 2009 and now serves boutique hotel. This offers rural characteristics, but with tears of great contemporary and comfort, being entirely devoted to the gastronomic and wine tourism.

Servicing

Hotel:

Restaurant

Wine Tourism:

Wine Tasting

Vineyard and winery

Store

Awards

Best Wine Tourism Award 2006 - Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences

Távora-Varosa

Cistercian Monks

Although the growing of vines dates back to the Roman occupation, it was only in the 12th Century that this culture went through a major development, set by the hand of the Cistercian monks, who grew the vine on their lands.

This is a small, remote, mountainous region in the north of the VR Beiras, bordering on the Douro to the north, and the Dão region to the south.

The climate is continental, with extremes of temperature, and vines grow at 500 to 800 metres above sea level on granite or schist soils. 
At this altitude, the grapes retain good acidity and fruit, and are perfect for production sparkling wines – indeed this was the first region in Portugal to be demarcated for sparkling wines, in 1989.
Malvasia Fina accounts for about half of older vineyards, along with Bical, Cerceal, Fernão Pires and Gouveio, while major reds are Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional.
For nearly a century, Távora-Varosa has also had significant plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (two of the major grapes of the Champagne region of France) and more is being planted. 
With an admiring eye on the success of the Douro producers to the north, Távora-Varosa producers have also been planting more of the top Portuguese red grapes, such as Touriga Franca, which ripen less well in these conditions, however. 

Wine tourism

Quinta do Cabriz

Quinta de Cabriz is located between the two main rivers that cross the region of Dão, the Mondego and Dão. It is a secular farm where besides the house of the 17th century there is also a chapel.

Servicing

Wine Tourism:

Course / Wine tasting

Vineyard and winery

store

restaurant

Winebar

Bairrada

In the western part of the Beiras, between the mountainous Dão region and the surf-washed Atlantic beaches, Bairrada has a mild, maritime climate with abundant rainfall.

Although much of the Bairrada region is hilly, the majority of the vineyards are on flatter land. Vineyards are often divided into a multitude of small plots. There are two main types of soil: clay-limestone and sandy, each influencing style of wine.

This is a very important area for sparkling wines. Base wines for sparkling wines need the kind of high acidity that the cool Bairrada climate delivers. Sparkling Bairrada wines  may have the fragrance of the Maria Gomes grapes (also known as Fernão Pires), or they may be more steely, based perhaps on Arinto, Bical and Cercial, sometimes with some Chardonnay. There are also ‘blancs de noirs’ based on quickly-pressed Baga.

Baga is the traditional local red grape. It makes tannic wines that can have high acidity if under-ripe, but if ripened and handled well the Baga can give rich, dense fruity reds that age into elegant wines of great complexity. 

Since 2003, a multiplicity of other grapes has been permitted in DOC Bairrada wines – national grapes such as Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro as well as the international likes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Merlot.

Red Bairrada these days comes in a bewildering array of styles. Predominant amongst white grapes is the fragrant Maria Gomes, while Arinto, Bical, Cercial e Rabo de Ovelha can be made into steely, long-lived whites

The Brazilian market

During D.Maria's reign (1734/1816) the wines were largely exported to Brazil, where they were much appreciated. They were also exported to North America, France and England.

Vine growing

In 1137, D.Afonso Henriques approved the growing of vines in the Herdade de Eiras, under the public road from Vilarinum to Buzaco. The payment to the crown was just the fourth part of the wine produced.

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Wine tourism

Quinta do Encontro

A dream and passion for the wines, we created the vision of forms and exterior and interior lines in perfect harmony conceptual, between the production of wine and architecture.

To find the building shall be free, almost eyes closed, go without barriers our science and art of producing wines of excellence, and have a unique sensory experience in a cellar design. We organize visits and tastings, that stimulate your senses, from music that merges with the characteristic aromas of the wine production, will taste experience of original flavors of lush signature cuisine.

Dao e Lafoes

Surrounded on all sides by mountains, the Dão region is protected both from the direct influence of the continental climate, and from the chill and rains from the ocean.

This is high country, rising from 200 metres above sea level at its lowest spots to 1,000 metres in the Serra da Estrela, the high mountain range to the south and east of the region. High altitude makes for cool nights, slower ripening, good acidity and aroma, and the potential for great elegance in the wines, both red and white.

Dão wines can usually age well. Vineyards, often very small patches of vines, are scattered at various altitudes amidst pine forests. Soils are very poor and granitic, with some schist to the south-west. For red wines, Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro perform very well here, with the help of Tinta Roriz (also Known as Aragonez, or, in Spain, Tempranillo), along with the traditional Jaen, Baga, Bastardo and Tinta Pinheira.

Star white grape is the Encruzado, making styles ranging from light, fresh whites to richer, barrel-fermented versions. Supporting white varieties are Bical, Cercial, Malvasia Fina, Rabo de Ovelha and Verdelho.

Lafões

This tiny, granitic region is tucked between the north-west corner of the Dão region and the southern tip of the Vinho Verde region. Style-wise, the wines are more like Vinho Verde, with high acidity a distinguishing feature. Arinto, Cerceal, Dona Branca, Esgana Cão and Rabo de Ovelha are the white grapes, with Amaral and Jaen dominating the reds.

Dão and the Discoveries

This region's wine was served at the luxurious celebrations organised by Infante D.Henrique in Viseu before the Portuguese embarked on their journey to conquer Ceuta.

Phylloxera

When phylloxera struck European vines there was a great demand for this region's wine, which would be used to replace Douro's (since the Douro region had already been invaded by phylloxera) and sell table wine to the French market. Between 1883 and 1886, phylloxera reached the Dão region.

Wine tourism

Palacio dos Cunhas de Santar

It is in Santar village that is the Paço dos Cunhas de Santar a property of the 17th century which was dedicated to the production of olive oil, fruit and wine to supply the city of Porto markets.

Servicing

Wine Tourism:

Course / Wine Tasting

Vineyard and winery

store

restaurant

Wine Bar

Cooking Workshops

Awards

Wine Magazine Award - Wine Tourism of the Year 2008

Beira Interior

These high, granite uplands over by the Spanish border include some of Portugal's highest and most impressive mountains.

The climate is seriously continental, hot and dry in summer, but with very cold, long winters.  In the summer and autumn heat, alcohol levels can shoot up before tannins are fully ripened, but with care and skill, good, balanced wines can be made.

Ripening is easier in the southern sub-region, Cova da Beira, whose exclusive local white grape, Fonte Cal, can make rich, honeyed wines with steely acidity. Other white varieties include Arinto, Malvasia Fina, Rabo de Ovelha and Síria.

The main red varieties are Bastardo, Marufo, Rufete, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional. Many vines are old – a plus for quality, meaning small yields and potentially greater concentration in the grapes.  

Roman traces

Vine growing in this region dates back to the Roman era. One can still find several rock tanks that were used to produce wine.

Protectionism

As these were high quality wines very important social and economically, some measures were taken to protect them, namely during the reign of D.João I (1430) and D.João III (1545).

Wine tourism

Quinta de Pero Martins

Quinta de Pêro Martins, got situated in a village of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo municipality (Guard), inserted in the Côa Valley Archaeological Park and near the Douro Wine Region and the Douro International Natural Park. It was intended at the same time preserve the interesting aspects of this core of Beira rural architecture and provide guests with a quality service with comfort and diversity of tourist entertainment activities.

Farmhouse adapted for Rural Tourism, with fantastic views of the granite plateau valley embedded Côa river. It has a garden with a playground, land with trees and private garages. Come taste our cuisine and discover our rich cultural heritage

Lisboa

West and north of the city of Lisbon, the Lisboa wine region was until recently known as Estremadura. A lot of wine is made here, much of it in co-operatives, in a very wide variety of styles and qualities. This region where the "vinho regional" Lisboa is predominant also has nine DOC.

Lisboa is a long, thin region running up beside the Atlantic. Wind is inevitably a strong feature beside the coast – no wonder that these undulating hills bristle with windmills, and no wonder that coastal vines are wind-stressed and hard pressed to ripen their grapes. Just a little way inland, however, a backbone of hill and mountain ranges offers some protection to many eastern parts of the Lisboa region.

A number of the top wine estates of Lisboa are in or around the DOC region of Alenquer, tucked in to the east of the Serra de Montejunto, and therefore a little warmer, a little less windy and wet. Grapes can ripen well, and red wines especially can be top class. 

DOC Arruda likewise is protected behind hills, just to the south of Alenquer. These two DOCs, along with DOC Torres Vedras (to the cooler, windier east of Alenquer), relaxed their grape restrictions in 2002 to allow some new national and international grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Franca, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. 

Just south again, between Arruda and the city of Lisbon, is the small but high-quality white wine region of Bucelas, with sheltering hills to the west and the wide, nearly land-locked estuary of the Tagus to the east. DOC Bucelas is a fresh, crisp, dry, mineral white, made with a minimum of 75 per cent Arinto, sometimes with Rabo de Ovelha and Sercial. There is also sparkling Bucelas. 
A gap in the hills on a level with the Peniche Peninsula and the town of Óbidos means that the DOC Óbidos, region in the centre-east of VR Lisboa is windy and cool. These are ideal conditions for growing grapes for sparkling wines, and indeed some of Portugal’s best sparkling wines come from Óbidos. The DOC of Lourinhã, between the Óbidos wine region and the ocean, is cooler and windier still, and this DOC, whose grapes ripen with difficulty, is therefore restricted to brandies. 

The largest DOC region within the VR Lisboa area, up in the north, on the western slopes and hills of the Candeiros and Aire mountains. This is scenic, limestone country, clothed with orchards and olive groves as well as vines. It is possible to make good, rich reds and modern whites, but some traditionally-made wines here are low in alcohol, high in acidity, known as DOC Encostas de Aire.

Very little wine is made nowadays in the DOC Colares and Carcavelos, two once- famous wine regions by the coast, out west from Lisbon. This is prime beach and residential country, where there are many more lucrative uses of land than growing grapes.

Carcavelos, just west of the capital, makes tiny quantities of fortified wine that is nearly always sweet, from red or white local grapes. Colares, neighbouring the great surfing beach of Guincho, makes high-acid, tannic wines from red Ramisco grapes, planted in sand dunes, and gently aromatic whites based on Malvasia. 

For the Lisboa region as a whole, the main traditional white varieties are Arinto, Fernão Pires, Malvasia, Seara-Nova and Vital, and for reds Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão, Tinta Miúda, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira, but many other national and foreign grapes are now used for VR wines and certain DOC wines.

Bucelas wine

This wine was very famous in the time of the French Invasions (1808-1810). Wellington was very fond of Bucelas wine and took it to England with the intention of offering it to King George III.

Carcavelos wine

Wellington's troops would frequently drink this wine and took this custom to England. Thus, for several years, Carcavelos wine was widely exported to that country.

Lisbon Hock

In the second half of the 16th Century, Bucelas wine was already known in England. The English would call it "Lisbon Hock", meaning dry white wine.

Wine tourism

Adega Mae

The Adega Mae was born of an old flame within the Riberalves Group: Wine. Located in Quinta da Archeira, parish of Ventosa, has an area of ​​approx. 40 hectares devoted to vineyards and a production capacity of 1.2 million liters per year, thus giving rise to a complete range of wines. The Adega Mae is the top-notch wineries, a temple erected to wine and worship associated with it, discerning, demanding time to produce / sell, available, currently open to share.

The cult associated with it paves the way for implementation of various activities such as:

-Guided Guided cellar with or without proof

- "Flavors & Wine", traditional snacks accompanied by our wines

-Lunch AdegaMãe

-Tour Vineyard

-Realization Events

-Workshops

-Courses Tasting

Quinta da Murta

Quinta da Murta is removed by the looks soft limestone hills of Bucelas region. It is located about 25 km north of Lisbon, in the Lusitanian basin, whose soil dating from the Jurassic period.

Servicing

Visits and Wine Tasting

TEJO

DOC Do Tejo occupies almost the same large area as VR Tejo, on either side of the River Tagus (Tejo in Portuguese) as it flows gently along in a south-westerly direction towards its estuary at Lisbon. Until recently the DOC was called Ribatejo and the "vinho regional Ribatejano".

Climatic and geological conditions vary greatly throughout the region. A lot of the vines grow, along with huge quantities of vegetables, on the wide, alluvial plain of the Tagus, in soil known as leziria, very fertile and frankly over-productive as far as quality wine is concerned – unless growers commit great attention and time to reducing their crops and pruning back the exuberant vegetation. Many growers deliver to large co-operatives. 

Some quality-conscious producers have focussed their attention on the hotter, drier, sandy land to the southern side of the river, to the east of Muge, Almeirim and Salvaterra de Magos, bordering on the Alentejo. Soils here are known as charneca. 

On the other side of the Tagus but further north, heading up towards the border with Lisboa region and the foothills of mountains of the Encostas de Aire, the soils are clay-based, and known as bairro. In the west of the Tejo region, around Rio Maior, sea air passes through a gap in mountains, making the climate wetter, windier and cooler.

The DOC regulations allow a fairly wide range of grape varieties, for whites the local Fernão Pires, Alicante Branco, Arinto, Tália, Trincadeira das Pratas and Vital, but also Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and alongside the traditional red Castelão and Trincadeira it is possible to use Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Old and famous

The wines from Ribatejo were already famous before Portugal became a country. In 1770, in the foral (royal document) of the city of Santarém, D.Afonso Henriques made reference to these wines.

Protectionism

From the 13th to the 15th Century, a number of measures were taken by Portuguese kings to protect this region's wines. One of such measures was to prohibit the entrance of wines produced outside the region.

Moscatel

Moscatel de Setúbal has always been a very famous wine. One of its greatest appreciators was the French king Louis XIV

References in literature

Gil Vicente, in his book Pranto de Maria Parda, makes reference to the wines produced in Ribatejo, namely the one from Abrantes. In the book Viagens na Minha Terra, by Almeida Garrett, one talks about Dâmaso Xavier dos Santos, a big farmer from Cartaxo who dedicated himself to the Liberal cause, ruining his entire wealth..

Wine tourism

Casa Cadaval

Located 80 kilometers north of Lisbon, on the left bank of the Tagus River, the Estate of Muge, belonging to the family Alvares Pereira de Melo (Casa Cadaval), has a total of 5,400 hectares, of which most occupied by mounted. Currently holds about 42 hectares of vineyards, whose vine varieties consists mainly of indigenous varieties, highlighting the Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Arinto, Alvarinho and Fernão Pires and lower percentage of foreign varieties, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot, used for the production of wines of this house, maintaining the philosophy of maintaining the Identity and Expression of Terroir in each of their wines.

Quinta do Casal Branco

Over 1100 hectares of land and an agricultural and wine tradition, which already amounts to 200 years, characterize this property since 1775, remains on the Cruz Sobral family. A pioneer in technological innovation in the Ribatejo, the farmhouse located a few kilometers from Almeirim just suffered further reduction in its cellar, 1817 (the first steam the region) a commitment to quality that has always marked their production

Peninsula de Setúbal

The Setúbal Peninsula lies across the estuary of the River Tagus directly south of Lisbon, and linked to Lisbon by two bridges.

The wine region Península de Setúbal also includes a large coastal chunk of the administrative region (as opposed to the wine region) of Alentejo.

Much of the area is flat and sandy, with the exception of the Serra da Arrábida, a short chain of mountains running along the south coast of the peninsula, where the soils are limestone or clay-limestone. It is on these Serra da Arrábida slopes that the grapes are grown for the famous sweet Moscatel de Setúbal wines.

The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild but rainy winters. Vineyards in the Serra da Arrábida are cooler, owing to the higher altitude and the proximity of the sea.

The Vinho Regional was recently renamed Península de Setúbal. (it was formerly called ‘Terras do Sado’ after the River Sado that flows through the southern part of the region). There are two DOCs, Setúbal and Palmela. Setúbal is sweet and fortified, made primarily from the Muscat of Alexandria grape. It can be labelled Moscatel de Setúbal when Muscat makes up more than 85 per cent of the blend.

It’s a very sweet, fragrant wine, with candied orange flavours, floral and raisiny when young, developing nutty, toffeed aromas with maturity. Moscatel Roxo (a pink grape) makes wines that are even more scented. DOC Palmela is mainly red, and based on the late-ripening Castelão grape, which is more at home in the hot, sandy soils of Palmela than anywhere else in Portugal, ripening well to make wines of complexity and depth, elegance an balance, with good cherry fruit.

Biggest vine in the world

In the 19th Century, the biggest continuous vine in the world was located in the Península de Setúbal: about 4000 hectares of vine that belonged to a single producer. Currently, the area occupied by the vine is of about 10000 hectares.

The Torna-Viagem

Moscatel was much exported to America, namely Brazil. When the wine was not sold, it would return to Portugal. Transportation was done in ships that crossed the Atlantic. Therefore, the wines were subject to high temperatures throughout the journey. Once arrived at the port, one would notice that the wine in the barrels was more concentrated and softer. These wines became known as torna-viagem (free translation: return trip), since they would make a trip out of Portugal and return to the country.

The first wines in Portugal

Wine is thought to have been brought to Portugal by the Phoenicians around the year 600 BC, namely through the estuaries of the rivers Sado and Tejo. The Phoenicians were looking for metals and, as an exchange currency, would offer, among other products, wine and oil amphoras.

Wine tourism

José Maria da Fonseca

Founded in 1834, José Maria da Fonseca wine has at a truly secular passion. In his House Museum in Azeitão, about 30 minutes from Lisbon, you can visit, you Interview other points of interest, the cellars where the Periquita matured for over 160 years; and the cellar where they are stored muscat as old as the company and belonging to the private collection of Soares Franco family, direct descendants of the founder. It may also, in the Wine Shop, do a wine tasting, and lose yourself in choosing a wine for that special occasion. Tradition and quality at your disposal, so close.

Palace of Bacalhôa

Considered the most beautiful farm first half of the 15th century still existing in Portugal, Quinta da Bacalhôa is an old property of the Royal House. Located in Azeitão, Quinta and the famous Bacalhôa Palace is an artistic monument of great importance for the country.

Visit associates Wine, Nature and Art.

Of ancient olive trees transplanted from the Alqueva dam to the gardens of the cellar, to the interior of the premises, the route continues to amaze.

Inside, more than 2,500 barrels to Setubal muscatel aging fall with the largest private collection of tiles in Portugal, giving you the know the heritage of the company, with over 80 years of history.

Herdade da Comporta

THERE IS A PLACE COMPORTA.SÓ ASSIM.SÓ SO THERE IS A WINE.

Rarely is such a place of wild beauty and calm, where the sun finds of vibrant color intensity and the generous land reveals unhurried what is best. A landscape that inspires us by its perfect balance. The 30 acres of Herdade da Comporta the vineyard are located in a sandy soil of the valley east-west oriented, allowing for exposure to the sun during the entire day. The slope is gently horizontal, slightly above sea level, and temperatures are moderated by proximity to the ocean, in the vineyard producing excellent conditions of maturity, aroma and taste in grapes

Alentejo

The Alentejo region covers about a third of Portugal, and winemakers in the remaining two-thirds can often be heard to complain about the popularity of Alentejo wines.The reds, easy drinkers, rich and fruity, are the darlings of Lisbon cafés and restaurants, also to be found on wine lists the length of the country. There are quaffing wines, but also fine wines, especially in the red department. Whites are more difficult in this hot climate, but some very good ones are made, given the right place, and/or appropriate skill in vineyards and cellar.

It’s a short drive up from the cool of the Algarve, over the hills and into the hot southern part of the Alentejo (or seriously cold, should it be winter). Most of the Alentejo consists of undulating plains and gentle hills, with serious mountains only in the north east, where, near the town of Portalegre, the São Mamede mountain range rises up by the border with Spain, and the air becomes cooler and the countryside greener. Soils vary greatly: schist, pink marble, granite, limestone, often laid upon a sub-layer of water-retaining clay.

DOP Alentejo has eight sub-regions that together cover about a fifth of the Vinho Regional Alentejano region, but these are rarely seen a label. It makes sense to take advantage of the name Alentejo (or Vinho Regional Alentejano). Seven of the sub-regions are clustered fairly centrally. Portalegre lies well to the north east on the granite foothills of the São Mamede mountains, where higher rainfall and cooler temperatures especially at night, along with many old vines, gives complexity and freshness. 

Borba, Évora, Redondo and Reguengos are more typical of the Alentejo, and can make smooth, harmonious, very easy-drinking reds. Conditions are more challenging in Granja-Amareleja, Moura and Vidigueira, with poor, limestone-based soils and a significantly hotter climate. Nonetheless, a new generation of producers, particularly around Vidigueira, has shown the potential of these southern parts of the Alentejo.

 The white Antão Vaz is the star grape of the region, with good acidity and tropical fruit flavours. It also responds well to barrel-fermentation. Arinto and Roupeiro also offer precious acidity; white Diagalves, Manteúdo, Perrum and Rabo de Ovelha make up the blends. Aragonez (Tempranillo) is the most widely-planted red grape. The red-fleshed French grape Alicante Bouschet is often the inky, treacley backbone of red blends. Alfrocheiro, Castelão and Trincadeira also have valuable parts to play, with Moreto, Tinta Caiada and Tinta Grossa padding out some blends.

However, many of the new generation of Alentejo reds incorporate imported grapes such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, made as Vinho Regional. 

Effects of Romanisation

The Roman presence in Alentejo contributed to the implementation of the vine in several areas of the region. After the foundation of Beja, between 31 and 27 BC, there was a great increase in the growing of vines. Pieces of pottery, grape seeds and a granite press were found near Vidigueira.

Wine Incentives

After expelling the invaders from Alentejo, the royal authorities and religious orders encouraged the production of wine. The population was forced to grow vines and, after three to five years, donate a certain part of their yield. In 1221, D.Afonso Henriques established that the grapes and wine produced would be property of the Sé de Évora.

Wine tourism

Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

In the heart of Alentejo, wrapped in the bucolic scenery, Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Country House & Spa is a rural hill typical Alentejo. The hotel with spacious and elegant rooms is on the Mount of Peceguina, surrounded by lavender fields and vineyards.

Servicing

Hotel:

Restaurant

SPA

Wine Tourism:

Wine Tasting

Vineyard and winery

Store

Meals

Participation in harvest

Esporão

The Esporão is one of the oldest wine tourism units in Portugal. Opened in 1997 and the space, recently refurbished, offers wine bar, restaurant and of course, visits to the winery and vineyards.

In addition to the activities related to wine, you can also enjoy the gardens that connect the vineyards and wineries and visit the garden of 2 hectares of the estate, where they are planted fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Servicing

Wine Tourism:

Wine Tasting

Vineyard and winery

Store

Wine bar

Restaurant

Herdade do Rocim

The Herdade do Rocim is a property of about 110 hectares, of which 70 are vineyards and which includes the cellar, structuring element of the project, which combines the production of wine with the enjoyment of the space and nature, with its use as a center of culture and leisure.

Servicing

Wine Tourism:

Wine Tasting

Vineyard and winery

Store

Wine bar

Dinner (by appointment)

Awards

Best Wine Tourism without stay - Award W 2011

Herdade dos Grous

The Herdade dos Grous is inserted into the broad plain of the Lower Alentejo among olive, cork oak forests and 70 hectares of vineyards. The property is an ideal place to relax, be in touch with nature and learn more about raising horses and cattle, production of wine and olive oil or organic farming.

On a visit to the winery Herdade dos Grous can know the stages of the winemaking process and do a wine tasting. In Estate of the store can purchase wine, olive oil and ceramics produced in Homestead.

Servicing

Hotel:

Restaurant

Bar wine

Wine Tourism:

Wine Tasting

Vineyard and winery

Store

Meals

Monte da Ravasqueira

Monte da Ravasqueira is a place where you can discover all the culture and history linked to the company's wines.

Be impressed by the extent of the vineyards and enjoy the cellar architecture that follows the models used in Napa Valley, California. You will certainly feel at home and will want to stay to enjoy the traditional cuisine of meals offered by Hill meal service (but be sure to book).

Servicing

Wine Tourism:

Wine Tasting

Vineyard and winery

Museum

Store

Wine Course

Meals

Awards

Wine Tourism Awards 2014 - Best Visitor Centre (second place)

Algarve

Vines love Portugal's southernmost region for the same reason the tourists do - it's never too hot, never too cold, and they can be sure to enjoy more than 3,000 hours of sunshine every year.

The ‘border’ with the Alentejo region to the north is a mere 20 or 30 miles from the Algarve coast, yet the Algarve suffers none of the Alentejo’s extremes of temperature. Why? A beautiful chain of mountains running all the way between the Spanish border and the Atlantic coast separates the two regions and blocks the hot, dry winds from the north, leaving the Algarve under the moderating influence of the sea – the Mediterranean to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

East of Faro out towards Spain the climate is warmly Mediterranean, whilst west of Faro the Atlantic makes itself felt in a more temperate climate, fresher and more humid.

The soils in the Algarve are very varied: sandy, clay, limestone, sandstone, sometimes very shallow over rock, with some rare areas of schist on the mountainous slopes in the north.

Anyone who has holidayed in the Algarve will recognise the the major towns that lend their names to the region’s four wine DOCs: Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Tavira.

For these traditional wines, the main white grapes are Arinto, Malvasia Fina, Manteúdo and Síria, and for the reds Castelão and Negra Mole. However, the new wine estates are making mainly Vinho Regional Algarve from national and international grapes: Touriga Nacional and Syrah, Aragonez and Cabernet Sauvignon, Trincadeira, Alvarinho, Chardonnay, Viognier... New estates and wineries are springing up in the Algarve – this is a region to watch.

Muslim Occupation

During the Muslim occupation of the Algarve, the vine was widely cultivated. As Muslim religion doesn't allow the ingestion of alcohol, the wine would be used as a transaction currency to acquire other products. After reconquering the Algarve, the Christians used the Muslims' economic organisation.

Commercial importance

Algarve's wine tradition is not limited to cultivating and producing wine: the region has played an extremely important role in the commercial trades made during the Middle and Modern Ages.

Wine tourism

Quinta dos Vales

Active and relaxed, dynamic yet serene. Opposite approaches to the same goal: quality. Quinta dos Vales is synonymous with quality in all their efforts. Whether our conservative approach to the production of wine or a unique combination of wine and art the goal always remains the same. Customer satisfaction is the minimum we want to achieve is in the area of wine, art, events or wine tourism. The activity of our company is divided in different areas: Wine, Art, Rentals, Activities and Events; click the section below for details on each.

Azores

The Azores are an archipelago of nine islands about a third of the way out into the Atlantic on a line between Lisbon and New Jersey.

The climate is mild and moist all year, and swiftly changeable: rain, wind, mist, or a teasing sun behind a veil of thin cloud. Lichens, ferns and mosses thrive, and there’s plenty of bright green grass to nurture the dairy cows.

The backdrop is spectacular: active volcanos, crater lakes, waterfalls, beaches composed of swirls of lava, Portugal’s highest mountain (the volcanic peak of the the island of Pico), and hot plains where you can literally cook your dinner. Vines are planted into rock or poor volcanic soils. 

The occasional vineyard is trained along modern wires, but most vines still grow within traditional currais, small enclosures of dry stone walls, sometimes no more than two or three metres square. Apart from disposing of volcano-scattered stones, these walls give protection from ocean winds, and radiate heat at night. 

By far the majority of the vines grown on the islands are American species, planted after phylloxera. They make a curiously musky wine known as vinho de cheiro or ‘fragrant wine’ – loved by the islanders as well as island emigrés in Canada and the USA. 

The Azores have no DOP regions, but do have three IPR regions (DOPs-in-waiting): Pico, Biscoitos and Graciosa. Two are fortified (16%+) and wood-aged: IPR Pico (grown on two small coastal patches of the island) and Biscoitos (a tiny, coatal part of the island of Terceira). 

The wines are made from Verdelho, Arinto and Terrantez. IPR Graciosa is for unfortified white wine made from the same three grapes plus Fernão Pires and Malvasia Fina. More Vinho Regional Açores is made today than IPR. Inevitably in this cool climate it is mostly white, but there is some good, light red, including some Merlot. 

The first vines

The Azores, discovered in 1427 by Diogo Alves, are made up of nine islands. In the same year, the first settlers arrived in the islands and started growing vines.

Verdelho

Verdelho is the most famous and most grown grape variety in the Azores. It is thought to be originally from Sicily or Cyprus and afterwards taken to the Azores by the Franciscan Friars, who cultivated it throughout the islands.

Pico Verdelho

In the 17th and 18th Centuries, the wines produced in the Azores, namely the ones produced in Pico, were exported to Russia and most northern European countries. After the Russian revolution in 1917, several bottles of Pico Verdelho were found kept in cellars belonging to ancient Russian czars.

Madeira

Madeira's fortified wines keep practically for ever - they have been known to survive for more than two centuries.

Out in the Atlantic, on the same latitude as Casablanca, the island enjoys mild temperatures throughout the year, but the climate is also strongly influenced by the ocean. It is extremely mountainous, with deep valleys and steep slopes where the vines grow on little terraces in fertile, acid, volcanic soils that are very rich in organic matter. 

Vines are mostly trained on traditional pergolas, the bunches hanging below, shaded from the sun by exuberant foliage. Yields are high. The resulting grapes have high acidity – a distinguishing feature that they pass on to all Madeira wines.

A small clutch of historic Madeira grapes are known as the ‘noble’ varieties: Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malvasia (sometimes called Malmsey) and the rarer Terrantez. All are white, and the first four are traditionally vinified to give different degrees of sweetness in the finished wine: respectively dry, medium-dry, medium-sweet and sweet.

Terrantez makes fine, dry wines with very marked acidity.  However, 80 per cent of the island’s vineyards are planted with another variety, Tinta Negra, which is made into fortified wines of all four traditional sweetnesses. Some table wines are also made on the islands.

Shakespeare

In Shakespeare's play "Henry IV" there are references to Madeira wine. The character named Falstaff sells his soul to the devil "for a cup of Madeira and a cold capon's leg".

An elegant wine

Madeira was considered a very elegant wine. Court ladies would even use it as a perfume on their handkerchiefs. In England, Madeira and Port would compete for the first place in the court's preference.

Duke of Clarence

The Duke of Clarence was a noble Englishman who, after being sentenced to death for attempting to murder his brother, Edward IV, chose to die by drowning in a Madeira Malvasia cask.

Delicious Madeira

Madeira wine was widely exported to England, France, Flanders and the United States. Francisco I (1708/1765) used to say that Madeira was the richest and most delicious wine in Europe. Important families from Boston, Charleston, New York and Philadelphia would compete among themselves to get the best Madeira wines.

More information: turiventos@sapo.pt

http://www.winesofportugal.info/

http://www.infovini.com/

http://adegasdeportugal.pt/

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Distance - 1,000 kms. Difficulty - Ages. Circuit - Urban / Mountain Duration - 8 days

Castelo de Alomoural (Almourol Castle) - The Almourol Castle is situated on a small island that was already inhabited in Roman times of the peninsula, from the 8th century, was occupied by the Muslims, who have conquered the Visigoths. Within the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, Almourol was conquered by D. Afonso Henriques in 1129, which gave the Templar Order.

Castelo Branco (White Castle) - Located in Beira Baixa, the Castelo Branco is home district and one of the largest counties in the country, the center of a vast plateau region between the basins of the rivers Pônsul and Ocresa.

Castelo Branco owes its name to the existence of a Luso-Roman fort, Castra Leuca, at the top of the Hill of Cardosa, where took place the settlement of this town, then dubbed Albi Castrum.

The city was conquered from the Moors in the 12th century, and later some areas were offered to the Temple Order, charging them of their settlement and defense, to who built the castle of the town.

Monsanto (Historical Village) - Monsanto (most Portuguese of Portugal Village) is located northeast of Idanha Land, nestled on the slopes of a steep rise - the hill of Monsanto (Mons Sanctus) - which rises abruptly in the meadow and, in its highest point reaches 758 meters. The different sections of the slope and at the foot of the hill, there are scattered villages, attesting to the population shift toward the plain.

This is a very old place, where there is human presence since the Palaeolithic. Archaeological remains realize a Lusitanian Castro and Roman occupation in the field called S. Lourenço (St. Lawrence), at the foot of the hill. Remains of Visigoth and Arab stay were also found.

Covilha - The city of Covilha is located in the southeastern slope of the Serra da Estrela and is one of the urban centers of greater importance in the region.

The highest point in mainland Portugal, the Tower (1993 m), belongs to the parishes of Unhais da Serra (Covilhã), São Pedro (Manteigas), Loriga (Seia) e Alvoco da Serra (Seia), being included in three municipalities: Covilha, Manteigas and Seia, but is located around 20 km from the urban center of Covilha, and therefore the nearest Portuguese city of the highest point in mainland Portugal.

Belmonte (Historical Village) - The story of Belmonte arises normally associated with the history of the Cabrais and the Jews. It was the birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral, who in 1500 commanded the second armed to India, during which it was discovered officially Brazil.

The human presence in the current municipality of Belmonte is proven since the earliest times. The Anta Caria, the Castros of Caria and Chandeirinha certify the longevity of fixing the pre- and proto-history. The Roman presence is also evident by the testimony of Centum Tower Cellas or the Villa Quinta da Fórnea, waypoints, the road linking Mérida to the Guarda.

Guarda - In the early centuries of Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula inhabited the region of Guarda Lusitanian people. Including the Igaeditani, the Oppidani Lancienses and Transcudani. These people united under an authentic federation were to resist the Romanization for two centuries. Unlike Latinized these people did not consume wine, but before beer acorn. His weapon of choice was the “falcate” - a sword curve - which easily broke the Roman swords because of its metallurgical superiority. Their pagan gods also differed from the Romans can still meet some Lusitanian religious inscriptions in temples as the Cabeço of Fráguas.

The best known and consensual explanation of the meaning of the epithet of "city of five F's' meaning Forte (strong), Farta (abundant), Fria (Cold), Fiel (loyal) and Formosa (taiwan). The explanation of these Fs as subsequently adapted to other cities is simple:

Forte (strong): the castle tower, the walls and the geographical position demonstrate their strength; Farta (abundant): Due to the richness of the Mondego valley; Fria (Cold): the proximity to the Serra da Estrela and the fact that it is situated at an altitude explain this F Fiel (loyal): because Álvaro Gil Cabral - which was Alcaide-Mor Castle Guard and great great grandfather of Pedro Alvares Cabral - refused to surrender the keys of the city to the King of Castile during the 1383-85 crisis. Breath still had to fight in the Battle of Aljubarrota and take a seat in the Cortes 1385 where elected Master of Avis (John I) as King; Formosa (taiwan): for its natural beauty.

Almeida (Historical Village) - Also known as "Rock Star," Almeida is located in the district of Guarda, Beira Interior region, specifically in an area called Land of Riba-Coa. Your border character is quite remarkable, since all his confrontation east is with Spain, forming part of the border Portugal-Spain, better known as Ray, meaning that this area also called "Arraiana region."

Received a charter of King Dinis in 1296.

The place names have literal translation from Arabic: Terra Plana ('Flatland)', which makes perfect sense since the territory of the county is largely plateau area. Across the south of the county to the north, and one of the few Portuguese rivers flowing in this direction, the Côa river valley that opens an abrupt plateau, dividing the city into two parts well-creased.

Castelo Rodrigo (Historical Village) - Known as the "Fortress of the turrets," the territory of Riba-Coa was occupied since ancient times, with Paleolithic remains, megalithic, the Celtic culture, Romans and Arabs. The concern with the reorganization and settlement of this area at the time of the reconquest is reflected in donations to the friars Salamantinos, founders of the Order of St. Julian Pereiro, and the first monks of Santa Maria de Aguiar, coming from Zamora, of the Monastery Santa Maria de Aguiar, of Cistercian foundation of the 12th century, it is important testimony.

Captured from the Arabs in the 11th century and dependent on the Kingdom of León, was elevated to municipality village by Alfonso IX, definitely integrating the Portuguese territory to September 12, 1297, by the Treaty of Alcanizes - signed by King Dinis, which confirmed its Foral Trancoso and sent repopulate and rebuild the castle, repeated action of Ferdinand I, which also awarded him Charter Fair, in 1373.

Castelo Rodrigo is surrounded by a walled waist initially composed of 13 turrets (like de Ávila). Retains its medieval maps, which radiates from the citadel and follows the topography. Its streets are interesting houses, some Manueline, other Arab buildings.

Being on the route of pilgrims to Compostela, here stood the Church of Our Lady. Of Rocamador, founded by a brotherhood of hospitable brothers coming from France in the 13th century.

Trancoso (Historical Village) - Located on top of a plateau, which overlooks a vast territory between the Serra da Estrela and the Douro valley, developed around its castle, founded in the 8th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, was an extremely important strategic military place, installed in an unstable border region, where there were several conflicts and battles, first among Christians and Muslims and later between Portugal and neighboring kingdoms.

With Foral granted by D. Afonso Henriques (1162-65), at the dawn of nationality, Trancoso was already one of the main towns in the region. It would also be an important trading center; where from D. Afonso III (1273) went to perform one of the oldest and busiest frank fairs in the kingdom, perpetuated in our days by the famed Feira de S. Bartolomeu (St. Bartholomew Fair)

The origin of the name "Trancoso" motivates today speculation and imagination. There are at least two explanations, both mythological bent. Such explanations, however, may not be as fanciful as the match would be led to think. One of these explanations states that the name derives from "troncoso", that is, the name would be to be due to the fact that there are large trees in the area where the city was founded. The second, which was considered by Charles Joly (1818-1902) in 1893, one of the largest trees of Europe, no longer exists, but today you can see impressive trees as the "Linden Great Trancoso". Another explanation, which specifically specific an act of foundation, rather like Rome (cf. Foundation of Rome), states that the city will have been founded by an emissary coming from Egypt or Ethiopia. The emissary name would be Awseya Tarakos, who later would become king of Ethiopia, the Solomonic dynasty. There are also other European cities whose names have some similarities with Trancoso, and there may be some relationship between them (Tarragona, Tarascon, etc.). In Portugal, currently, you can find Trancoso assignment to other locations and places. There is also a river in northern Portugal, the Minho River tributary that name.

Viseu - The origins of the city of Viseu date back to the Celtic period and with Romanization, was very important, perhaps due to the junction of Roman roads whose proof there are only the milestones. These noticeable align an axis which seems to correspond to the road Merida (Spain), with which intersectaria Olissipo Shut-Bracara bond, the other two poles very influential. Perhaps for that reason may be justified building the octagonal defensive structure, two kilometers perimeter - the Cava de Viriato.

Viseu is associated with Viriato figure, since it is thought that this Lusitanian hero may have been born in this region. After the Roman occupation of the peninsula, followed by the elevation of the city and diocesan already Visigoth domain in the 6th century

Even before the formation of the Portuguese Province, was several times residence of the counts Teresa and Henry, in 1123 it granted a charter. His son D. Afonso Henriques born in Viseu on 5 August de1109, according thesis of historian Almeida Fernandes. The second charter was granted by the son of the counts, D. Afonso Henriques in 1187, and confirmed by D. Afonso II, in 1217.

Seia - Located on the western side of the Serra da Estrela, the city is 550 m altitude. The climate of the county is temperate with moderate temperatures in summer and cold in winter, with freezing temperatures and snow events, sometimes abundant in the higher parts of the Serra da Estrela. As for the rainfall regime, there is a short dry season, which includes the summer months of July and August.

The early human occupation of the site of the current Seia dates back to pre-Roman times, when the foundation of a village by Turduli, around the 4th century BC, known as Senna. The Turduli built a castro instead of Nogueira, among the mountains of Santana and Carvalha Outeiro. Defended themselves strategically in three forts, smaller, one in San Romao, another in Crestelo and the third in the current Seia. There are also remains of forts in Travancinha, Loriga and S. Romão.

When it was found the Roman invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, the Lusitano made of the mountain, then called Hermínios Montes, its headquarters, which has become a major obstacle to the invaders. This did not stop, however, that the general Galba had slaughtered 30,000 mountaineers Lusitanian.

Piódão (Historical Village) - The Piodão "Nativity of the Hawk", village classified as "Public Interest", located in the Serra do ACOR, with an abrupt escarpment deployment and a tight mesh and sinuous structure, well suited the roughness of the surrounding area. Pastures of the Sierra de S. Pedro of Acor, full of springs, attracted the Lusitanian shepherds fed their flocks there. In medieval times, formed a small settlement that was given the name Piódam home, then moved to its present location, perhaps due to the installation of a Cistercian Monastery (which remain no longer traces) which will revamp the place to the 13th century In this monastery can be linked to ancient invocation of Santa Maria (common in Cistercian Abbeys) Mother Church temple redesigned in the 18th century, which has endowed him of a curious facade marked by thin cylindrical towers topped by cones.

Arganil - Arganil is a delightful town, the county seat, in central Portugal, located in a mountainous region of great beauty, fertile vegetation and water courses.

The region has traces of Roman occupation since ancient times; there remains the permanence of primitive peoples in this region, as the Necropolis of Windmills, the Chalcolithic period, or the Roman Military Camp of Lomba do Canho.

The Heritage Arganil goes hand in hand with the history and beauty of the village, the owner of an enviable Historical Center, highlighting monuments such as the Mother Church, the Church of Mercy Chapel of the Lord of the Agony or the Pelourinho Vila.

About 2 km from the center, lays the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Alto dating from the 16th century, 500 meters high, celebrating in the 15 August a famous pilgrimage that attracts many visitors.

Surrounding the village of Arganil, are small traditional mountain villages that are worth knowing, located on the slopes and valleys of the beautiful hills of the region, as Vila Cova de Alva, Benfeita (integrated in the network "Schist Villages"), Coja, Malhada Chã, Barriosa  or the magnificent Piodão Village, one of the most beautiful in the country.

Lousa (Schist Villages Network) - Lousã, an idea that stands out immediately is the fact that it might be a mountain sector and of great natural wealth. Protrudes so highlighted the fact that the main physical features of the municipality reflect, in an almost directly, the major structural lines defining, has long been the morphology of its territory, and that influenced the very human occupation in the region over the last centuries.

The Serra da Lousã and the Schist Villages are a rich and varied heritage / built and existing natural.

The Network of Schist Villages comprises 27 villages of 16 municipalities that are located in the center of Portugal, in the territory that lies between Castelo Branco and Coimbra. It is a territory consists mainly of shale mountains, surrounded and crossed by a good road network.

But just say this is too little. The mountains offer stones forming part of the identity of the area. With the stones became its history, but they made a future project. Villages that were in ruin, to disappear, gave an award winning tourist destination. It is something unique and remarkable for having done so in the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

People give us affection. The raw material of good host. Sympathetically. With comfort. Tastefully. With flavors. With a challenge. Discover the Schist Villages is to give and receive a word of meeting its inhabitants. If you give a few more conversation, will receive in exchange a life story.

Tomar - town on the banks of the river Nabão, belonging to the Santarém district in the province of Ribatejo, was conquered from the Moors by D. Afonso Henriques in 1147 after being donated by the King to the Templars in 1159. The March 1, 1160 was established Take on the start of construction of the castle. D Gualdim Pais granted it a charter in 1162.

With the extinction of the Temple in 1312 by order of Pope Clement V, who wanted to see the Templars banned in Europe, was founded the Order of Christ Military. Because of the need to defend the Algarve border, the headquarters of this Order moved to Castro Marim. Thirty-seven years later, he returned to settle in Tomar specifically in his castle.

So take would be the originator center and main supporter of the Discoveries. Prince Henry, appointed by the Pope as Regedor the Order of Christ, was to settle in the Castle of Tomar.

It was elevated to city status in 1844 and was visited by Queen Maria II the following year.

GASTRONOMY

Castelo Branco

- Laburdo

- Fry

- Stew kid

- Tripe stuffed

Guarda

- Serra cheese

- Grain soup

- Black pudding

- Sausages

- Maranhos

- Roast lamb

- Serrabulho fashion Border

- Ranch Seia

- Tijelada (sweet)

Viseu

- Kid's Grelheira

- Beira Alta Mace

- Veal Lafões

- Rancho de Viseu

WINES

Wine Region of Beira Interior

It is the most mountainous region of mainland Portugal, comprising some of the highest mountains of Portugal.

The climate suffers from an extreme continental influence, with major temperature variations, short, hot, dry summers, and long and very cold winters.

The soils are mostly granite, with small patches of shale and although unusual, sandy spots.

The Beira Interior is divided into three sub-regions, Castelo Rodrigo, Pinhel and Cova da Beira. Castelo Rodrigo and Pinhel, despite being separated by mountain ranges, share similar features.

In turn, the Cova da Beira presents different, extending from the foothills of the Serra da Estrela to the Tagus valley, south of Castelo Branco

The predominant white varieties are Arinto, Source Cal, Malvasia Fina, Tail Sheep and Syria, while in red prevail Bastard, Marufo, Rufete, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional, with regular presence of very old vines.

Wine Region Dão and Lafões

Surrounded by mountains in all directions, based on very poor granitic soils, the region Dão extends its vineyards scattered among pine forests at different altitudes, from the 1000 meters of Serra da Estrela up to 200 meters from low areas.

The vineyards are scattered and discontinuous, divided into multiple installments, with properties averaging areas almost negligible.

The mountains determine and shape the climate of the region containing the vineyards of the direct influence of the continental climate and the maritime influence. Poor soils are mostly granite.

In the white varieties protrude beyond the Encruzado, the Bical varieties, Cercial, Malvasia Fina, Tail Sheep and Verdelho. In the red varieties, apart from Touriga Nacional, we point out the Alfrocheiro, Jaen and Tinta Roriz, beyond undervalued Berry, Bastard and Ink apple.

Lafões is a small transition region, nestled between the names of Dão and Vinho Verde, cut by the river Vouga, with mostly granitic soils.

In the white varieties thrive Arinto, Cerceal, Dona Branca, Distemper Dog and Tail Sheep, with the reds dominated by caste Amaral and Jaen. As a rule, Lafões wines show a penchant acidic, with a style similar to the neighboring name Vinho Verde

more information: turiventos@sapo.pt

Post by: Turiventos