Create Account

Or create your account with your email

Enter your name

Please enter your nickname

Enter your e-mail address

Enter your password

I agree with the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy of Portugal by Wine.

Create Account

Create Partner Account

Enter the company name

Enter your name

Enter the tax identification number

Enter your e-mail address Please provide a valid e-mail. Eg: [email protected]

Enter your password

Subscribe to newsletter

I agree with the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy of Portugal by Wine.

Create Account

Enter your e-mail address

Enter your password

Recover password To recover your password, enter your registration email

Enter your e-mail address

Recover password

From Clay to Glass

A Journey to the Roots of Alentejo Wine

Immerse yourself in the calm and immensity of the Alentejo. From talha wines with Roman roots to the surprising freshness of the Serra de São Mamede, discover why this region is the perfect sanctuary for those seeking authenticity. An invitation to slow down and toast to history amidst the golden plains.

From Clay to Glass

20 de Mar de 2026

There are regions that force us to slow down, and the Alentejo is undoubtedly one of them. Here, time seems to follow different laws. Amidst golden plains, ancient cork oaks, and olive trees that hold centuries of stories, wine is born from the strength of the sun and the patience of the land.

Visiting the Alentejo through its wine is to accept an invitation to silence, to fine dining, and to an endless horizon.

Discover the Alentejo through Wine with Portugal by Wine.

Talha Wine: A Two-Thousand-Year Heritage

In the Alentejo, the past is not just visited in museums; it is tasted in a glass. Talha Wine (Amphora wine) is the ultimate expression of this historical continuity. Introduced by the Romans over 2,000 years ago, this winemaking technique using large clay pots (talhas) has never ceased to be practised in villages like Vila de Frades.

Unlike modern wines, fermentation here takes place inside the clay, often in contact with the "mothers" (the skins and pips of the grape). The result is a wine with a unique texture, slightly cloudy, with earthy aromas and pure fruit. Tasting a vinho de talha is, quite literally, stepping back in time and feeling the pulse of a tradition that has outlasted empires.

Did You Know...? Curiosities of the Alentejo Wine World

The Alentejo is a land of extremes and surprises that many are yet to discover:

The Mystery Grape: Alicante Bouschet, despite its French origins, found its true home in the Alentejo. It is one of the rare "teinturier" grapes (where the flesh is also red), giving Alentejo wines that deep, dark inky colour that defines them.

The São Mamede Microclimate: It's not all heat on the plains. In the North, the Serra de São Mamede mountains create a high-altitude microclimate where old vines grow in granite and schist soils, producing wines of surprising freshness and elegance, far from the warmer profile of the South.

The "Montado" & Cork: Wine and the forest walk hand in hand. The Alentejo is the world's largest producer of cork. The cork oak forest (montado) not only protects biodiversity but also provides the raw material for the perfect seal of every bottle.

Gastronomy that Warms the Soul

In the Alentejo, the table is sacred and nothing goes to waste. Regional cuisine is made from simple ingredients transformed into banquets: bread, olive oil, black pork, and aromatic herbs like coriander and pennyroyal.

Pairing a garlic açorda, a lamb stew, or secretos of black pork with a structured Alentejo red is an experience of pure comfort. At the region's estates, lunches stretch long into the afternoon, celebrating the art of eating well.

Discover gastronomic experiences and wine tastings in the Alentejo at Portugal by Wine.

Wine Tourism: From Clay To The Stars

The Alentejo has elevated wine tourism to a level of world-class excellence. Many estates now offer the chance to stay overnight among the vines, in a silence only interrupted by the distant sound of cowbells.

Whether it is a hot air balloon ride at dawn, a wine tasting under the starry sky of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve - where light pollution is almost non-existent - or taking part in the opening of the talhas on St. Martin's Day, the experiences are designed to connect the visitor to the essence of the land.

Explore exclusive wine tours in the Alentejo at Portugal by Wine.

The Final Toast

At the end of a day in the Alentejo, as the sun sets and paints the plains in shades of fire, there remains the promise of a return. This is a territory that teaches us that the best in life is savoured slowly, one glass at a time.

A toast to the tranquillity and immensity of the Alentejo.

Contact: [email protected]

Photo: Gerações da Talha