The history of wine and vineyards in the territory that is today the Alentejo requires a long narrative. For the time being it was not yet possible to determine with historical accuracy when and who introduced the vine culture in the Alentejo. Before the Phoenicians already wine production was part of the Alentejo's history, later it underwent Greek influences (Anforas for wine aging) and later Romanas acquiring of these agrarian techniques.

Of the areas recognized early as good wine producers, Évora, with the wines of the Convent of Scala Coelida da Cartuxa.

At one point, around 1895, the first winery was created in the Alentejo, but it lasted only a short time due to phylloxera, among many other situations that caused the Alentejo to become the granary of Portugal and the placed practically of part.

With the creation of the PROVA (Alentejo Viticulture Project) in 1977, technical conditions were created for the implementation of quality status in Alentejo, while ATEVA (Technical Association of Winemakers of the Alentejo), founded in 1983, was architected to promote the culture of the vineyards in the different terroirs of Alentejo.

In 1988, the first denominations of origin of the Alentejo were regulated, which was the basis for the establishment in 1989 of the CVRA (Alentejo Regional Wine Commission), which guarantees the certification and regulation of Alentejo wines.

Wine of the Alentejo has not always had the importance that it has today, was destined essentially to the local consumption. The vinification was carried out according to the traditional processes inherited from the Romans and the fermentation was carried out in great clay amphorae.

However, it was only in the 80's that the Alentejo underwent the great revolution in wine production. Demonstrating an enormous organizational capacity, the Alentejo producers formed numerous associations, revitalized cooperatives and encouraged private producers.

The Alentejo is one of the largest wine regions in Portugal, which because it is hot and dry benefited from numerous investments in the wine sector that resulted in the production of some of the best Portuguese wines.

The Alentejo is located in the south of Portugal. It is a very sunny zone allowing the perfect maturation of the grapes and where the temperatures are very high in summer, making it indispensable to water the vineyard.

The Alentejo is mostly flat but there is a region that is exception, Portalegre. It gives the great difference of the wine planted in this subregion.

Much of the Alentejo vineyard is concentrated in the eight sub-regions of the Alentejo Denomination of Origin: Reguengos, Borba, Redondo, Vidigueira, Évora, Granja-Amareleja, Portalegre and Moura.

In the Portalegre sub-region the vines are planted on the granite slopes of Serra de São Mamede, under the influence of a microclimate (temperatures are lower because of the altitude). In the center of the Alentejo are the sub-regions of Borba, Reguengos, Redondo and Évora that produce quite similar wines. In the south of the Alentejo (hotter and drier) the sub-regions of Moura, Vidigueira and Granja-Amareleja are located.

The southern position and the absence of important reliefs are responsible for the Mediterranean and Continental characteristics of the climate. The insolation has very high values, which is reflected in the maturation of the grapes, mainly in the months before the harvest, giving the grapes a desirable accumulation of sugars and coloring matter in the film of the berries.

In the Alentejo there are numerous breeds planted. The most important white grape varieties in the region are Roupeiro, Antão Vaz and Arinto. In relation to the red varieties, the importance of the caste Trincadeira, Aragonez, Castelão and Alicante Bouschet (a French variety adapted to the Alentejo climate) stands out.

White DOC wines from Alentejo are generally mild, slightly acidic and have aromas of tropical fruits. The reds are full bodied, rich in tannins and with aromas of wild and red fruits.

These wines with an exceptional quality / price ratio, quickly won the heart of the Portuguese.
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