Alentejo
Written By Philippa Kelly
Alentejo is well worth getting to know. All that is said about the Alentejo is true: light, unrelenting sun, dryness, endless undulating plains, cork trees and holm-oaks, wine and olive oil, bread sauces and lamb stews, coriander and purslane, big modern wines and old clay-pot fermented reds; good, hospitable folk.
Once upon a time, Alentejo vines were cultivated by Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans. Nowadays they are grown on vast farms and wine-producing estates and their wines have put the name Alentejo among the best wines in Portugal, while its culinary tradition is regarded as one of the most tasty and original. A world of different flavours that requires time to understand and appreciate, just like the rest of the Alentejo.
