Arrabidays|Days created with your favourite activities
Escape Directory|Guide to the best on Lisbon's south side
TrincadeiraRoute
Castelao Route
Trincadeira Route Map
Moscatel Route
Bacalhoa Wines began in 2000 but production began back in 1922 under the name Joao Pires & Filhos Lda.
It is now one of the largest producers of Portuguese bottled wines with 40% exported worldwide.The moto of this company is Art Wine and Passion, so unsurprisingly our tour began with Art.
The largest private collection of Azulejos in Portugal were exhibited alongside 200 litre barrels of moscatel wine leading us to the central storage facility holding 3 million bottles including the first cabernet in Portugal.
We viewed the bottling and then were led outside, passing a lake that irrigates the vineyards and through the unusual gardens with their historical trees to the wine shop where we tasted some of their fine wines.
To take this tour an appointment must be made with Ana Gomes who speaks English fluently.The cost of a tour starts from 2.50 euros, depending on the size of the group and whether it is during the week or the weekend.
It is closed on Friday afternoon. From the grandness of Bacalhoa, we chose to eat in a humble restaurant in Azeitão which my friend and I call "The Patio". It is on the corner, opposite the square as you enter Vila Nogueira. Wobbly tressel tables, grilled meats and fish, all under a leafy shade.
Catralvos winery is the newest in the area and we were shown modern bottling techniques, a high tech laboratory for wine study and rows and rows of wine. As well as having their own vineyards, the facilities give an opportunity for even the smallest, local grower of vines, the chance to bottle his own wine.
