We climbed again today...up to the Beira Interior wine region...to a gorgeous winery at the foot of the Serra de Estrela (mountains of the stars):

José Almeida Garrett, owner of Almeida Garrett wines, was a generous and genial host as was his sister Marguerita; we were joined by his vintner Mario, and sales director João:

We were so, so pleased by the wines: vibrant, pure and delicious.  Can't wait to order them and get them back home in Ontario!  Jose's family has been making wine for 200 years:

As well, this winery offers wine tourism and rents a gorgeous family house that sleeps fourteen, bathed in sun and surrounded by mountains, vines, pine forests, chestnuts and fruit orchards:

Up...way up...into the Douro Region today, to visit Teresa Rodriguez, owner of Quinta da Padrela. It's been a such a treat learning about Portugual's wine industry and getting to meet their young, female, well educated owner/vintners.  As well, a trip to the wine/port town of Lamego in its baroque exuberance. 

Our rented house, Quinta da Barcoiça, sits in the centre of a terraced olive orchard. While grape harvest is in full bore all over Portugal right now, olives for pickling have a few weeks to go. Olives for oil pressing, at least in this area, are harvested in early November.

 

Up in the Dão Region today, with 5th generation vineyard owner/wine maker Pedro Barros Figueiredo. Dao wine is referred to as Portugal's Burgandy; the acreages are small, valuable, harvested by hand and the wine....OMG...truly God's nectar.  

Back in the beautiful Alentejo Region; today we visited the Monte da Ravasqueira winery near Évora. An informative and fun tour (see pic above w nephew Anthony Morris in tasting room) courtesy of Trade Manager Francisco Silva and Chief Winemaker Pedro Gonçalves.   Pedro has trained in Australia, Chile and Calif. Right now as I write this I am sipping a dark, velvety Monte da Ravasqueira Reserva with hints of dark chocolate and black fruit.  It is happiness in every sip.

At Herdade do Perdigão near Monforte in the Alentejo Region, wine harvest is in full swing. We could smell the yeasty smell of fermentation in the parking lot. Spent a fascinating morning with Sandra Chaves, touring and tasting.  The grapes are actually hand-picked at this Portuguese winery and the tasty wines show similar care to detail and balance.  Lovely.

Let the adventure begin: here is our rented house, the Quinta Barcoiça, near Tomar, Portugual. We are in the land of the Templars (Portugual, incidentally, was Templar-tolerant, in marked contrast to most of the other European powers of the day). First winery visit tomorrow: Alentejo Region.  The quest begins: to seek out delicious Portuguese wine to import into Ontario.  Stay tuned...

Preface

This Sunday, the quest begins. If you would like to follow me as I trek through the vineyards of Portugal, then follow this blog. My goal: to seek out delicious Portuguese wine to import into Ontario. For two weeks, I will be posting a daily pic-of-the-day and a short blurb chronicling my search. Douro, Dão, Alentejo, Beira...so much lies ahead.

A visit to Castelo de Almourol.  Perched on an island in the Zezere River, you have to take um pequeno barco to get here.  This fortress was once controlled by the Knights Templar, but before that, the Romans, then the Visigoths and then the Moors.  Many dwellings here, especially the strategically placed ones, have had multiple owners and the title transfers have been ...uhhh...lively... LOL!

Shouldn't have snapped this pic of the Templar Knights in the car park on smoke break. They looked a little testy.  Templars aren't to be trifled with. On the other hand, I'm glad I did get the shot because we never bumped into them again inside the massive, astonishing Convento do Cristo in Tomar.

Dating back to 1160, this fortress/cathedral was once a Templar stronghold.  One thing's for sure: these dudes knew how to work a brand. The entire fortress/cathedral is drenched in early Catholic bling, heavy symbolism and must have gobsmacked everybody who was invited inside.