The Taste of Food and Wine Tours in Alentejo
Alentejo is one of the prettiest and most unique regions in Portugal. Gastronomically speaking, it is also one of the most inventive and surprising places to discover. And this is why food and wine tours in Alentejo are becoming so popular these days. The extremely creative cuisine and the wines of this region are famous in Portugal and around the world. Excellent produce, skilled and imaginative chefs, top quality restaurants and original gastronomic festivals are just some of the ingredients that make food and wine tours in Alentejo so interesting.
From Farm to Table: Food and Wine Tours in Alentejo
Food and wine tours in Alentejo are perfect for those who seek genuine “from farm to table” experiences. These, of course, should be planned according to the season. Just as the beautiful landscape of Alentejo changes with the seasons, so does what is served on the table and harvested at the fields. Alentejo, the vast area to the south of Lisbon, “beyond” the river Tagus (Tejo is the name in Portuguese) is still a very rural region. From the immense plains to the beautiful Atlantic coast, Alentejo is rich in local companies and producers specializing in the best the region has to offer. With different itineraries always at hand, food and wine tours in Alentejo offer an array of succulent experiences for travelers with taste.
Food and Wine Tours in Alentejo: A Hands On Experience
Discovering Alentejo through your taste buds is just one part of the story. The cherry on the cake. In fact, food and wine tours in Alentejo start way before the tasting experience itself. They are hands-on experiences. With bespoke food and wine tours in Alentejo, travelers can visit wineries, stroll by the olive trees plantations, and visit the olive mills where the Mediterranean “liquid gold” is made. Food and wine tours in Alentejo can also include visits to local cheese dairies, sausages and traditional cake factories, honey producers and growers of delicious herbs or mushrooms. Just design your own menu, follow the rhythm of the seasons and plan your food and wine tour in Alentejo. You’ll be in tune with Nature and your senses.
A Spoonful of Portugal: Food and Wine Tours in Alentejo
One of the most curious things about Alentejo is the contrast between the “aridness” of the landscape, one of the driest in Europe, and the richness of the cuisine. With relatively few ingredients, the people of Alentejo make culinary wonders. Regardless of the itinerary you choose, your food and wine tour in Alentejo will be like a spoonful of delicacies. Just close your eyes and let your senses guide you on this delicious journey. Food and wine tours in Alentejo are as varied and tasty as the dishes that spring up from these creative culinary minds.
Food and Wine Tours in Alentejo: Season to Season
Autumns in Alentejo are mild and magical. It’s harvesting time for the two main cultures of Alentejo: olives and wine. October and November are perfect for this kind of food and wine tours in Alentejo. After the first rains, picking of mushrooms and wild asparagus begins, creating some appetizing “forest to table” experiences.
Winter is olive oil production season, so plan your food and wine tour in Alentejo in the colder months and discover the fascinating process behind this super ingredient. Winter is also vine pruning season and perfect for picking the much sought-after truffles. Food and Wine tours in Alentejo are especially fragrant in Spring: this is the perfect timing for observation and pruning of aromatic herbs and plants, olive pruning, jam making and picking of mushrooms and wild asparagus (until April).
Late summer is time for grape harvest and a fabulous food and wine tour in Alentejo. Fruit picking and vegetable gardening are also lovely in summer.
