Lisbon Wine Tastings and Winery Visits

Things to see and do in Lisbon may well include attending a wine tasting. The Portuguese capital offers enough options to please all wine lovers and has come to compete strongly with Porto, traditionally the country's most important city in the wine sector.

On the outskirts of Lisbon, just a few kilometres from the city, there are several wineries that produce quality wines with a long tradition. Some excursions organised from the Portuguese capital include visits that end with a tasting of their products, although you can also go on your own if you have a car. If you don't want to leave the city, you will also find several places that allow visitors to take part in tastings.

One of the best options if you want to get to know (and taste) some of the wines grown around Lisbon is this excursion to Sesimbra and Arrábida with wine tasting. The former is a small fishing village that retains much of its charm, while the latter is a Natural Park from which you can get the best possible views of the Atlantic.

Although these two visits already make the organised excursion worthwhile, during the tour there are two stops related to the world of wine.

In the heart of Arrábida there is a family farm dedicated to the production of the best wines in the area. There you can enjoy a small tasting to learn about their work while they explain some of the secrets of their cultivation.

The second stop is at the Casa Museu Jose Maria da Fonseca, one of the oldest wine producers in the country. Here you will not only enjoy a small tasting of their products, but you will also be accompanied by a guide who will show you around the winery and explain the whole process of making their wines.

If you have taken a tour to see the Alfama neighbourhood in Lisbon you will have passed by Chafariz del Rei, the first fountain in the city. Very close to it you will find Taylor's wine tasting room, a place you must visit if you want to taste the best Port wines in the Portuguese capital.

The place has two distinct spaces: on the ground floor there is a great shop, while on the upper floor there are 3 tasting rooms. If you wish, you can participate in one of them for around 5€.

The tastings that take place in the premises are perfect to introduce you to the world of Port wine and compare them with those of the Lisbon region. As in other aspects of Portugal, there is a certain rivalry between Porto and Lisbon that also extends to wine production.

If you want to make your visit to Taylor's even more worthwhile, the house offers the option of participating in tastings of another highly prized product in the country: olive oil. They also serve a great selection of Portuguese cheeses, cured meats and traditional bitter almonds. Of course, you can also try the famous pastel de nata (cream cake).

There is no doubt that excursions to Sintra are a must for anyone who is going to spend at least 3 days in Lisbon. With this proposal, you will also have the opportunity to stop in Colares to visit a winery and taste some of the best wines of the region.

The wine-growing area of Colares (which also includes São João das Lampas, and São Martinho) is located south of the Serra de Sintra, with a climate very marked by its proximity to the Atlantic. The unique character of its wine production earned it, as early as 1908, its own Denomination of Origin.

Although the production of these wines is small, their unique grape varieties and very particular cultivation methods make them highly appreciated by wine experts.

The winery to be visited and where the tasting takes place is also notable for being located in an impressive building. Its large interior houses a large number of barrels in a perfect environment for ageing wine in wood.

Located on the lively Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo (the Bica to the locals), this wine shop has made a name for itself among those wishing to sample the country's finest wines. The shop organises tastings and tasting courses, as well as offering some excursions to nearby wineries and explanations on how to pair food with Portuguese wines.

All the wines on offer here, as well as the small snacks that accompany them, are Portuguese. One of its strong points, beyond the quality of its products, is the personality of the owner, who is always willing to offer information about the country's wines.

More than a tasting room and a wine shop, From The Vine is a real project that seeks to promote international knowledge of Portuguese wines. To achieve this, they offer tastings in which you can compare various wines from different regions to learn to distinguish the nuances of each type of wine.

The tasting is conducted by a local wine expert who will help participants to recognise the characteristics of the production of each Portuguese wine region.

The venue is located in the heart of Lisbon, on Tv. do Fala-Só street, very close to the Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara. If you want to take part in one of their tastings, all you have to do is book through their website.

One of the classic areas through which any tourist bus passes in Lisbon is the Praça do Comércio. It is precisely here that you will find the Sala de Provas Vinhos de Portugal, another of the spaces dedicated to wine from which you can choose to learn more about the current production of wines in the country.

Each of its employees is prepared to advise customers on the world of Portuguese wine. The most economical option is to purchase one of the tasting vouchers that the company offers, which include the tasting of several wines (the number of which depends on the voucher purchased) from various wine regions.

In addition to its extraordinary facilities and fantastic location, the Tivoli Avenida Liberdades de Lisboa hotel is also known for its Portuguese wine tastings in some of the rooms with the best views of the city.

The tastings include the tasting of 5 different wines with the guidance of an expert in the sector who will guide the participants. In addition, several appetizers prepared by the hotel's chef are also offered.

The wines included cover almost all the wine producing regions of Portugal, from Port wine to Madeira or Setúbal wines. It is important that, if you wish to participate, you book at least 24 hours in advance by contacting the hotel.

One of the most prestigious wineries in the whole Lisbon region is also open to participate in wine tastings. It is Adega Mãe (mother winery), located in the municipality of Torres Vedras, about 40 minutes from the capital.

To get there you can hire one of the organised excursions that have the winery as the final destination. The other option is to go by car, either by hire or with your own car if you have gone to the Portuguese capital in this way.

The tastings that take place at this winery include four different wines, two whites and two reds. With the guidance of an expert, you can learn to appreciate the differences between them, as well as taking part in the winemaking process thanks to a visit to the winery itself.

The tastings are accompanied by several typical local snacks, which makes this visit a unique experience to learn a multitude of aspects that go beyond the characteristics of the wines themselves, since their cultivation is an inherent part of the way of life of the inhabitants of the region.

South of Lisbon lies the small town of Palmela, which can be easily reached by bus or train. Although there are several options for wine tastings, my advice is to choose Quinta do Piloto, as it is the most easily accessible.

Moreover, this estate has been producing wines for over a century. During the visit, they will show you how the whole process is carried out, showing you the different steps live.

Of course, a visit to this family estate cannot fail to culminate with a great tasting of some wines made with natural fermentation, something quite uncommon in the country.

The first historical references to this estate date back to no less than 1492, although it was from 1760, when it was bought by the Marquis of Pombal, that it acquired more prestige. From the 1990s onwards, its cellars and vineyards were modernised and the Quinta became a point of reference in the area for visitors wishing to discover the region's wines.

Located in Cadaval, some 50 kilometres from the capital, between the land and the sea, the building and the surrounding countryside are worth a visit in themselves.

If you wish to take part in a wine tasting, the most convenient way to get there is by car, although you can also look for organised excursions from Lisbon. These include a tour of the estate to discover its historical origins and its relationship with the Marquis of Pombal.

There is also access to a fantastic viewpoint from which you can contemplate the vineyard and the surrounding landscape of the Serra de Montejunto.

Finally, there is a tasting of four wines produced at the Quinta, which can be purchased in the shop located in the same complex.

Although not a wine tasting per se, this is one of the most suggestive activities you can do in Lisbon while sipping a glass of wine. It is a short two-hour trip along the Tagus River, just as the sunset begins to change the colour of the sky and the city.

This cruise along the Tagus will also allow you to contemplate some of the monuments of the Portuguese capital from a unique point of view. All accompanied by a glass of wine to make the experience even more complete.

The truth is that with all the experiences that Lisbon offers to its visitors, the question may arise as to whether it is worth spending a few hours doing a wine tasting. As with all trips, the answer depends to a large extent on your tastes, not to mention the time you have available. In my opinion, if you are a lover of this drink, you should not miss out on an experience of this kind.

Wine tastings are the perfect activity to discover in depth everything that surrounds each of the wines you taste. Not only will you learn to distinguish the different types of wine, but you will also learn about the types of grapes, the nuances of each wine and how to enjoy them with all your senses, from taste to smell.

Although those who are more knowledgeable about wine culture will get the most out of the explanations of the experts, if you are just an amateur you shouldn't rule out embarking on this experience either. Above all, it is about enjoying the flavours in a more profound way.

Nowadays, the Lisbon region is becoming one of the most thriving regions in the Portuguese wine world. In a country where Port, Madeira or Alentejo wines used to dominate the market, the irruption of Lisbon wines is developing at a fast pace.

This does not mean that the wines of the Lisbon region do not have a consolidated history, but until recently they were somewhat ignored by many wine lovers, especially those from outside Portugal. Their level of quality, moreover, has been increasing thanks to the new techniques used.

The Lisbon region is home to some 10 sub-regions that produce varieties such as Setúbal muscatel or Bucelas whites, not to mention wines with very short but high quality runs, such as those from Colares or Carcavelos.

As a surprise wine, due to its excellent characteristics, you should not miss the Palmela wines, which are winning medals in different international competitions.