As you drive south from Lisbon Airport, the landscape of Alentejo gradually unfolds—vast golden plains stretch to the horizon, dotted with gentle hills, olive groves, and cork oak trees. This vast, open region of southern Portugal is characterized by its raw, unhurried beauty—inland, the scenery transitions into sprawling pine forests and ancient cork oak woodlands, while salt fields near the coastline glisten under the sun and the scent of the sea lingers in the breeze. Scattered throughout the region, whitewashed villages and fortified hilltop towns like Évora and Monsaraz emerge from the landscape, their cobbled streets and crumbling stone walls bearing centuries of history.

Photo: Ash James

As an expansive, 2,000-acre estate that’s been passed down through the same family for generations, São Lourenço do Barrocal offers perhaps the most authentic introduction to the region. “Indulging in Alentejo’s great food and wine is one of the best ways to understand the Alentejo. Its slow-cooked stews, sausages, and wines are a true reflection of our identity,” says José António Uva, the estate’s owner. “In Alentejo, there’s an immense respect for terroir and craft, from traditional ‘talha’ wines, still made the ancient Roman way… Visiting a winery, for example, is not just about tasting, but understanding the process, meeting the people behind the wines, their vision, and ideas.” On the property, guests can experience this firsthand at the estate’s thriving winery, which spans 37 acres of vineyards. They’re invited to tour the winery, explore its oak barrel room, and delve into the winemaking process before enjoying a tasting beneath the estate’s holm oak trees, fully immersing themselves in the region’s terroir.