The Financial Times recently published a piece on Portugal’s “forgotten winelands” — the vast, sun-drenched region of Alentejo. Thoughtfully written by Niki Blasina, it described a part of Portugal that, despite its beauty and extraordinary produce, remains remarkably under the radar.
It made me smile.
Because this is a landscape I’ve been quietly sharing with my guests for the past few years — a place that captures exactly what so many people are searching for now: an off-the-beaten-track holiday in Portugal, far from the crowds of Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve.
What continues to surprise me is just how untouched it still feels.
The article focused on the exceptional wine estate of Malhadinha, where we actually stay for two nights. I first visited in 2021 and was completely captivated — not just by the beauty of the place, but by the sense of calm, generosity and quiet luxury that runs through everything they do. The exceptional food is mostly produced right there on their farm.
What Makes Alentejo Perfect for Food and Wine Lovers
Rolling vineyards, cork forests and ancient olive groves stretch endlessly beneath wide, open skies. Hilltop villages sit quietly in the heat, and life moves at a slower, more generous pace. It’s the kind of place that invites you to switch off — and to eat and drink exceptionally well while you’re at it.
And yet, as the article notes, in 2025, only 3.1% of Portugal’s 19.7 million visitors made it here.
Which is amazing, given that it’s probably one of the best food and wine regions in Portugal. It’s a region quietly adored by those in the know — chefs, sommeliers, and anyone with a serious interest in food and wine. Really exceptional wines, still largely undiscovered outside Portugal. Many deeply rooted culinary traditions offer generous, honest cooking.
And this is what I want to share with you.
A Different Kind of Food & Wine Holiday in Portugal
On my Alentejo food and wine tour in September 2026, we explore this region in the only way that makes sense — slowly and properly.
This is not a tick-list trip. It’s a small group culinary tour in Portugal designed for those who want more than just a holiday.
We cook together on beautiful wine estates, spend time with winemakers, visit cork forests, olive groves and artisan producers, and sit down to long, generous lunches that stretch into the afternoon in stunning settings — the kind that define life here.
These are authentic food experiences in Portugal – relaxed, delicious, and full of those small, unexpected moments that tend to stay with you long after you’ve gone home.
What to expect on this Alentejo food and wine tour
- 4 nights in 2 different Alentejo wineries & vineyards, 3 nights in Evora & 1 in Lisbon
- Cooking & learning about these beautiful wine estates
- Long, generous lunches paired with exceptional local wines
- Time with artisan producers and olive groves
- A small group of like-minded food and wine lovers
- Visits to historical villages & incredible Evora
If you’re looking for a foodie holiday in Portugal that goes beyond the obvious — something more thoughtful, more personal, and far from the usual routes — Alentejo is it.
I’ve been running this trip for several years now, and it remains one of my absolute favourites.
There’s something about it that people fall for — and keep coming back to.
And now, due to a last-minute cancellation, I have just four places left on this small group Portugal culinary tour in September 2026.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience Portugal beyond the expected — to discover one of its most beautiful and quietly compelling regions through its food and wine — this is exactly what this journey is designed for.
You can view the full itinerary and reserve your place HERE:
