The best wine tasting Albufeira tours, are some of the highlights of any trip to the Southern Algarve. A trip to wine country is a great opportunity to get away from sometimes overcrowded and touristy beaches and take a journey into the gentle curves of the surrounding area.
There are a wealth of family-owned vineyards and winemakers and any trip will give you a fascinating glimpse into how wine is made in the region. Of course, you will also get to try some of the area’s tasiest wines on one of the best wine tasting Albufeira tours.
Both red and white wines are produced in area around Albufeira but the reds are the more famous. The grape varieties most often made into white wine are Siria, arinto, and malvasia fina. For red wine, vintners will use negra mole, trincadeira, and castelão. One plus is that you will find Portuguese wine is much cheaper than in the UK or US and of high quality!
All the tours and wineries are within 40 minutes drive of Albufeira. Some include pick-up and drop-off at your hotel.
In between sipping, you can explore some tucked away towns such as the medieval settlement of Silves with its red-brick castle, take a trip in a VW Campervan, enjoy a dip in a pool or treat yourself to a fabulous dinner.
Here is our pick of the five best wine tasting tours in Albufeira.
Visit two different vineyards, visit a castle
This wine tour includes two family-owned vineyards so you get a chance to compare different tastes and methods. They will take you through the winemaking process, from growing to glass.
As well as exploring the wine country of the Algarve (the journey takes about an hour) you will have the chance to walk around the beautiful medieval town of Silves. Your eye will no doubt be drawn by the stately, red-brick castle and you may want to explore it! Chat to the local people and explore the cobbled streets when you’re done.
You can leave the hire car at home because the tour includes pick up and drop off at your hotel.
Wine tasting in the Quinta among orange groves
In the Quinta, half an hour from Albufeira, you can visit a small family-owned winery. The owner will show you around his vineyard and winery and share the secrets of how he makes his wines among them Sentidos Tato, celebrated throughout Portugal and Europe.
A demonstration of the winemaking will be accompanied by a tasting of wine, olive oil and grape juice paired with local snacks. The tasting will include the winery premium Sentidos Tato red wine, a very famous local wine.
You will also have the chance to explore olive groves, fruit and flower gardens and the lake which sits on the property.
Set among fragrant orange groves, the beautiful scenery of the Quinta is typical of the undulating countryside of the Algarve, the southernmost tip of Portugal and mixes cultivated land and tended vines.
Quinta means five – and we think it will appeal to all five of your senses.
A visit to a fourth-generation winery with optional overnight stay
Founded in around 1810 by the 1st Count of Silves, Morgado do Quintão has been in the same family for four generations.
The vineyard, about four hour’s drive from Albufeira, has a feeling of comfortable age about it with a 2.000 year-old tree overlooks the old Negramole vines. There’s also a vintage olive press, a main house for dining and accommodation in three converted cottages with a pool if you choose to stay on.
A visit to Morgado do Quintão is centred around a delicious lunch or dinner at the table in the main building. Each dish is paired with one of four wines from the estate and the owner will tell you stories about the countryside and winery before a stroll in the vineyards.
Lunches take place on Monday to Saturday at 13:00 and dinner is served on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 19:00 to 21:30
Wine tasting at Quinta Da Tôr – with a dip in a pool
Quinta da Tôr is about half an hour from Albufeira and situated by an ancient village.
The family of owner will give you a tour around the Vineyard.
A standout feature of a visit to Quinta da Tôr is the pool in front of a range of gorgeous mountains. If you are feeling brave, you could try the 17% wine. For others, there are oak-barrel aged wine as well as the premium wines including Grand Reserve Algibre (Blend).
The owners put an emphasis on calmness, friendliness and sharing – part of their tradition.
Of course, you will be able to choose some wines to take back to your hotel.
A mini-break: wine tours from Portimao
If you fancy staying an overnight in one of the Algarve’s most gorgeous towns, Portimao, you could combine it with a wine tour.
Picked up from your hotel in the town, you will visit two local Algarve vineyards tasting three different types of wine at each. The itinerary is flexible so you can go at your own pace. And the private tour assures you will get all the attention you need from your guide.
Since you are in Portimao, you can combine your wine-tasting with a trip to the famous Benagil Caves (Algar de Benagil). To get to the famous sandstone structures where the light streams through the roof, you will need to take a boat trip. That’s because you can only enter from the water. The whole experience takes two hours.
A wine tour in a VW Campavan
For a more quirky and memorable trip, why not take a tour in a VW Campavan T2? Your drivers are also local experts, so they will offer great insight into the regional culture as you look at the scenery, maybe feeling like Scooby Do.
This three-hour trip includes a trip to one of two local wineries, Quinta da Tôr or Adega do Cantor. Here, you can have a private tour or travel with others. After understanding the secrets of the wine-making, you can taste red, white and rosé wines.
We hope you enjoy one of the best wine tasting Albufeira tours we suggest. Why not give us your own recommendations or wine-tasting experiences around Algarve and Portugal?
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