Seven hectares of old vines on red schist and sandstone above Silves. We grow, pick and bottle everything ourselves, and we'd love to pour you a glass.
Poor, stony soils keep yields low and flavours concentrated. Our vines dig deep for water through the long, dry summers.
The whole family and a few neighbours harvest in small crates at dawn, before the September heat reaches the grapes.
Negra Mole, Castelão, Touriga Nacional and Arinto, with a little Syrah. Varieties that love the Algarve sun.
Walk the vines with one of the family, taste from the barrel and sit down to five wines with cheese, olives and bread from the village. Tastings are small and unhurried, never more than ten guests.
Our great grandfather planted the first vines here to make wine for the family table. We still make wine for the table, just a few more of them.
Adega Serra lies at 180 metres on the slopes north of Silves, where Atlantic breezes cool the nights. The soil is a patchwork of red sandstone, the same stone as the Silves castle, and grey schist that holds the day's warmth.
Seven hectares in four parcels, some planted in the 1970s. We farm without herbicides, sow cover crops between the rows and leave wild rosemary and cistus on the borders for the bees.
A small whitewashed adega with open stone lagares for foot treading, stainless steel for our whites and French oak barrels for the reserve reds. Around 25,000 bottles a year, all numbered.
From December to February we prune every vine by hand, shaping next year's crop.
Bud break in March, flowering in May, and careful leaf work to shade the grapes in July.
Late August for the whites, September for the reds. Join us for a harvest day if you're in the Algarve.
Delivery across mainland Portugal in two working days. Free delivery on orders of six bottles or more, or collect from the cellar door.
Tastings run Tuesday to Saturday in English, Portuguese and Dutch. Children are welcome and get fresh grape juice from our own Arinto.
A dry spring meant fewer bunches, but the grapes came in clean, ripe and full of flavour.
We started picking Arinto on the 28th of August and finished the last Touriga Nacional on the 22nd of September. Yields were down, but acidity held beautifully thanks to cool nights from the Atlantic. The Negra Mole has a lovely pale colour and red cherry perfume this year. We think the Reserva will be one to keep.
Light in colour, big on character. Why we think this local variety deserves more attention.
Negra Mole has grown in the Algarve for centuries. It makes pale, almost rosé coloured reds with soft tannins, notes of red fruit and dried herbs, and a gentle warmth. Served slightly chilled, it is perfect with grilled sardines or a plate of presunto on a summer evening. Our Negra Mole comes from vines planted by our grandfather in 1974.
How to combine the old Moorish capital with an afternoon at the estate.
Start the morning at the red sandstone castle, then walk down to the Sé cathedral and the river Arade. Have lunch at one of the small restaurants near the old bridge. Our estate is fifteen minutes north by car, so book the 15:00 tasting and finish with a glass on the terrace as the hills turn gold.
Choose a tasting, date and time. The price updates as you go and we confirm by email the same day.