Grapegrowing in the Alentejo province

Agricultural Background

Cork tree plantations aside*, the Alentejo is currently going through a significant change with regard to its agricultural vocation. With intervention subsidies on cereals and livestock falling away to make way for a more market driven economy, most Alentejano landowners and farmers are seeking new ways to make their farms viable. Crops such as vineyards, olives, tomatoes and to a lesser extent sugar beet are currently the more popular options. With prices of the latter two “annuals” being directly controlled by the European Union, income from these crops is likely to continue falling as market forces begin to take hold.

* (the Alentejo produces over 50% of the world cork crop)

With the popularity of Alentejano wines increasing (a clear recognition of quality), both at home and abroad, numbers of new vineyard plantations are likely to continue increasing over the next few years.

Viticulture in the Alentejo

The Alentejo’s success can be partly explained by its warm and dry climate during the vine’s vegetative season, as well as by local varietal and soil factors.

Annual average maximum temperature: 20.5 – 21ºc
Annual average rainfall:550 – 650 mm. (< one-third in the vegetative season)