It’s going to be a long day, not only in terms of daylight but also due to the activities in store.
From the Tourism building, surrounded by vineyards, we move down to a cooler spot where, on hot days, the temperature helps restore our energy. We’re talking about the Barricas Cellar where the wines rest in French and American oak barrels. In this vast corridor, the atmosphere is favourable for the wine to age and, aside from the mild temperature, the silence is impressive.
Additional steps lead down to the new cellar. The path winds between bottles that are ageing until, at the end, we see a large round-tasting table. Surrounded by wines that are still developing and classics displayed in a unique cellar, we taste the product that results from this long journey – the wine.
It’s time to “come back to earth” and discover this place’s terroir through cuisine. The Herdade do Esporão Restaurant offers a new menu that focuses on seasonal and local products, associated with the “zero waste” concept and our food culture. In a room that has moved closer to the vineyards and features more natural light, the premise is to share a meal in a relaxed atmosphere and enjoy glasses of wine.
After a thorough lesson in wines, we embark on a discovery of the world of olive oil, with a guided visit of the Olive Mill, where we taste three olive oils. The weather is nice so we take the tour on foot, where the landscape accompanies the story the guide is telling – in the distance, we see the Olival dos Arrifes olive grove.
We now reach the olive mill, a large building constructed to be viewed and visited from the outside. Through large arches and extensive windows, we see how olive oil is produced without generating residues and reusing all of the by-products. The visit ends with a view of the deposit room (lined with cork). In another room, a display of bottles from the past and a film about the manufacturing process help tell the story of olive oil production at Esporão.
Back at the Tourism building, two bicycles await us with a map of the estate, our company for the rest of the day.
From the winery, we can see the Historic Centre. A medieval legacy comprised of the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Chapel, the Esporão Tower and the Esporão Arch, this stop is a must on the tour.
Off the estate’s beaten path, there are more landscapes to be explored. Choose one of the Trails and discover some of the species that inhabit the estate. There are storks, herons, round-winged eagles and, sometimes, you can see otters.
Beside the Caridade river basin, the shade of a holm oak provides the perfect spot to spread our table cloth and enjoy a Picnic.
The trip back to the Wine tourism is made on a fully belly and with watchful eyes; the dusk invites hares to leave their burrows. There’s still time for a quick visit to the shop. There we can find exclusive wines like amphora wines, experiments and older vintages.
The sun has set and we walk to the house with a smile on our face and the certainty we will return. There wasn’t time to explore the new Tasting Room that leads outside, on the lower floor, the Bar that offers a variety of wine and olive oil tastings or the Garden, and we’re left with the desire to explore the remaining trails, flavours and programs available.
More than 750 years old, Herdade do Esporão is a place to be lived to the fullest. One day is not enough to take in everything it has to offer, in one of the most inspiring landscapes in the region.
Discover Herdade do Esporão’s Wine Tourism programs or prepare your visit by sending us an email to reservas@esporao.com