Alentejo Red
Ripe, round, generous reds from a sunny inland plain, with soft tannins and dark fruit. Easy to enjoy young; the best estates make powerful wines that age well.
Bottles to try
Monte Velho Tinto
RedMarquês de Borba Tinto
RedEsporão Reserva Tinto
RedCartuxa Tinto
RedMouchão Tinto
RedCritics’ picks
Scores out of 100 belong to one bottle and vintage, not the whole style. We only list scores and rankings we could confirm in a public source; follow each link to check. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Prices are US release prices per 75 cl as printed by the critic; value compares the score with the price trend.
| Bottle | Critic | Score | Price · value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartuxa Scala Coeli Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 | Wine Spectator | 92pts | $120 Fair price (−0.5 pts) |
28 Feb 2026 issue |
| Herdade do Esporão Reserva 2022 | Wine Spectator | 91pts | $35 Good value (+1.5 pts) |
28 Feb 2026 issue |
| Herdade do Rocim Grande Rocim Reserva 2023 | Wine Spectator | 91pts | $150 Pricey for its score (−2.1 pts) |
28 Feb 2026 issue |
| José Maria da Fonseca José de Sousa Mayor 2017 | Wine Spectator | 90pts | $85 Priced high (−1.7 pts) |
28 Feb 2026 issue |
Grapes
Producers
Herdade do Esporão
One of the Alentejo’s leading estates, with a large organic vineyard and an ampelographic collection of native grapes. Also owns Quinta do Ameal and Quinta dos Murças in the Douro.
Cartuxa
The winery of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, named after Évora’s Carthusian monastery. Its Pêra-Manca red is released only in exceptional years and is one of Portugal’s most sought-after wines.
Herdade do Mouchão
A family estate with British roots dating to the 19th century, whose Alicante Bouschet reds, trodden in lagares, helped make the grape an Alentejo icon.
João Portugal Ramos
A highly influential consultant winemaker turned producer. His Marquês de Borba wines are Alentejo classics.
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova
A family estate in the Baixo Alentejo combining wine, farming and hospitality, with organic vineyards.
Herdade do Rocim
A Vidigueira estate at the forefront of the talha revival; it hosts an annual amphora wine event.
Casa Relvas
Est. 1997A family company started in 1997 by Alexandre Relvas, with estates around Redondo and São Miguel de Machede. Its brands include Herdade de São Miguel and Ciconia, named after the storks that nest across the Alentejo.
Herdade Aldeia de Cima
Luísa Amorim and Francisco Rêgo’s personal project on an Amorim family estate in the Serra do Mendro hills above Vidigueira, revived from 2017. Its vineyard is planted on terraces, rare in the Alentejo.
Howard’s Folly
A partnership between Yorkshire-born financier Howard Bilton and Australian-born winemaker David Baverstock, who spent around three decades at Esporão. Much of the fruit comes from granite slopes near Portalegre; Sonhador means “dreamer”.