Vinho de Talha
Wine fermented and aged in large clay amphorae (talhas), sealed inside with pitch or beeswax, a tradition kept alive in the Alentejo since Roman times. White, red and orange versions exist; the wine stays on its skins and cannot be drawn before 11 November.
Bottles to try
Critics’ picks
No confirmed critic scores here yet. Scores for this style are mostly behind subscriptions, so we haven’t listed any.
Grapes
Producers
José Maria da Fonseca
Est. 1834One of Portugal’s oldest table-wine producers. Makes Periquita, Lancers rosé and Moscatel de Setúbal with a cellar of 19th-century stock, plus talha wines at its José de Sousa estate in the Alentejo.
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.
Herdade do Rocim
A Vidigueira estate at the forefront of the talha revival; it hosts an annual amphora wine event.