Cascais sits between two of the rarest appellations in Portugal. To the north, Colares: vines grown ungrafted in deep coastal sand that the phylloxera louse never conquered, producing tannic, salty reds from Ramisco and taut whites from Malvasia, wines unlike anything else in the country, from a few protected hectares behind the dunes.
To the east, Carcavelos: a fortified wine once esteemed by the Marquis of Pombal and sent as royal gifts, reduced almost to extinction by urban growth and revived by the Villa Oeiras project, nutty, elegant, and now Portugal's smallest appellation at around 25 hectares.
Good Cascais restaurants and wine shops list both; for the curious, the Colares cooperative and Villa Oeiras cellars are easy half-day visits.
Highlights
- Colares: ungrafted vines in coastal sand, salty Ramisco reds
- Carcavelos: revived fortified wine of the Marquis of Pombal
- Two of Portugal's smallest, rarest appellations
- Both within a short drive of Cascais
- Listed in the town's better restaurants and wine shops
Frequently asked questions
What makes Colares wine unusual?
The vines grow ungrafted in deep sand, phylloxera never reached them, producing salty, structured wines from the Ramisco and Malvasia grapes.
Can I visit the producers?
Yes, the Colares cooperative and the Villa Oeiras Carcavelos cellars both receive visitors, each an easy half-day from Cascais.