Portalegre, northernmost dop subregion of the alentejo in central-southern Portugal and the most distinctive. On the lower slopes of the predominantly granite Serra de São Mamede, vineyards (up to around 800 m) are the Alentejo’s highest and therefore coolest. This, combined with its unusual (for the Alentejo) mix of aged field blend vineyards, has attracted talented newcomers whose wines are considerably more ambitious than those of its ailing cO-OPERATIVE. The best are excitingly individual, fresh, and well-structured compared with those from other the Alentejo regions.
