Santana is a small village in the municipality of Portel, located alongside the ancient Roman road between Évora and Beja, on the border with Vidigueira, at the southern edge of the Alto Alentejo. “Sant’Anna da Serra do Mendro” is first recorded in the 18th century, following the remodelling of the medieval church, described as lying between “two villages, one called Baxo and the other Sima”, according to the Parish Records of Portel (1722–1832). The settlement of “Sima”, mentioned in 1758, is thought to be the origin of what is now Herdade Aldeia de Cima.
Isolated by nature, the village community developed an autonomous and sustainable way of life, in which forestry and agriculture continue to support much of the population, drawing on the montado system and the generosity of the land.
Respect for and curiosity about local culture invite us to step through a half-open door and discover the essence of village life. The white of the limewashed walls at each doorway contrasts with the colours found in nature and across the estate — the green of the cork oak leaves and the terracotta of the clay from which it grew — an effect that defines the village’s identity.
Herdade Aldeia de Cima encompasses approximately 3,500 hectares of montado, a unique Mediterranean ecosystem and the largest agrosilvopastoral system in Europe, located within the Ibero-Mediterranean ecological area of the Ossa-Morena Zone. The responsible management of this heritage is FSC-certified, ensuring sustainable forestry practices and a balanced use of natural resources.
The regeneration of the montado is promoted through an agrosilvopastoral system that values and optimises natural resources, ensuring the continuity of the Mediterranean ecosystem of Serra do Mendro.
Regenerative agriculture practices contribute to the recovery of schist soils, the preservation of biodiversity, the regulation of the water cycle and the reduction of carbon emissions, safeguarding the health of the environment and of all those who live and work on the estate.
This is our commitment: Regenerate. Preserve. Give back to the land as much as we receive from it.
It generates a wide range of non-timber forest products, of which cork is the most emblematic example, alongside others such as acorns, olives, wine, strawberry tree fruit, honey, cheese, silarca mushrooms, and medicinal and aromatic herbs.
The Montado of Herdade Aldeia de Cima is a refuge for a wide diversity of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, including threatened species listed on the IUCN Red List, such as the Iberian lynx, as well as rare and protected birds, including the Iberian imperial eagle, Bonelli’s eagle and the black stork.
On schistous and stony soils, natural habitats of Mediterranean scrub and spontaneous grasslands are preserved, fostering diverse wildlife and enabling natural pest control, thus avoiding the use of pesticides. Native fauna includes, among other species, the Iberian partridge, hare, wild boar, Alentejo black pig and several birds of prey, such as the black vulture and the red kite, ensuring the ecological balance of the territory.
Integrated within this system, the different agricultural and forestry activities — such as traditional olive groves, vineyards, strawberry tree stands and beekeeping — coexist in a balanced mosaic, enhancing landscape diversity and the ecological functionality of the territory without compromising natural habitats.
The White Merino sheep is one of the oldest breeds in Alentejo, introduced by the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians during their trading voyages to the Iberian Peninsula. These docile sheep, with a robust build and fine wool, graze the vast montado expanses of Herdade Aldeia de Cima. The herd of over 2000 sheep, lives in semi-wild conditions, taking advantage of the natural pastures in this sustainable ecosystem. They help maintain the soil health, contribute to the natural regeneration of cork oaks, preserve local biodiversity and during the hot Alentejo summers, they help prevent wildfires.
Viticultural practices at Herdade Aldeia de Cima are grounded in deep respect for the territory and its natural cycles. We occasionally employ ancestral granjeio techniques, such as enrola, to protect the grapes from sunburn and ensure their optimal sanitary condition. Soil management is based on preserving natural ground cover, the exclusive use of organic fertilizers, and the return of pruning organic matter to the soil, promoting fertility and microbial life.
Sheep grazing is integrated into the vineyards, contributing to natural vegetation control, improved soil health and enhanced biodiversity.
We work exclusively with Portuguese grape varieties, mostly indigenous, under organic production. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand by local teams, and water management is rigorous, relying solely on rainwater and solar energy, with water being used mainly in proven situations of water stress.
Regenerative agriculture practices promote the recovery of schist soils, water retention and the reduction of erosion.
Responsible water management, based essentially on natural rainfall, together with an active contribution to carbon sequestration, reflects a clear commitment to mitigating climate change.
Embedded in the montado and shaped by a historically isolated territory, sustainability at Herdade Aldeia de Cima extends to people and to a way of life deeply connected to the land.
The estate prioritizes local employment, close relationships and long-term partnerships with regional suppliers and farmers. Respect, transparency, inclusion and dignity at work are fundamental pillars of a cohesive community, rooted in the territory and in the spirit of the montado.
Herdade Aldeia de Cima preserves the cultural identity of the territory, keeping alive agricultural traditions, Alentejo architecture and the knowledge passed down through generations. Gastronomy rooted in the products of the montado, local craftsmanship and cante alentejano — recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — reflect a deep connection to the land and to the way of life that has shaped this landscape over time.
The Montado of Herdade Aldeia de Cima is a refuge for a wide diversity of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, including threatened species listed on the IUCN Red List, such as the Iberian lynx, as well as rare and protected birds, including the Iberian imperial eagle, Bonelli’s eagle and the black stork.
On schistous and stony soils, natural habitats of Mediterranean scrub and spontaneous grasslands are preserved, fostering diverse wildlife and enabling natural pest control, thus avoiding the use of pesticides. Native fauna includes, among other species, the Iberian partridge, hare, wild boar, Alentejo black pig and several birds of prey, such as the black vulture and the red kite, ensuring the ecological balance of the territory.
Integrated within this system, the different agricultural and forestry activities — such as traditional olive groves, vineyards, strawberry tree stands and beekeeping — coexist in a balanced mosaic, enhancing landscape diversity and the ecological functionality of the territory without compromising natural habitats.
The White Merino sheep is one of the oldest breeds in Alentejo, introduced by the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians during their trading voyages to the Iberian Peninsula. These docile sheep, with a robust build and fine wool, graze the vast montado expanses of Herdade Aldeia de Cima. The herd of over 2000 sheep, lives in semi-wild conditions, taking advantage of the natural pastures in this sustainable ecosystem. They help maintain the soil health, contribute to the natural regeneration of cork oaks, preserve local biodiversity and during the hot Alentejo summers, they help prevent wildfires.
Viticultural practices at Herdade Aldeia de Cima are grounded in deep respect for the territory and its natural cycles. We occasionally employ ancestral granjeio techniques, such as enrola, to protect the grapes from sunburn and ensure their optimal sanitary condition. Soil management is based on preserving natural ground cover, the exclusive use of organic fertilizers, and the return of pruning organic matter to the soil, promoting fertility and microbial life.
Sheep grazing is integrated into the vineyards, contributing to natural vegetation control, improved soil health and enhanced biodiversity.
We work exclusively with Portuguese grape varieties, mostly indigenous, under organic production. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand by local teams, and water management is rigorous, relying solely on rainwater and solar energy, with water being used mainly in proven situations of water stress.
Regenerative agriculture practices promote the recovery of schist soils, water retention and the reduction of erosion.
Responsible water management, based essentially on natural rainfall, together with an active contribution to carbon sequestration, reflects a clear commitment to mitigating climate change.
Embedded in the montado and shaped by a historically isolated territory, sustainability at Herdade Aldeia de Cima extends to people and to a way of life deeply connected to the land.
The estate prioritizes local employment, close relationships and long-term partnerships with regional suppliers and farmers. Respect, transparency, inclusion and dignity at work are fundamental pillars of a cohesive community, rooted in the territory and in the spirit of the montado.
Herdade Aldeia de Cima preserves the cultural identity of the territory, keeping alive agricultural traditions, Alentejo architecture and the knowledge passed down through generations. Gastronomy rooted in the products of the montado, local craftsmanship and cante alentejano — recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — reflect a deep connection to the land and to the way of life that has shaped this landscape over time.
The cork oak—also known as sobreiro, sobro or chaparro—is a tree from the oak family (Quercus), native to the Iberian Peninsula. The economic importance of cork, whose extraction does not require the tree to be felled, led to its spread from early times across the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa.
With unique characteristics, the cork oak is covered by a layer of suber—cork—which naturally regenerates after harvesting. It is also the only species in the Mediterranean basin capable of resprouting from the crown after severe wildfires. Within the montado, its broad canopy, which can reach around 25 metres in height, helps reduce wind speed and creates a more balanced microclimate, supporting herbaceous vegetation and protecting other crops.
With a lifespan of 200 years, an individual cork oak tree needs 25 years before it is mature enough to have its bark harvested for the first time. It is a process that is repeated every 9 years by specialist craftsmen who are the highest paid farm workers in the world.
Cork oaks comprise 21% of the total forestry area in Portugal, so they create barriers against desertification and soil erosion. The cork oak tree also plays a key role in retaining tons of CO2, thus providing a valuable aid in reducing greenhouse gases, the main cause of climate change. The cork oak tree is protected by law and has been declared Portugal’s National Tree.
The Serra do Mendro has well-established hunting traditions. Its topography and heterogeneous flora have long made Herdade Aldeia de Cima known for the abundance of game, including partridge, hare, wild boar and small birds. Careful game management promotes ecosystem balance. flora.
"(...) The local men are given to the practice of hunting, due to the abundance of partridges, rabbits and hares, while the women spin wool and weave linen cloth on their looms (…) In this Civil Parish there is a hunting reserve formerly known as Odiuelas, now renamed Santa Anna, which pertains to the Most Serene House of Bragança (...)"