At Herdade Aldeia de cima the altitude and exceptional edaphoclimatic conditions of Herdade Aldeia de Cima result in the lowest temperatures in the Alentejo region — ideal for wines with natural freshness, complexity and minerality.
The estate includes the highest point of the Serra do Mendro, at 424 metres, shaped by altitude and Atlantic winds that generate thermal amplitudes of up to 20 °C and some of the lowest minimum temperatures in the region, creating perfect conditions for fresh and complex wines, shaped by the mineral character of the soils.
With the intention of preserving the unique heritage of the Alentejo region, which has been producing wine for over 2,000 years, at Herdade Aldeia de Cima we promote healthy and sustainable viticulture. All vineyards are certified as organic and are part of the Alentejo Wines Sustainability Program.
Even today, the harvest is carried out manually, with the dedication and knowledge of local people, during the month of August.
Alfrocheiro
Red grape variety of unknown origin, most prominent in the Dão region and well adapted to Alentejo conditions. It produces concentrated wines while maintaining freshness, with a vegetal and floral profile. At Vinha dos Alfaiates, it is planted in an area with balanced sun exposure.
Alicante Bouschet
A grape variety of French origin, exceptionally well adapted to the hot and dry climate of Alentejo. It enables the production of highly concentrated wines, both as a single variety and in blends. It is the predominant variety in Vinha dos Alfaiates, planted in the most exposed and warmest areas.
Aragonês
A red grape variety of Spanish origin, widely planted in the Douro and Alentejo regions. When fully ripe, it produces structured, tannic wines with excellent ageing potential. On the estate, it is planted in cooler micro-terroirs of Vinha dos Alfaiates and Vinha de Santana.
Baga
A Portuguese red grape variety, most closely associated with the Bairrada region. It favours cooler climates and less intense sun exposure. In Vinha dos Alfaiates, it is planted in cooler micro-terroirs with east-facing exposure.
Tinta Grossa
A Portuguese red grape variety, most commonly found in the Vidigueira sub-region. Limited in overall area, yet significant to regional identity. Planted on the poorest soils of Vinha d’Aldeya, it contributes freshness to the wines.
Trincadeira
A Portuguese red grape variety very well adapted to warm regions, with Alentejo as its main area of expansion. It contributes freshness and herbal character, particularly when grown on poor soils. It is planted in the warmest areas of Vinha dos Alfaiates and Vinha de Sant’ Anna.
Alvarinho
White grape variety originating in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, with its greatest expression in Monção. Low-yielding, it stands out for its acidity and aromatic profile. On the estate, it is planted on the coolest soils of the Sant’ Anna and d’Aldeya vineyards.
Antão Vaz
White grape variety of Portuguese origin, with its greatest expansion in the Vidigueira sub-region. Very well adapted to hot and dry climates, it is the estate’s principal white variety. It is planted in Vinha dos Alfaiates and on the cooler soils of Vinha d’Aldeya.
Arinto
Portuguese white grape variety, originating in Bucelas and widely planted across the country. In Alentejo, it is noted for its acidity and minerality, bringing freshness to the wines. It is planted on the cooler soils of Vinha de Sant’ Anna.
Perrum
White grape variety of Portuguese origin, traditional in Alentejo and authorised under the Alentejo DOC. It contributes natural acidity and low alcohol levels, and is used to enhance freshness in hot and dry climates.
Roupeiro
Portuguese white grape variety with strong expression in Alentejo. Well adapted to warm climates and naturally productive, it contributes to the wines’ complexity. It is planted on moderately cool soils of Vinha d’Aldeya.
Within a 4-kilometre radius of the estate, there are five distinct vineyards, divided into 22 parcels of varying sizes — ranging from 0.30 to 2.90 hectares. These five vineyards are distributed across different altitudes and geological zones. Planted on low-fertility schist soils, the diversity of the 22 hectares gives rise to 36 micro-terroirs.
Particular emphasis is given to Vinha dos Alfaiates — the first vineyard in Alentejo planted on traditional bardo terraces — offering sweeping views over the vastness of the landscape, and to Vinha da Família, a non-irrigated experimental vineyard with indigenous grape varieties planted in a quincunx pattern and covered with granulated cork.
See More See Less1. VINHA DA FAMÍLIA ● 1000 m²
Planting: bush vine
Microterroirs: 1
Altitude: 325 meters
Soils: clayey, greyish-brown, thick, with organic matter; rocky fragments; quartz; clay; green rocks; amphibolites
Grape Varieties: 9% of each variety: Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, Antão Vaz, Aragonês, Castelão, Diagalves, Moreto, Perrum, Tinta Caiada, Tinta Miúda, Roupeiro
2. VINHA dA D´ALDEYA ● 4 ha
Planting: vertical vines
Microterroirs: 6
Altitude: 325 to 345 meters
Soils: clayey, yellowish-brown,
with rocky fragments; quartz; clay
argila
Grape varieties: 19% Tinta Grossa, 43% Alvarinho, 19% Antão Vaz, 7% Roupeiro, 12% Perrum
3. VINHA DE SANT´ANNA ● 4 ha
Planting: vertical vines
Microterroirs: 7
Altitude: 280 to 300 meters
Soils: clayey, greyish-brown, thick, with organic matter; rocky fragments; quartz; clay; green rocks; amphibolites
Grape varieties : 33% Arinto, 30% Alvarinho, 13% Aragonês, 24% Trincadeira
4. VINHA DOS ALFAIATES ●12 ha
Planting: Traditional single-row terrace vineyards | slope of 30 to 40%
Microterroirs: 18
Altitude: 330 to 390 meters
Soils: red, brown, and yellow; silty-clay with rocky fragments; quartz; clay; mica-schist; reddish schist; yellow schist
Grape varieties: 13% Trincadeira, 25% Alicante Bouschet, 18% Antão Vaz, 12% Aragonês, 8% Baga, 24% Alfrocheiro
5. COURELAS DA CEVADEIRA ●1.2 ha
Planting: Traditional non-trellised vineyard | Dry farming
Microterroirs: 2
Altitude: 237 meters
Soils: brown soil, composed of loose, medium-grain materials; low clay content; poorly structured; quartz; feldspar; amphibolites
Grape varieties: 85% Alfrocheiro, 15% Trincadeira
Located at the highest point of the estate, between 300 and 380 metres above sea level, this is the most singular and unprecedented vineyard of Herdade Aldeia de Cima. Planted on rugged terrain crossed by the Ribeira dos Alfaiates, it draws inspiration from a model unique in Alentejo: a vineyard laid out in traditional terraces, evoking the Douro’s socalcos, with wide views over the landscape that marks the transition between Upper and Lower Alentejo.
With 12 parcels under organic production, it develops on poor, shallow schist soils, organised into 18 natural micro-terroirs. The steep slopes, balanced sun exposure, altitude, Atlantic influence and pronounced diurnal temperature range contribute to balanced ripening, giving the wines freshness, minerality and identity.
On the plateau were born Vinha d’Aldeya and Vinha de Sant’ Anna. On the Mendro plateau, beside the winery of Herdade Aldeia de Cima, the soils are predominantly composed of greywacke schist with nuances of green schists — geological formations unique in the Iberian Peninsula. Granites, gabbros and quartzites are also present, influencing the structure, aromatic expression and body of the wines produced here.
The south- and south-west-facing slopes are particularly suited to the production of classic-style wines — sun-driven wines that are rich, intense and concentrated. In contrast, the north-facing slopes give rise to wines with greater mineral intensity, freshness and vibrant fruit, the so-called “shade wines”.
See More See LessEstablished in one of the valleys of the Serra do Mendro, where sun exposure is more moderate and wind influence more pronounced, Vinha d’Aldeya benefits from natural conditions that favour freshness and balance. Located next to the winery, it is home to the estate’s highest-acidity white grape varieties — Alvarinho, Antão Vaz, Perrum and Roupeiro — alongside Tinta Grossa, reflecting a clear intention to recover a fresh, strongly defined Alentejo identity. The careful selection of planting model, parcels and rootstocks, on deep clay soils, enhances the production of mineral, elegant and sustainable wines.
At the foot of the Aldeia de Cima plateau, in a gently undulating landscape surrounded by young cork oaks, Vinha de Sant’ Anna unfolds across four hectares planted in a traditional vineyard layout. Balanced sun exposure is tempered by the freshness of the soils and the proximity of small streams descending from the Serra do Mendro, creating a harmonious ecosystem. The red and white grape varieties planted here allow for longer, more balanced ripening, resulting in wines that are fresher, structured and of great complexity.
In 2019, Vinha da Familia, a 1,000 m² plot, was planted in clay soil rich in green schist, quartz and organic matter, at an altitude of 325 meters.
This vineyard is exposed to a significant diurnal temperature variation— 37°C during the day and 15°C at night — with an average annual rainfall of 395 liters/m².
Eleven native grape varieties were planted (4 white and 7 red) following the astrological quincunx system, with 1.80 x 1.80 meter spacing. The rootstock (1103P) was chosen for the planting of 242 rootlings, with cleft grafting performed the following year.
Granulated cork was introduced to improve soil structure, drainage, and temperature, increasing the plant’s resilience and life cycle.
With minimal intervention and slow, progressive ripening, the harvest comes late, resulting in balanced yields and concentrated, fresh grapes rich in phenolic compounds.
At the foot of the Serra do Mendro, the vineyard awakens with the first rays of sunlight, in a territory where the relationship between geology, grape variety and climate is expressed with particular intensity.
Everything here reflects a character of resilience and adaptation, giving rise to a true nano-territory with its own distinct identity.
Established on a mid-slope, between 225 and 237 metres of altitude, this dry-farmed vineyard, trained in a traditional non-trellised system, develops on granitic soils that are poor, well drained and of low fertility, rich in quartz, feldspar and amphibolites. The gentle undulation of the terrain allows for the existence of four micro-terroirs, where subtle variations in soil and vine vigour translate into nuanced differences in ripening and expression. Planted predominantly with Alfrocheiro and Trincadeira, complemented by Tinta Grossa, it benefits from a south-facing exposure and natural air circulation that favour balanced ripening.
From here emerge red wines of a traditional and ancestral profile — sun-driven wines that are intense and concentrated, yet always supported by natural freshness, elegance and a strong connection to the surrounding hills.