From: Alentejo, Portugal
Blend: 40% Alicante Bouschet, 30% Touriga Nacional, 20% Aragonez (or Tempranillo), 10% Trincadeira

Taste: This wine greets with a dark ruby hue, unfolding aromatic layers of red fruits like raspberries, red plums, and grenadines. Each sip reveals a balance of acidity, tannins, and fruit. The palate shows red cherries, white pepper, toast, and charcoal. It ends with a medium finish, punctuated with white pepper and subtle floral notes.

Pairing: Pair it with meat dishes, sausages, cheese, or even a simple spread of tapas. And for an unparalleled culinary experience, try it with a savory lamb dish.

Lamb Chili With Lentils
By Pierre Franey

About. Nestled within the picturesque triangle of Estremoz, Borba, and Monforte lies Herdade Penedo Gordo, a radiant emblem of Portugal's rich winemaking heritage. This estate, part of the distinguished Quinta das Arcas portfolio, thrives in a microclimate unparalleled for wine cultivation, resulting in wines of remarkable caliber.

At Herdade Penedo Gordo, nature's forces align in a perfect ballet to provide the best for vine cultivation. With the hot summers and cold winters, the vines produce high-quality grapes. Spanning over 10 hectares, the vineyards are situated alongside 30 hectares of olive trees. Here, grape varietals like Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, and Syrah find their perfect home. Complementing these is the winery's strategic location amidst the vineyards, ensuring each bottle retains the freshness and quality that Herdade Penedo Gordo is celebrated for.

Quinta Das Arcas's journey began in the 1980s under the visionary leadership of Esteves Monteiro. Having restructured his family vineyards, focusing on land consolidation and modern agriculture, Monteiro soon established Quinta das Arcas as a household name. In 2012, the brand, already with 200 hectares in the Vinho Verde region, released its first certified organic wine.

By the dawn of the 21st century, Esteves Monteiro ventured into Alentejo, initiating a winemaking revolution 400 km south in an exceptional microclimate. Herdade Penedo Gordo now stands as a testament to this endeavor, producing some of the finest wines of the Borba region. With a staggering production nearing 2.5 million liters today, Quinta das Arcas is poised to conquer the global wine market.

Alentejo, the vast southeastern expanse of Portugal, covers almost a third of the country. Historically a hub for cork and wheat farms, the E.U.'s investments transformed Alentejo into a winemaking haven. With a varied topography featuring undulating plains, gentle hills, and many soil types, Alentejo's terroir offers a diverse palate for vine cultivation.

Herdade Penedo Gordo derives its name from an interesting geological feature—a massive granite boulder that oversees the vineyards from atop a hill. This "fat boulder," as it translates, bears testament to the estate's storied history. Yet, beneath the boulder, the soil paints a different picture—rich with clay and schist.