Alentejo days

 

Leaving Sevilla mid morning we headed for the Portuguese border and crossed into the Alentejo, where our first stop had to be the lovely Herdade do Esporão wine estate that we'd last visited two years before. 

 At a table outside overlooking the vineyards, a late lunch of local cheeses and bread, with their own olive oil and wine from the Esporão estate was just the ticket.

And only half an hour later we were at the L'And Vineyards ... 

this fab modern take by a group of Portuguese architects on the traditional whitewashed buildings of the Alentejo

The fact that this would be home for the next 3 days - 

with a huge natural pool to take the edge off the heat

a private inner courtyard off a room with skylight open to the stars at night

ancient olive trees, sunflowers, and vines

was actual bliss

The only time we ventured out of this perfect place was to a hilltop above the town of Montemor-o-Novo a few minutes drive away, at sunset one evening 

With only a few homes and a small church up here, the place was almost deserted

besides a few stray cats

but at the restaurant Espelho do Mar, O Arado, perched on the hillside with fantastic views over the countryside, we had a memorable arroz de marisco with Alentejo wines - comida Portuguesa com certeza.

Alentejo, Portugal

Iberian road trip, Day 7,8 & 9, June 2017