Tucked along the Atlantic coastline in the hills of Sintra, Portugal, the Colares wine region is one of Europe’s most enchanting and unique viticultural areas.
What makes it so special? For starters, it is one of the very few wine regions in Europe—and perhaps the only one—where vines are planted directly in sandy soils (“chão de areia”) near the beach, with all the climate, soil, and wind exposure that this entails.
The Story Behind the Sand
- The vines in Colares benefit from deep sandy dunes and soils near the sea. This sandy layer protects the roots from phylloxera, the pest that devastated vineyards throughout Europe in the 19th century. Since phylloxera cannot live in sand, many of Colares’ vines remained unscathed—and remain so.
- These vineyards are exposed to strong maritime winds and salty air. To protect them, traditional methods are used—such as cane “paliçadas” (screening) to break the wind.
- Some vines are extremely old; many are “footed” (ungrafted) European rootstocks, which is rare nowadays.
Famous Recognition: Gordon Ramsay & “Uncharted”
The region caught international attention when Gordon Ramsay visited in an episode of “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted”, accompanied by Portuguese enologist Hélder Cunha.
In that episode, Ramsay explored the vineyards of Colares, walking among vines rooted in beach sand and learning how ancient techniques are still used. He called Colares “one of Portugal’s best-kept secrets.”
Besides appearing in that TV special, Ramsay reportedly carried several bottles of Colares wine home with him—fond memories of the aromas, textures, and particularities of wines like Ramisco and Malvasia from that sandy terroir.
Wineries & Wine Tasting: Visiting Colares
Visiting Colares is doable and very rewarding. Several wineries welcome visitors for tours and tastings. Here are a few you should know:
- Adega Viúva Gomes
A historic, family-run winery in Almoçageme, founded in 1808. It preserves many traditional methods, using ungrafted vines in sandy soils and also experimenting with more modern styles. They offer tours and wine tastings. - Adega Regional de Colares
This cooperative winery has a striking set-up: large aging casks, beautiful old structures, and a tasting room. It’s open to the public for purchases and tasting. - Casca Wine
Another producer in Colares that Gordon Ramsay visited. Their wines also reflect the uniqueness of the region. Their Ramisco red and Malvasia whites are especially noted. - Wine Route in Colares
There are defined wine-tourism routes (walking, driving, tram + tasting) that include visits to vineyards, coastal landscapes, other small producers, and traditional wine-cellars offering tastings.
What Makes Colares Wines Unique
- Terroir: The combination of sand, coastal exposure (wind, fog, salt air), and old vines gives the wines a distinctive saline tang, ripe tannins, and often a long aging potential.
- Vine Varieties: Ramisco (red) and Malvasia (white) are the stars.
- Ungrafted Vines: Many vines are “pé franco” (ungrafted) because the phylloxera pest could not survive in the sandy soils. That’s extremely rare in European viticulture.
What to Expect in a Wine Tasting Tour in Colares, Sintra
A wine tasting tour to Colares, Sintra is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, because this is the only wine region in Europe where vines grow directly on beach sand soils.
The area is tiny, historic, and almost hidden — which makes it even more special for wine lovers and curious travelers.
In a Portugal Beach Life Wine Tasting Tour with us you’ll experience:
Winery Visit – You’ll visit traditional adegas (wineries), some of which still ue old wooden barrels and methods passed down through generations.
Vineyard Walks – Walk through sandy vineyards, often just behind dunes, where the vines creep low to the ground to protect against strong Atlantic winds.
Tasting Session – Try several wines, often paired with local cheese, charcuterie, or bread. Expect reds that are tannic and age-worthy, plus crisp and saline whites
Stories & Culture – Winemakers share the history of Colares wines, their struggle to survive, and why these wines are now among the rarest in Portugal.
Why You Should Go
If you love wine, culture, nature, or authenticity, Colares offers something rare:
- A chance to see vineyards that pre-phylloxera still growing ungrafted vines.
- A tasting experience that is deeply connected to place—sand, sea, wind, tradition.
- Making your own discoveries among small producers, sometimes family-run, keeping centuries-old methods.
- For people who follow gastronomy, wine, or travel: you get stories, visuals, flavours that are unforgettable.
Colares is a reminder that some of the world’s most special wine gems are not always in big famous regions—they’re sometimes hidden in coastal dunes, flourishing despite time and storms.
If you are in Portugal or planning to visit and wish to do a wine tasting tour in Sintra, we can arrange it for you.
Click here to know more and book your wine tasting tour