Setubal Wine Tour

The Setubal wine tour takes place about 40 minutes outside Lisbon, in the Setubal penynsula, located south of Lisbon.  It’s a little-known region but surrounded by beautiful nature areas like the Arrábida Natural Park and the Sado River Estuary Natural Reserve. 

Setubal wines have floral notes with flavors of spice and wild fruits.  These wines will transport us to a world of sensations in a region blessed by nature.  It’s most famous wine is its Moscatel. 

Although the Moscatel takes center stage, Setubal is also recognized for the quality of its fruity white wines, young rosés, reds and sparkling wines. 

Moscatel wine tasting during the Setubal wine tour 

 The fame of Setubal Moscatels dates back to the 14th century, when the English kings enjoyed them, and during the time when Louis XIV, king of France (the Sun King), offered it at the Court of Versailles. 

In the Setubal Denomination of Origin, two types of Moscatel are made, depending on the grapes that are used to make it.  

On the one hand, we have the Moscatel Roxo, which uses grapes that are born from the mutation of the white grape, forming round clusters with a pink color, and a greater amount of sugar that gives rise to a wine with intense aroma and color (“roxo” means “purple” in Portuguese).  These wines are more complex and subtle and have more floral aromas. 

On the other hand, we have the Setubal Moscatel – a very aromatic wine (featuring notes of honey, orange blossom, oranges, fresh grapes and roses) with a good alcohol level and very good body.  For the wine to be considered Setubal Moscatel, it must be made with 70 percent Moscatel, either from Aleandria (white grape) or Roxo, and the rest from Arinto and Boal grapes.  The wine must be at least one and a half years old and is rated depending on its age and other factors: 

• Superior:  minimum 5 years old. 
• Reserve:  rating granted by the tasting committee for wines of exceptional quality. 
• Moscatel de Setubal Datado:  the year of harvest is indicated, and the wine is made specifically with Moscatel de Setubal grapes. 
• Moscatel de Setubal nao Datado: made from Moscatel grapes of different vintages.