Vila Nogueira de Azeitão Things to Do

1 more image

One of the Fonseca wines is the Periquita White. This is one of Portugals the oldest table wines. It was also the first wine that Fonseca produced. Described as having a fruity taste, it is usually served with seafood and fish or as an aperitif. There are also Periquita reds which is excellent with cheese and red meats.

At the end of your tour you will be taken into a large room of the Manor House which has a bar and wine shop. There are several bottles of the Fonseca’ wines open for you to try along with platters of various cheese to compliment your tastings.

4 more images

If you take the tour you will visit three old cellars which store huge oak and chestnut vats. In the Adega dos Teares Novos and Adega de Mata, you will see where the Periquita is aged. In the third cellar, Adega dos Teares Velhos, you will see the Setubal Moscatels being stored and learn about the process.

1 more image

Jose was honoured by King Pedro V for his achievements when he received the highest medal in Portugal in 1857. He died in 1884 at the age of 80. The winery today still remains a family run business and covers more than 1.000 hectares. They have become the leading producers of a sweet dessert wine known as Moscatel de Setubal.

1 more image

The winery was started in 1850 by Jose Maria da Fonseca. Jose was born in the Dao wine region and moved to this region after graduating in mathematics from Coimbra University. His father, a wealthy tobacco trader bought some land for him and at just 30 years of age, he began his winery business and was to become an innovator in both cultivating his vines to converting from the old standards of marketing casks to using glass bottles.

As you enter the main reception you will be greeted by your guide and taken through the little museum which shows the history of the winery. Guided tours are available from Mon-Sun 10.00am – 12.15pm and 2.00pm to 5.30pm. You can get tours in English, French, Spanish and of course Portuguese.

1 more image

The main building of the winery is a 19th century renovated mansion which was the Fonseca family residence. The Museum shows a lot of old paintings as well as the vintage winemaking equipment which was used during the early years of the winery.

Right in the middle of town is this well known and respected winery has been in business and run by the family since 1834 making it the oldest company in the country which still produces table wines and of course the Setubal Moscatel wine.