However, there are experiences that can only be experienced in their castle. Every Friday, from 3 pm to 6 pm, people can go to their facilities and experience a Wine Flight and taste the most amazing wine variety that day.
My experience
I had the opportunity to go to the Wine Castle and enjoy the experience with Fábio, who was in charge of the tasting.
Right at the entrance, while waiting for the other guests to arrive, I had the opportunity to see how well decorated it is. With original sculptures, such as the mechanical owl, I was given a glass of sparkling wine, 25 Horas, an original by Wine Castle. This was the foreshadowing of how great the experience was going to be. A little conversation here and there and the glass was over.
Credits: TPN; Author: Bruno G. Santos;
The Espumante Bruto made with Chardonnay, Bical, Arinto and Baga grapes was definitely one of the best I ever tasted. It was so light in the mouth; the bubbles were thin and it seemed like everything just made sense on the palate. It really is worth trying.
Credits: TPN; Author: Bruno G. Santos;
Getting ready to taste
The time had arrived and the wine flight was about to start. All guests were given a paper where the names of the wines could be written, as well as a score for them based on appearance, aroma, taste and aftertaste. The ratings for each category can go from 1 to 5, to then calculate the total score and point out the favourite wine.
In the tasting room, there was a massive table with loads of food to be tasted. There was bread with caramelised onions, rocket, tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. A similar version of the previous delicacy was also available; however, the traditional biqueirão and red onions were also there. There was also charcuterie with Portuguese products. Rissóis were also made available.
Credits: TPN; Author: Bruno G. Santos;
Tasting the wine
The time had come to open the first bottle of wine. Pens were at the ready, and all of a sudden, we could all be wine experts.
The first wine served was 3 Folhas, a red wine from 2023 from Alentejo, made with Moreto and Tinta Caiada grapes. Great to serve with cheese, pasta and oily fish like sardines and salmon. 3 Folhas is ruby coloured, being very appealing to whoever is tasting it. The smell is intense and it is that kind of wine where the flavour in nothing relates with the aroma. It was fresh in the mouth with a strong aftertaste, pairing perfectly with the Parmesan cheese on the bread I mentioned before.
Credits: TPN; Author: Bruno G. Santos;
The second one I had was El Penor from 2021, a Palhete wine from the Dão region. I could immediately say that this one would be my favourite, without hesitating. From the moment it was served, the red coloured wine stood out, the smell of red fruits made me more excited about it and then the tasting arrived. Perfectly balanced, the wine felt light with proper acidity and all I could think of was having it with grilled sardines. The wine is made with Alfrocheiro Preto, Touriga Nacional and Encruzado grapes.
Mariposa, a red wine from 2023, also from Dão, came next. Made with Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Jean grapes, this wine has a very intense red colour, making it very appealing to the eyes. The aroma was different from any other wines I have tasted; however, very interesting. When tasted, I could feel a touch of spices, such as black pepper, and the aftertaste was a bit bitter, but not in a bad way.
Credits: TPN; Author: Bruno G. Santos;
The last wine served was Cebolal Clarete, a red wine from 2022, produced in Setúbal. The wine is produced with a single grape: Castelão. This wine was the most intriguing one out of the four I tasted. With a light red colour, Cebolal had red fruits and a flowery aroma. There was some sourness to the taste of the wine. The aftertaste was bitter and quite unusual. However, we were advised to taste it with chouriço, or the fattest delicacy made available. At that moment, the game changed and the wine became completely different. Everything blended on the palate, making this wine perfect for a meal, better than drinking in on a terrace, for example.
Credits: TPN; Author: Bruno G. Santos;
Schedule your flight
The Wine Castle is located in Rua Poeta António Aleixo, Lote H, in Mexilhoeira da Carregação, in the Lagoa municipality. To be at a wine flight, it is possible to contact them at (+351) 282 425 202 or 961 386 661. The Wine Castle can also be found on Instagram @winecastlealgarve.
Besides offering people amazing wine tastings, it is possible to buy wine there, from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 6 pm.