Viticulture is an ancient agriculture activity that dates back to the Roman period, and there are traces of it found on Monte da Casteleja.
Viticulture is a very ancient agriculture activity, with a first expansion during the Roman period. Their presence is noticeable in the surrounding area and also in our land, revealed by the many pieces of ceramic and mosaic we frequently found in the soil. Archaeologists believe that first Lagos, called “Lacobriga”, was born around this valley, with the sea coming much further inland, very close to our property.
After the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula they stayed here for many centuries, they continued the activity of grape production and brought new cultures like almonds and figs. They were responsible for the development of efficient irrigation systems. The conquest by the Portuguese furthermore increased the wine production activity which was exported to many countries.
In the early 20th century, during the Philoxera infection, a bug that destroyed all vineyards in Europe, port shippers had no wine to fulfil their needs and bought many millions of litres of Algarve wines because of their quality.
Nowadays the area of vines in the Algarve is around 3000 hectares and cooperatives and independent growers transform the grapes. The region is made up of 4 main wine producing areas: – Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Tavira. Each one of them with different varieties and soils, on a narrow band of land close to the sea.