Chocapalha: Visits and tastings in family

10 years ago, a cellar with straight lines was built in the vineyard landscape of Alenquer, merging with nature. In 2013, Quinta de Chocapalha, in the wine region of Lisbon, debuted the design cellar, designed to go unnoticed, by the architect João Pedro Serôdio. Today, the project that was innovative back then continues to be the standard bearer of wine tourism on the family property. 

Here, wine tourism programs are designed in detail, all of which have a strong family component: the matriarch of the family, Alice Tavares da Silva, is, as a rule, the service hostess. She is responsible for receiving the curious and presenting the property located 45 kilometers north of Lisbon. 

In all, there are four wine tourism programmes, starting with ‘Discovering Chocapalha’, which includes a visit and tasting of three wines; in ‘Wine lover Chocapalha’, in addition to the commented tasting, which includes a top of the range house and pairing with local charcuterie, it is possible to visit the vineyards, the cellar and the barrel room in the company of a family member; the ‘Terroir of Chocapalha’ program is quite identical to the previous one, although the tasting takes into account four wines, including two top of the range instead of just one. 

Thinking about the gastronomic wines that are produced here – with oenology being the responsibility of oenologist Sandra Tavares da Silva, one of the daughters of the founding couple of Quinta de Chocapalha -, it is also possible to taste the references from home to table, in the company of capable flavors. to raise the wines in tasting. The ‘Wine lunch at Quinta de Chocapalha’ experience is private and prepared in such a way as to satisfy all wine lovers, whether they are experts or beginners in this very particular universe. Lunch includes a starter, main course, dessert and coffee or tea, and is paired with a total of four wines (the menu is sent in advance and lunch is preceded by a guided tour of the farm). 

Along with tastings and visits, getting to know the property is also discovering the story of the former commander of the navy who left the sea for land as soon as he found the current farm, where he would later produce the wines that have already become part of the history of the wines from the region.