Portugal - Colares, Alentejo and Algarve recommendations?

Hi Berserker crew - my fiancee and I are (tentatively) planning our honeymoon for May of 2021 in Portugal. I have a couple of questions to which I’m hoping to crowdsource some answers:

  1. Has anyone booked through www.winetourismportugal.com? Anything to report, good, bad or ugly?

  2. Any must visit producers in Alentejo? Right now we are scheduled fro Herdade da Malhadinha, Herdade do Grous, Herdade do Esporao, Adega da Cartuxa, Joao Portugal Ramos and Monte da Ravasqueira.

  3. I’ve read mixed reviews about where to go in the Algarve. Tavira seems like the sweet spot for small city feel, night life, seafood and the beach. Any specific hotels the or other places where we should go? Trying to avoid the huge beach resort towns, but would still like beach access.

  4. I know there are only a handful of legitimate, traditional producers in Colares these days. Is there anyone who is open to the public for tours and tastings?

Quinta do Mouro is one of the best and well known in Alentejo. Monte Branco is close by and run by the son of the owner of Mouro. Both make fabulous wines
In the North Alentejo is the district of Portalegre. Susana Esteban makes some terrific wines there. This is an up and coming area in Portugal.
Alentejo is the center for Talha wine, made in terracotta. It’s a traditional wine making a comeback. Lots of producers there are using them.
I’ve never gone with winetourismportugal.com. Roy Hersh runs PortugueseWineTours.com. These trips are expensive, but you’ll get real inside access and taste some of the producer’s best wines. These trips are designed for wine geeks.

We’ve stayed with friends in Tavira and liked it very much. Restrained charm, good food / reasonably priced. Not a beach resort, but with some lovely walking in dunes / past the salt pans / lots of birdlife. There are beaches in very easy driving range and IIRC there is a river ferry that ends up at a beach. Decent covered food market, albeit in a more modern warehouse building a short walk from the centre. Pleasant area along the river for strolling.

Overall a very good choice if you want something that’s approachable enough for tourists, spruced up a bit, but still retains a lot of rustic charm

Check web for Pestana hotel group. Many Algarve locations, including multiple Pousadas. I’ve stayed at several in Portugal. They used to be government owned in historical sights and/or locations. May still be Government owned but managed by Petsana. Years ago my wife and I stayed at the Pousada Sagres, and loved it. Furthest southwestern location on the Algarve. Rustic beaches, famous lighthouse, Henry the Navigator’s sailing school and magnificent sunsets. Lots of Pousadas on the Algarve as well as the other locations you asked about. Been to Portugal twice and loved it and it’s people each time. Pestana also owns other hotels that are not Pousadas.

Perfect place to spend honeymoon nights in Alentejo.
http://mouchao.pt/wines/winery/?lang=en
Favorite Alentejo winery.

Adega Viuva Gomes is the must visit for Colares.

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