Do You Know Alentejo, Portugal’s São Martino Adega?

Portugal’s Alentejo Region

Do You Know Alentejo, Portugal’s São Martino Adega? It’s okay if you don’t, neither did I until I had that magical journey. So, now I look at Portugal with a whole new set of eyes and brain, from farm to Talhas, to tables…

Second Stop ~ Adega Natus Vini Vidigueria

November 11, 2023, was now our second winery adventure. The night before, I was Swept Away – Fitapreta Castle In The Dark of Night. Now it’s Day Two at this local winery, where everyone was in the mood to be celebrating St. Martin’s Day. The hosts at Adega Natus were owner Hamilton Reis and his winemaking friends, who all work the same region, and share the same calendar. Once a year, they gather on this specific holiday, as the tradition calls them into friendly wine comradery. This visit was so authentic it made my heart skip a beat more than once, as we all celebrated.

From Vine to Talhas to Wine

Adega Natus Vini is owned and operated in the Serra do Mendro foothills, in the Vidigueira sub-region of the Alentejo, by winemaker Hamilton Reis. The land became his in 2008, which took a decade to properly prepare it for vines, and name it “Natus Vini.” This is Latin for Born of Wine, and has left no doubt to his children that they have an earth inheritance, if they so choose.

Hamilton’s vineyard was planted by hand. Red varieties include Castelão, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Miúda and Trincadeira, grown as bush vines without artificial support. No herbicides, pesticides, or insecticides are used, with organic certification being his end goal.

Simplesmente Vinho. What made it real for me is their distinctive, use of century-old clay talhas which are made locally. It’s a tradition in the Vidigueira area, which dates back at least 2,000 years. ENOFYLZ Wine Blog, has also written about this story, if you’d like to know more.

 

Each Winery Visited Has A Story to Tell

The night before at Fitipreta hinted at Talhas. Then at Adega Natus Vini they began to speak history with volumes of wine passing through them. The sizes were marked with notes about uses over time with details. They held massive amounts of wine, the aroma itself was a bit intoxicating, and the aura was substantial.

As it so happens, what was once old becomes new again. There are new perspectives on an old subject matter, for wine appreciators, and therein lies the magic. I was beginning to see what I had not known about on my first trip to the Alentejo, and this time I walked away in awe.

The Party Was Buzzing

When I am in a party setting, with everything abuzz, I turn inward. I’ve read that introspective people are old souls, and don’t look for attention. They size up a situation. But then, much to my surprise, I spotted a child. I once directed a Girl Scout Day Camp, in Sabattus, Maine. I adore children and here was a child, seemingly a bit uncomfortable, just as I was. The gravitational pull was undeniable. We were drawn to each other and began to chat a bit, kids’ stuff, you know, “Hi, what’s your name? Mine’s Jo. I know it sounds like a boy’s name, but mine is spelled J.O. I don’t have an ‘e,’ like boys do. What’s your name?”  I caught the “Opaz.”

Expect The Unexpected

His mother moved closer to me, to see the stranger speaking with her son. We both looked into each other’s faces, and it was an OMG moment where we recognized each other. And, her husband was there! Our history dates back to Wine Bloggers Conferences, especially the 2009’s Wine Bloggers Conferences, held in Lisbon, Portugal. That had a life changing pull on me. It was so cool, they decided to live and teach about wines from the Iberian Peninsula. Yes, it was Ryan Opaz and his wife Gabriella Opaz of Catavino, and once we realized what we were experiencing, all things turned into the party. It became catching up about their lives, their sweet son, and a foursome that was created.

Make New Friends, But Keep The Old

“Make New Friends, but keep the old. One is Silver and the other is Gold.” They were a couple who were very busy in the US wine blogging world, and their focused had developed into Spanish and Portuguese wine culture. That would make perfect sense given the Lisbon connection and the St. Martin’s Day celebration at a Portuguese adega, right?

And all of a sudden I felt more at home. The added benefit was they have a child. I connect so naturally with children, from my own three, to their children, to teaching schools since I was 19, directing a school, and scouts. I was even a substitute teacher in public school. Yeah, I know a lot about kids, with the most important part being my love for them as their minds are being shaped. And here was a child, managing a sea of big people. We bonded, just like that, and I felt at home, especially already knowing their delightful parents and what had happened to them! And on this day, we were all still learning.

Footnote:

My fascination with Europe begins with my own heritage. One of my ancestors was Reverend William Blackstone, the first Anglo inhabitant of Boston in 1620. I was raised in Maine on “Lisbon” Street, along with summer visits to Boston. Little did I know that the squirrels in the “Boston Common” and I would have so much in “common.” I would have fed them nuts!

© Jo Diaz, May 24, 2026, All rights reserved.

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Written by Jo Diaz, a partner of Diaz Communications, who is helping to make stars realize their dreams.
Edited by partner Jose Diaz.

To reprint, please contact Jo Diaz: jo@diaz-communications.com