The Alentejo is where Portugal’s climate escapes the Atlantic influence, and the scenery changes to large, gently undulating plains that experience baking hot summers and cold winters. This is the least populated of Portugal’s regions, and instead of agricultural smallholdings the Alentejo has many large estates, dominated by wonderful whitewashed montes punctuating the landscape.

The climate varies significantly between those regions broadly south of Evora, such as Vidigueira enjoying the hottest, driest conditions, and those further north around Estremoz where cool, damp mists are common. The Alqueva dam, which has created Western Europe's largest lake, is proving to be tempering the hottest of summer days and bringing increased moisture.

The region's principal black grapes are Aragonez (Tempranillo) and the fragrant Trincadeira, along with the tannic Touriga Nacional and intensely dark coloured Alicante Bouschet. For whites there are some super, fresh wines being made with Antao Vaz and Arinto.