Algarve

Long associated with sun and beaches, the Algarve is also a wine region with four DOC sub-regions — Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Tavira — and a growing reputation for quality. Sandy, limestone and clay soils plus a warm Mediterranean climate cooled by Atlantic breezes give the region's reds a ripe, generous profile led by Castelão, Negra Mole and Aragonez. White Arinto, Síria and the rare Crato Branco produce fresh, well-balanced whites that pair beautifully with the regional seafood. Estate-focused producers like Quinta dos Vales, Monte da Casteleja and Morgado do Quintão have made the Algarve worth taking seriously beyond the resort circuit.