Summary
Casa Relvas is one of the best-known family wine estates in the Alentejo. It took shape from 1997, when Alexandre Relvas took over the Herdade de São Miguel near São Miguel de Machede, east of Évora – a landscape that reminded the family of its African roots. Within barely two decades, the first few hectares of vines grew into an estate with around 350 hectares of vineyard, its own winery and brands sold in more than 30 countries. The wines are typical of southern Portugal's warmth: ripe, spicy and approachable, yet made with a clear commitment to freshness and craft. Added to that is a pronounced focus on sustainability that has set benchmarks in the Alentejo.
History
The Relvas family has farmed for several generations across two continents. In 1997 Alexandre Relvas acquired the Herdade de São Miguel in the municipality of Redondo – an expanse of montado, the cork oak parkland typical of the Alentejo. Viticulture arrived step by step: the first roughly ten hectares of vines were planted in 2001, the oenologist Nuno Franco joined shortly afterwards as a consultant, and the planted area grew considerably.
Also in 2001 came a second, far larger property: the Herdade da Pimenta on the plain near Évora. Vines were planted there from 2002 and the modern winery, today the heart of production, was later built on the site. By 2003 the estate had its own working cellar. In the years that followed, the brand families that made Casa Relvas internationally known took shape. The company is now run by the sons Alexandre Relvas Jr. and António Relvas, with Nuno Franco still responsible for the wines.
Location & Terroir
The Alentejo is the vast, sun-drenched plain south-east of Lisbon – hot, dry and marked by considerable differences between day and night temperatures. That combination shapes the wines of Casa Relvas: plenty of ripeness and spice, but thanks to cool nights and carefully chosen picking dates, enough freshness as well.
The two core properties differ clearly. The Herdade de São Miguel near Redondo yields around 35 hectares of vines on clay and schist soils, framed by cork oak forest; these soils give structured reds with a mineral underpinning. The Herdade da Pimenta near São Miguel de Machede covers about 150 hectares on the largely granitic soils of the plain around Évora, producing somewhat more open, fruit-forward wines. Vineyards, cork oaks and olive groves do not simply sit side by side here: they form a deliberately maintained mixed system that has characterised the Alentejo for centuries.
Style & Philosophy
Casa Relvas does not chase a cult of extremely rare single bottles; its aim is a reliably good Alentejo wine at every price level. The reds show dark berry fruit, Mediterranean herbs and fine toasty spice from barrel ageing without becoming oak-dominated. Alicante Bouschet – a variety with red flesh, particularly prized in the Alentejo – supplies colour, structure and depth, Aragonez and Trincadeira bring juiciness and spice, and Touriga Nacional contributes floral aroma and backbone. Among the whites, Antão Vaz provides body and Arinto the acidity and drive.
A second pillar is sustainability. The estate works under integrated production, took part in the regional sustainability programme for the Alentejo and in 2022 became the first of the region's ten largest producers to be certified for sustainable production; with its olive oil, too, the house is among the pioneers of certification. Complementing this, the Art.Terra range is organically grown and includes wines made in amphorae – a nod to the Alentejo's own tradition of clay vessels.
Notable Estates & Wines
The portfolio is tiered by origin and ambition:
- Herdade de São Miguel – the core range named after the founding estate, with Colheita Seleccionada and Reserva tiers
- Herdade da Pimenta – wines from the second property on the plain near Évora
- Ciconia – the widely available, approachable range, named after the white stork
- Art.Terra – organically grown wines, including amphora bottlings
- Montinho, Monte dos Amigos, Segredos, Merino – further brands for everyday drinking and export
In total the estate produces around six million bottles a year, most of which are exported.
Awards
Casa Relvas has for years collected medals consistently at international competitions – by the house's own account more than 300 gold medals over the past decade – and is regularly reviewed by specialist media such as Decanter, Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. At least as defining is its pioneering role in sustainability: the 2022 certification of sustainable production and the early certification of its olive oil have earned the estate recognition beyond wine quality alone, and have moved the whole of the Alentejo forward on the issue.