Serra da Estrela and Dão: a journey to the heart of Portugal

After years of being underappreciated, the Dão winemaking region is now firmly back on the Portuguese wine map. Surrounded by three mountain ranges–Estrela, Caramulo and Buçaco–this discreet appellation of 1,450 square miles, on a granite plateau at an altitude of over 1,300 feet, has reinvented the way its vines are nurtured. In these quintas, artisanal viticulture is now practiced, favoring indigenous grape varieties (such as Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz red grapes; and the white grape Encruzado). To be enjoyed in moderation.

As the country’s first natural park, the Serra da Estrela massif is home to the highest mountain in mainland Portugal. Rising to an altitude of 6,500 feet/1,990 meters, the peak of Torre overlooks a landscape of rocky heights, rivers, torrents and alpine pastures grazed by vast flocks of sheep. Around Manteigas, the principal town in the region, there are over 124 miles/200 kilometers of marked trails known as ‘Green Tracks,’ offering visitors a choice between short walks and longer hikes.