The area around Lisbon is full of attractions, an interesting idea is to visit one of the many wineries, tour and taste the wine. You don’t have to be an expert in oenology because during the tour we are often accompanied by a guide who will tell us the history of the place and explain the secrets of wine production. Take a trip outside Lisbon and discover the Setúbal Peninsula, which has been a famous wine region since the times of the ancient Romans. There are many vineyards in the area and each of them has its own unique history. The JMF (José Maria Da Fonseca) winery in the town of Vila Nogueira de Azeitão is one of the oldest wineries in Portugal, where the famous Periquita wine and the sweet dessert wine Moscatel are made.
Setúbal Peninsula
On summer weekends, Lisbon residents cross the Tagus via the 25th of April Bridge and head towards the beautiful beaches of the Costa Azul to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax by the ocean. In addition to relaxing on the beaches, you can visit the city of Setúbal with its pleasant old town and many great restaurants. Right next to it is the Parque Natural da Arrábida nature park with beautiful beaches. The Setúbal Peninsula is a wine region, where delicious wines and the sweet dessert wine Moscatel are produced. It is worth visiting the town of Vila Nogueira de Azeitão surrounded by grape plantations and vineyards. The city is famous for its dessert called tortas de Azeitão, there are very sweet cakes, delicious and worth sinning for!
Winnica JMF José Maria Da Fonseca - Casa Museu
In the town of Azeitão, there is the Fonseca family residence, transformed into a museum. The house was built in 1834 by José Maria da Fonseca. The beautiful façade decorated with azulejos tiles attracts the attention of visitors, and during the tour you can see the interior of the residence and the exceptionally beautiful garden. JMF is the oldest company producing table wine in Portugal. It was founded in 1834, can boast almost 200 years of history, is currently in the hands of the seventh generation of the Fonseca family and sells its wines on all continents.
After visiting the residence, gardens and wine cellars, it is worth trying the wines, especially the exceptional Moscatel de Setúbal. It is a sweet, white, fortified wine. Produced from the Moscatel grape variety. It comes from the Setúbal Peninsula in Portugal. The beautiful amber color hides a sensational dessert drink. The aromas of orange, apricot and caramel work wonderfully with the strong taste and long finish. Another alcohol worth trying is Moscatel Roxo, a sweet wine that has a golden Topaz hue. Its uniqueness is given by its intense, rich, complex aroma. You can feel citrus, quince, notes of orange blossom, rose, raisins, almonds and honey. In the taste we will find identical aromas, well-balanced sweetness through good acidity.
Address: Rua José Augusto Coelho 11, Azeitão
Phone: 212198940. www.jmf.pt
Working hours: IV–X everyday IV 10.00–12.00 and 14.30–17.30, XI–III 10.00–12.00 and 14.30–16.30;
Tickets: from 3 €, book in advance.
Right next door is an interesting azulejos factory/shop – Azulejos de Azeitão
Address: Rua Trabalhadores da Empresa Setubalense 15, www.azulejosdeazeitao.com
How to get to JMF Winery in Azeitão, Setúbal
Azeitão can be reached by bus 754 Transportes Sul do Tejo (www.tsuldotejo.pt), which departs from Praça de Espanha in Lisbon – the stops you get off at are named after towns. Another option from Lisbon is the Fertagus train (www.fertagus.pt), which will take you to Coina station and from there take the local bus 2N to the winery (€3.10; about 20 min).
Where to eat in Azeitão
Casa Negrito – this pastry shop is the most popular place in Azeitão to try regional sweets. The city is famous for its dessert called tortas de Azeitão, very sweet but delicious pastries! The shop also sells sheep cheeses and presunto ham and other local products.
Address: R. José Augusto Coelho 26, Azeitão
