Alentejo Region

World’s Oldest Cork Tree

Wednesday, 02 December 2009 17:40

As you pilot your touring bike through the Alentejo wine country consider the fact that Portugal is home to 55% of the world's cork production, the majority of which comes directly from the Alentejo plain. Given its renewability, non polluting, non toxic and natural properties such as breathability, cork still holds a great advantage over other synthetic and plastic substitutes used in the preservation and production of wine. The Whistler Tree is the oldest and largest productive cork tree in the world. This magnificent cork oak, found in Águas de Moura in the Alentejo region, was named for the whistling sound it produced due to the high number of songbirds living in its mighty branches. The Whistler was planted in 1783, and measures 45 feet high with a circumference of almost 15 feet. The tree was harvested for the first time in 1820, and twenty times since then. Cork trees are harvested every nine years, where every part that is taken gets used  in some way, leaving no waste. Harvesting does not harm the tree and is carried out manually. The procedure is similar to peeling a banana. In 1991 the Whistler harvest produced 1200Kg of bark, good for more than 100,000 wine bottle corks. This amount is more than most trees produce in a lifetime. The cork tree population worldwide helps offset ten million tons of carbon in the atmosphere, each year. Compare that to the amount of carbon polluting the air in the production process of plastic cork.  The cork trees in Portugal are the natural nesting habitat to the local population of white storks or cegonhas throughout the river estuaries and grasslands of Portugal.

“Upcycle” Millions of Used Natural Cork Wine Closures

Tuesday, 24 November 2009 16:25

ReCORK America™, a U.S.-based wine cork recycling program sponsored by Amorim of Portugal, the world’s largest producer of natural cork wine closures, announced they are partnering with SOLE of Canada to reclaim and “upcycle” a portion of the billions of natural cork wine and Champagne closures opened each year by U.S. and Canadian consumers. ReCORK and SOLE have an agreement to find new ways to reuse and recycle as many corks as can be collected. An important goal of the ReCORK/SOLE partnership is to help foster a better understanding and appreciation of the important role cork oak forests, and for that matter, the role all forests play in our everyday lives. Natural cork is a perfect definition of sustainability – birth, development, harvest, and renewal: all without cutting down a single tree! www.recorkamerica.com or www.savemiguel.com  

See the Wild Side of Castro Verde

Monday, 16 November 2009 09:51

There is new a map and guidebook on great hiking and rural tourism in the town of Camp Branco, which in located in the town of Castro Verde, in the province of Alentejo. This guidebook includes where to hike, hidden ruins, monuments, and where to eat and stay in Camp Branco. http://www.lpn.pt/#70-PT

Alentejo Wine Route

Monday, 16 November 2009 09:51

A wine producing region with a great tradition, the Alentejo Wine Route offers visitors an opportunity to sample the region’s excellent wines as well its cheeses and sweets. The Alentejo Wine Route is made up of three itineraries– the São Mamede Route, the Historic Route and the Guadiana Route - that cover the entire region and include various wine estates and vineyards. The São Mamede route owes its name to the Natural Park - one of the main attractions of the region. The Tapada do Chaves and the Herdade do Mouchão are some of the examples of the wine estates found in the towns of Marvão, Portalegre, Crato, Alter do Chão and Monforte. The Historic Route is more extensive and has the largest number of wine producers, encompassing the city of Évora and neighboring cities. The wine estates in this region include Adega da Cartuxa, Monte do Pintor, Roquevale, João Portugal Ramos, Couteiro-Mor and the Adega Cooperativa de Borba. Finally, the Guadiana wine route has very different characteristics and is attractive for all those who appreciate nature. Traveling through Viana do Alentejo, Alvito, Portel, Vidigueira, Cuba, Beja, and Moura, visitors encounter the vineyards of CADE (Quatro Caminhos red wine) and Cortes de Cima. http://www.vinhosdoalentejo.pt/