Alentejo Chronicles: Day 3; XXVI Talhas, Talha Mafia And Honrado

I recently had the pleasure of exploring Portugal’s captivating Alentejo region as a guest of the CVRA, Alentejo’s Regional Winegrowing Commission. Join me as I share my daily adventures in a series of blog posts. I hope you’ll enjoy the journey!

On the third day of our press trip, we had the delightful opportunity to explore three charming boutique producers nestled within the picturesque small villages of Vila Alva (pop. ~500) and Vila de Frades (pop. ~900)

In small villages like these and other nearby villages, the tradition of crafting traditional talha wines has been woven into the cultural fabric for centuries, tracing back to the era of the Romans over two millennia ago. Passed down from generation to generation, the intricate knowledge of talha winemaking (see video below) has endured, ensuring its continued practice in these villages and beyond to this very day.

These villages, once home to a dwindling number of talha producers who were hanging on my a thread, are now bustling hubs of activity, breathing new life into this ancient craft.

The video above mentions Feast of St. Martin’s (São Martinho Day) which holds a special significance in Alentejo. It marks the moment when wines aged in talhas, traditional clay vessels, are deemed ready to be savored with friends and family. It symbolizes the culmination of months of careful aging and anticipation, as winemakers eagerly await this pivotal day.

During the traditional ritual, the winemaker gently inserts

This Article was originally published on ENOFYLZ Wine Blog