term
Herdade
By Carlos ArtigoAlentejo
A herdade is a large agricultural estate typical of the Alentejo region, often spanning hundreds or thousands of hectares.
The herdade is the defining land unit of the Alentejo, a vast agricultural property historically devoted to cereal crops, cork oak forests, olive groves, and livestock grazing. These estates shaped the social and economic fabric of southern Portugal for centuries.
Today, many herdades have diversified into wine production, rural tourism, and artisanal food production. Names like Herdade do Esporão and Herdade da Malhadinha Nova have become synonymous with premium Alentejo wines.
