Wine Tasting in Lisbon: 11 Places You Have to Try

In Portugal, wine is big business. Portuguese wine may not enjoy the international reputation that French, Italian, and American wines enjoy, but that may be just because the locals keep the good stuff for themselves.

Portugal's Mediterranean climate makes it a great place to grow grapes, and the history of winemaking in the country goes back 4,000 years to the Tartessians, who first planted grapes in the Tagus River valley. With a heritage like that, it's no surprise that you'll find tons of wine tours and wine tasting events both in Lisbon and in locations throughout the country.

Drop off your bags at a luggage storage in Lisbon, and you'll be ready to explore some of the best wine-related activities Portugal's capital has to offer. The truth is, Lisbon is an excellent destination for wine lovers, and sampling the produce of some of Portugal's oldest wineries on a Lisbon wine tasting trip or private tour is an essential bucket list item for anyone who loves wine. There are plenty of exciting things to do in Lisbon at night as well!

Lisbon Winery

Lisbon Winery is a wine bar and restaurant that celebrates wines produced locally and offers one of the best Lisbon wine tasting experiences you could have. The bar contains more than 200 different varieties, celebrating the best of the Portuguese winemaking tradition, with bottles from many of Portugal's top wine regions. But the idea here is to celebrate what's local, so this wine tasting in Lisbon focuses on the best producers from around the capital city.

A tasting here feels like taking a wine tour of Portugal's wine regions without leaving the city. Avoiding corporate conglomerates, Lisbon Winery focuses instead on small producers and curates the best wines on offer from independent winemakers. This restaurant keeps the wine flowing in the Portuguese capital and offers a selection that puts many corporate wine tours to shame.

Wines of Portugal

Wines of Portugal is a wine shop that offers regular wine tastings and is a brilliant place to learn more about Portuguese wines. It's one of the best places in Lisbon for a wine tasting, as you can try before you buy with no pressure to purchase. The shop stocks more than 1,000 different wines from across Portugal, and the helpful staff are always on hand to offer suggestions and tips.

What sets this store apart is its self-serve aesthetic. This isn't a fancy wine bar where you will spend as much time marveling at the decor and the attentive staff as you do appreciating the glass in front of you. Instead, Wines of Portugal is all about the wine itself. You serve yourself from vending machines and curate your own wine tasting. That novel approach makes this a fun way to explore Portuguese wine and enjoy an urban wine tour that won't break the bank.

From the Vine

Marketing itself as Portugal's first wine tasting bar, this establishment aims to celebrate Portugal's wine regions and take your tongue on a wine tour of the entire country. From the Vine offers flights of three, four, or five wines so you can immerse yourself in a single region or try a little bit of everything.

Their offerings include a two-hour wine and cheese lunch that pairs great wine with local cheeses to give you an insight into Portuguese gastronomy. They also do a one-hour-long predinner wine tasting in the evenings so you can whet your appetite for some great Lisbon food. Located close to the Jardim do Principe Real, this is a great place to see what a great wine cellar can offer.

Wine With A View - Torre de Belem

One of the more unique Lisbon wine tasting experiences out there, Wine With A View combines gorgeous sunsets, a historic monument, and exceptional wine — what's not to like?

Housed in the Torre de Belem, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Lisbon's most iconic landmarks, this wine bar offers some of the best views in the city. As you enjoy a glass or two of Portugal's finest reds or whites, you can watch the sun set over the river and take in panoramic views of some of Lisbon's most historic buildings.

If you want to turn your wine tasting in Lisbon into a truly romantic experience, this is the place to do it. Just be sure to book ahead, as this spot gets very busy during peak sunset hours.

Lisbon Wine Cellar

The Lisbon Wine Cellar is another great option for those looking for an urban wine tour without leaving the city. This wine shop and tasting room offers regular free tastings, making it a great place to explore Portuguese wines without breaking the bank.

With more than 400 different wines on offer, ranging from affordable everyday drinking wines to rare and expensive vintages, there's something for everyone at the Lisbon Wine Cellar. The knowledgeable staff are always on hand to offer suggestions and tips, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it a great place to spend an afternoon or evening.

Taylor's Port

Of course, Portugal is perhaps better known for the fortified wine known as port than it is for its regular wine. And while Porto is the center of port production in the country, Lisbon certainly has its share of great places to try Port, Sherry, and other strong wine-based drinks.

One of the best places to try port in Lisbon is Taylor's Port, a historic port wine lodge that has been producing and exporting port since 1692, making it one of the oldest port cellars in the world. The lodge offers free tours and tastings, so you can learn about the history and production of port before sampling some of the different varieties on offer.

Ageda Belem Urban Winery

If you're looking for something a little different, why not try an urban winery? Ageda Belem is a small-scale winery located in the heart of Lisbon that produces natural, unfiltered wines using traditional methods.

The result is a range of unique and interesting wines that are well worth seeking out. The urban winery offers free tastings, so it's a great place to sample some of their wares and learn more about the production process.

This is an excellent place to visit if you don't have time to take one of the many wine tours that will take you out of Lisbon and into the wine country beyond. Sourcing their grapes from local vineyards, this urban winery makes exceptional wine in one of Lisbon's most historic neighborhoods, and it's well worth checking them out and seeing what they have to offer.

Lisbon Wine Events

Wine is no longer an elitist pursuit reserved for the educated few. But Lisbon Wine Events aims to preserve some of the exclusivity around wine drinking. If you want to act delightfully snobby about your wine, this is the company for you.

Lisbon Wine Events focuses on wine tasting with a twist. They go out of their way to explore the underground Lisbon wine scene with wine tastings in unique bars and restaurants through the city, many of which are well off the beaten path. You'll have to join to be part of this exclusive club and then wait to be notified when they have an event. But the reward is being on the cutting-edge of wine culture in Lisbon.

Best Wine Tours around Lisbon

If you have a little more time on your hands, consider heading outside the city to do some wine tasting at the many vineyards the region has to offer. Not only will you get to taste some exceptional wine, but you'll also get a better understanding of how it is produced and the history and passion that goes into every glass.

For example, just half an hour from Lisbon you'll find Sintra. This beautiful historic town is worth visiting for its charming narrow streets and monuments alone, and Sintra's historic center is well known as one of the top places to visit in Portugal. But the town is also surrounded by some exceptional vineyards, and you'll find tons of tour operators willing to take you on the best wine tours in the area.

Alternatively, you could head to Viuva Gomes, a winery located in the famed fishing town of Colares. Learn more about the excellent wines of the region and enjoy a glass or two with some fresh seafood while you enjoy the sunset in this charming village.

There are plenty of other great vineyards and wineries in the Lisbon area, so there's plenty to explore if you have the time. Whether you stick to the city or venture out into the wine country beyond, you're sure to find some exceptional wines to enjoy during your stay in Portugal's capital city.

Wine Events in Lisbon

Pura Sede

This is a wine festival with a twist. Pura Sede is Portugal's first festival dedicated to natural wine. That means nothing put in and nothing taken out. This is wine the ancient Tartessians would recognize, and the perfect way to go back to basics and experience wine in its rawest form.

The festival takes place every year in late April. For three days, natural wine producers from all over Portugal descend on Lisbon to showcase their wines. There are also talks and workshops on offer, so you can learn more about this unique type of wine.

If you're interested in trying something different and expanding your understanding of what wine can be, Pura Sede is a great event to check out.

Enophilo Wine Fest

This is a more traditional wine festival, but it's still worth attending if you're in Lisbon in early May. Enophilo is one of the biggest wine events in Portugal, and it takes place at the glorious Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira.

Attendees can expect to find over 200 different types of wine on offer, as well as gourmet food and live music. It's the perfect way to spend a spring day in Lisbon, and you might even discover a new favorite wine while you're there.

Conclusion

Wine is an essential part of Portuguese culture, and Lisbon is the perfect place to enjoy it. With so many wine events taking place throughout the year, there's always something new to discover. Whether you're a wine aficionado or just looking to try something new, make sure to check out some of these wine events next time you're in Lisbon.

Of course, there's more to the Portuguese capital than just wine. Check out our guide on how to spend three days in Lisbon to see what else this beautiful city has to offer. And don't forget to leave your bags behind at a Bounce luggage storage in Lisbon while you immerse yourself in Lisbon wine tasting and other attractions. With its rich history and excellent cuisine, along with its enviable wine culture, Lisbon is a fantastic place to visit for any reason.