Urban Winery in the heart of Lisbon

Love

We founded Adega Belém to be able to make wines beyond industry-driven conceptions and fashions, relying both on sophisticated craftsmanship and a deeply urban production approach. “Made with love…”  – that’s not just buzz words, but the epitome of our dedication and passion for every detail of the process, from our involvement with vineyards and vintners, to the work in the cellar, the packaging and environmental design, and our relation to our clients at the cellar door.

Craft

We craft our wines combining oenological knowledge with a minimal intervention approach brought about by the natural wine movement in France 30 years ago. All wines are spontaneously fermented with carefully applied temperature control. Some of the wines further ripen in clay amphorae or French oak barrels, for periods ranging from 4 to 24 months. The result are organically balanced, vibrant and vivacious wines.

Grapes

We are big fans of the Portuguese culture of collaboration between grape growers and winemakers (2200 grape growers exist in the Lisbon region for only 125 wine producers), and work hand in hand with Lisbon vintners, who love their fruits as much as we do. The vineyards are located on both sides of the Tagus river where the grapes thrive in a climate dominated by Atlantic breezes and long sunshine hours throughout the ripening period. We hand harvest when we feel the grapes reach optimal phenolic ripening. Read more

Whites in the light of Lisbon

Handmade white wines of Arinto, Moscatel Galego and Alvarinho grapes harvested in the vineyards of Tapada da Ajuda in downtown Lisbon, south-facing, enjoying a climate of hot afternoons and cooler nights moderated by the Tejo River and the breeze coming up from the Atlantic.

Brut Nature Sparkling

Beautiful Red Wines

Enticing hand crafted red wines made of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet and Castelão grapes, grown on the right bank of the Tejo river, a few kilometers upstream from the bay of Lisbon, with an Atlantic climate moderated by the Sintra and Montjunto sierras allowing the grapes to slowly ripen and the wines to develop intensively concentrated fresh fruit aromas of wild blueberry, plum and cherry married to elegant spices and a hint of French oak.

The Cellar Dog Selection

The cellar dog selection are beautifully fruit-driven, unpretentious red and white wines that accompany your daily meals, aperitifs and party events. These wines are made without oak contact, thus emphasizing their pure fruit character. Both are named after the winery’s pets, Lili the cellar dog, and Cookie the cellar rabbit, who are extended members  of the team.

Pétillant Naturel 2022

Along with classical winemaking methods, we love to experiment with techniques from other times and places. This ancestral-method on-skin fermented Pétillant Naturel employs a method first developed in the mid 16th century by monks of the St-Hilaire monastery in the French Pyrenees. Made of Viosinho grapes grown at the vineyards of the Instituto Superior de Agronomia in Lisbon’s Ajuda neighborhood, the slightly sparkling wine finished its fermentation in the bottle. Unfiltered, no additives, 100% cloudy, a delicious cold companion for hot summer days.

Amphora Wines

At Adega Belém, we use clay amphorae to ferment late harvested, whole berry muscatel grapes with an extensive post fermentative maceration, and also to produce and age whole cluster fermented red wines. Because of their air-permeable porous material, clay amphorae are a great container to ferment and age such tannin-rich wines without risk of reduction. The results are stunningly vibrant red, white and orange wines with a brilliant, sometimes unusual aroma profile – through we really look here for deliciousness rather than funkiness.

Tour, Tasting, Tapas

Explore how wine is made from grape to glass, which choices winemakers have and how these are reflected in the profile of the final wines. The tour is an exciting journey into the world of wine biochemistry made accessible through lively metaphors and explanations — for absolute novices and those who have  done a lot of winery tours already. To experience the essence of Mediterranean diet, everyone then sits together at our long table for a tasting of 5 wines paired with delicious artisan food stuff. Vegetarian food on demand. Every Friday and Saturday, 11h00-13h00. Read more & book

Tasting Flights

Drop by at the winery during our opening times and take a (tasting) flight into the world of Iberian winemaking, exploring the aromatic specificity of wines made of some of the 300 red and white grape varieties that are grown here. We offer flights of 3 or 5 wines per person, served in professional tasting glasses, accompanied by our explanations about how these wines were actually made. Please book in advance for groups of 6 or more, or if you wish to pair the tasting with food (send email to admin@adegabelem.com).

Groups & Events