September in Portugal is grape harvest time, known locally as the vindima. It’s an energetic, chaotic, busy and fun time of year to explore the country’s top wine regions, and you can take part in some of the action at a handful of wineries! While most quintas keep their doors closed to the public, there are a few that do offer harvest programs.
While it seems crazy to pay to “work” the harvest, as a visitor you’re not there for 12 hours of heavy picking and stomping – it’s more of a cultural party with music, wine, a long lunch, wine, singing, wine, stomping and, ah, more wine!
In a rush? My pick of the Portugal harvest experiences 🍷🍇
- Douro Valley: Quinta da Pacheca offers a great harvest program that ticks every box.
- Alentejo: Honrado Vineyards offers an intensive program teaching you about the traditions of talha (clay amphora) wines. Option of a half-day (morning or afternoon) or full-day program.
- Transfers included: From Evora, Vititours offers a guided small-group winery tour that connects with the harvest.
- Family-friendly: Fitapreta has dedicated activities for kids, including a grape scavenger hunt, painting with must, blind tasting of juices and lunch.
What to expect at a vindima: Harvest that’s heavy on fun, light on labour
If you’re worried about spending eight hours under the blistering sun lugging 20kg crates, don’t be. Vindima experiences for visitors are designed for the joy of it!
- A taste of picking: You’ll usually get secateurs and a bucket, head into the vines, and pick grapes for 30 to 60 minutes, often with live traditional music or morning snacks.
- Long-table lunch: The centerpiece of almost every harvest day is a lazy, multi-course almoço de vindima (harvest lunch) paired generously with a quinta’s best wines.
- Grape stomping (lagares): Wash your feet and step into granite lagares to crush grapes by foot. Drink wine while making wine! It’s good fun.
Important to know: Because these programs only run for a few short weeks in September (and occasionally late August or early October, depending on the weather), availability is super limited. If you’re planning to join a harvest this year, book as far in advance as possible.
What to wear: Dress comfortably and expect it to be hot. A t-shirt and shorts are ideal. Add a linen shirt for sun protection on your arms. Sneakers or boots are better than sandals for trekking the uneven ground of the vineyards. Don’t wear white if you’re stomping red grapes…
Below are 9 of the best, easiest-to-book grape harvest experiences across Portugal – from the terraced slopes of the Douro to the golden plains of the Alentejo.
Quinta da Pacheca – Douro Valley
- Best for: Getting to know Douro Valley traditions, family-friendly
- Location: Douro Valley, 2h from Porto.
- Dates: Limited dates in September
- Includes: Morning tea, grape picking, buffet lunch, foot treading grapes in lagares, guided winery tour, wine tasting
- Price: €150 adults, €75 for children
- How to book: Choose your dates here
🍷 What the experience looks like:
Quinta da Pacheca has a strong wine tourism program, so I know their harvest experience will be a good one. You’ll arrive at 10am where you’ll receive a straw hat, tobacconist scarf, cutting scissors and a bucket. After a traditional harvest morning tea – called mata-bicho (kill the bug) – of onion soup and baked sardines on corn bread with wine (yes, wine in the morning!) – you’ll head into the vineyards.
After an hour or so in the field cutting grapes from the vine, venture to the winery to press grapes by foot in a lagare – a wide and shallow granite or stainless steel tank. Then, it’s time to relax. Join a short tour of the winery before a long-table harvest lunch with drinks. The slow lunch rolls into a wine tasting before you head home around 4pm.
Dates are limited with many days already sold out – so don’t delay if you’re keen for this one.
🍇 Check September availability for Quinta da Pacheca →
Read next… Best Douro Valley wine tours from Porto
Quinta da Vacaria – Douro Valley
- Best for: Seeing the whole process from picking to processing to stomping
- Location: Douro Valley, 2h from Porto.
- Dates: Limited dates in September
- Includes: Grape picking, traditional lunch, grape processing and selection, foot treading grapes in lagares
- Price: €189 per person
- How to book: Choose your dates here
🍷 What the experience looks like:
Quinta da Vacaria is one of the most beautiful estates in the heart of the Douro Valley, and this experience takes you on a wine-making journey from the field to the barrel. If you’ve always wanted to learn about the process of making wine, across one day you’ll learn about the manual grape harvest in the region, sit down for a traditional lunch and then head into the winery.
Here you’ll begin the grape selection process, check the initial fermentation process, load the grapes into the wine press, and finally jump into the tanks to do the traditional foot treading for Port wine.
🍇 Check September availability for Quinta da Vacaria →
Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo – Douro Valley
- Best for: A taste of harvest with a 3-course lunch
- Location: Douro Valley, 2h from Porto.
- Dates: Very very limited dates in September
- Includes: Grape picking, guided museum and winery tour, first wine tasting, 3-course lunch
- Price: €304 per person
- How to book: Choose your dates here
🍷 What the experience looks like:
The grape harvest is one of the most exciting times to experience the Douro Valley, and this harvest activity gets you out in the field, lets you taste the first wine, and includes a three-course lunch with wine pairing.
The day begins around 10am with a briefing before you head into the vineyard to collect grapes. After a short time picking, enter the winery for a tour and taste the first wines of the year, then join a guided visit of the Wine Museum Centre, historic wine cellar, and barrel room. For lunch, sit down at Terreçu’s for a three-course menu paired with four wines, including a Vintage Port opened with fire.
🍇 Check September availability for Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo →
Quinta da Torre – Monção (Vinho Verde)
- Best for: Connect with the harvest process in Vinho Verde country
- Location: 10min from Monção, 95min from Porto.
- Dates: 1-14 September 2026
- Includes: Grape picking, snack, guided winery tour, traditional harvest lunch
- Price: €125 per person
- How to book: Choose your dates here
🍷 What the experience looks like:
In the north of Portugal you spend a full day experiencing the harvest season in Vinho Verde country. Grab your picking shears and head into the field to join the winery team picking white Alvarinho grapes. They’ll keep you fueled with a vineyard snack – a ham sandwich and glass of wine – before you tour the winery and experimental cellar to learn more about winemaking. The day ends with a traditional harvest lunch paired with wines, music and great company.
🍇 Check September availability for Quinta da Torre →
Quinta das Murgas – Lisbon (Bucelas)
- Best for: Unfiltered look at the grape harvest near Lisbon
- Location: 40min from Lisbon.
- Dates: September 2026
- Includes: grape stomping, guided three-wine tasting, harvest lunch
- Price: €135 per person
- How to book: Choose your dates here
🍷 What the experience looks like:
In September, this winery near Lisbon opens the doors to anyone who wants to experience the grape harvest up close. While some programs are overproduced, Murgas says they don’t offer a staged experience – instead you’re invited to come, participate and see how it all works. That said, the program does include a t-shirt and hat plus a guided three-wine tasting, so it’s not entirely random.
You’ll begin in the vineyard picking grapes before moving to the winery where you’ll shadow the team who’ll explain the sorting, musts, fermentations etc. Then taste three wines before sitting down for a casual lunch at the table, without formalities. Expect a menu of traditional harvest dishes, bottles of wine and relaxed chat.
🍇 Check September availability for Quinta da Pacheca →
Fitapreta – Alentejo (Évora)
- Best for: Those wanting to learn more about the oenological processes. Super family friendly.
- Location: 20min from Évora, 90min from Lisbon.
- Dates: Very limited dates in September 2026
- Includes: Apprentice kits, all meals mentions, activities, guided wine tasting, harvest lunch, grape picking (extra)
- Price: €157-194 per person
- How to book: Choose your dates here
🍷 What the experience looks like:
Fitapreta is one of the most beautiful wineries I’ve had the chance to visit in Portugal. The winery centres around the Paço do Morgado de Oliveira, a medieval palace founded in 1306. But the wine-making here is anything but old-fashioned, where head winemaker António Maçanita pushes boundaries and makes some unique drops across Portugal.
The hands-on harvest experience follows the work of Fitapreta’s team: “From receiving and selecting the grapes to tasting musts and participating in cellar activities, discover all the stages of the process that transforms grapes into wine.” You’ll receive a harvest hat and t-shirt, visit the medieval palace, enjoy a guided tasting of five wines and take part in enology activities before sitting down for a shared harvest lunch with the enology team.
Fitapreta also welcomes children with dedicated activities for them including a grape scavenger hunt, painting with must, blind tasting of juices and lunch included.
🍇 Check September availability for Fitapreta →
Honrado Vineyards – Alentejo (Vila Frade)
- Best for: Hands-on look at traditional Alentejo harvesting and talha wine making
- Location: 50min from Évora, 2h from Lisbon.
- Dates: August & September 2026
- Includes: Choice of full-day or half-day program – may include grape picking, lunch, grape stomping, learning about talha winemaking
- Price: €50-100 per person
- How to book: Choose the half-day (morning or afternoon) or full-day program
🍷 What the experience looks like:
For a serious look at the wine-making process and traditional production of talha (amphora) wines, this multi-generational family of winemakers opens its doors. Throughout the day at Honrado you’ll learn about the different stages of this ancient Alentejo winemaking process in a hands-on way. Amphora wines are one of the world’s oldest wine traditions and this is a rare chance to see it up close!
The full-day (11h) program kicks off at 7.30am at the Cella Vinaria Antiqua Wine Museum. You’ll learn about the harvesting tool and assess grapes for their ripeness before heading out into the field for a few hours. After a late morning snack, transport the grapes to the winery and pause for a team lunch at País das Uvas, a traditional restaurant.
After lunch, prepare and clean a ginormous talha (clay amphora), then destem the grapes and crush them by foot. In the late afternoon, tour the wine museum and taste a couple of talha wines.
🍇 Check August & September half-day or full-day availability for Honrado →
Adega Cartuxa (Quinta de Valbom) – Alentejo (Évora)
- Best for: Easy-to-reach vineyard and harvest in Alentejo
- Location: 5min from Évora, 90min from Lisbon.
- Dates: 5 September – 4 October 2026 – at 11am and 4pm
- Includes: grape stomping, guided six-wine tasting with regional snacks
- Price: €210 per person
- How to book: Choose your dates here
🍷 What the experience looks like:
Adega Cartuxa’s opens the doors to its winery for a special harvest program. It sounds like you’ll learn about the production process, including the grape selection, before jumping into a lagare to tread grapes by foot. The experience includes a tasting of six wines with regional snacks. You can choose to start at 11am or 4pm.
🍇 Check September & October availability for Cartuxa →
Read next… Bottomless wine and secret cellars: Redondo’s tasca and talha trail
Vititours – Alentejo (Évora)
- Best for: Guided tour or transportation from Évora
- Location: Évora
- Dates: Late August and September
- Includes: Hotel pick-up and drop-off, vineyard tour, grape stomping (when possible), wine tasting, traditional Alentejo lunch
- Price: €170 per person
- How to book: Choose your dates here
🍷 What the experience looks like:
If you want to join a harvest experience, but don’t want to drive – look at Vititours. This wine touring company connects you with the magic of harvest season in the heart of Alentejo on a full-day guided harvest program. The biggest benefit is pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Évora, and the robust program includes a vineyard tour and traditional grape picking, foot stomping (when possible!), a tasting of musts to discover the first aromas and flavours of fermentation, and a traditional Alentejo lunch.
While it’s unclear which wineries you’ll visit on which dates, the benefit is that Vititours has extended harvest dates and will do the legwork to find which wineries are harvesting when – giving you more opportunity to discover the harvest without the stress of planning or ringing around.
🍇 Check August & September availability for Vititours →
FAQs about the grape harvest in Portugal
When does the grape harvest season happen in Portugal?
The Portuguese grape harvest, or vindimas, typically runs from late August through early October, with September being the absolute peak. Exact timing depends on weather conditions and the specific wine region. Inland areas like the Douro Valley or Dão hit their stride in mid-to-late September, while the hot open plains of the Alentejo could even be late August. It’s best to follow individual winery schedules, as dates shift slightly each year based on the grapes’ sugar levels.
What should I wear to a grape harvest experience?
Wear comfortable, dark-colored clothing you don’t mind staining red – yes, the grape juice can splatters during picking and foot stomping! Choose light, breathable fabrics, sun protection like a wide-brimmed hat or linen shirt, and comfortable closed-toe walking shoes for navigating uneven vineyard soil. You will wash your feet before stepping into the granite lagares – and might like to bring flip flops for afterwards.
Is grape stomping hygienic?
Yes! You have to wash your feet before stepping into the granite lagares, but the natural fermentation process creates alcohol and acid levels high enough to eliminate pathogens and harmful bacteria. Human foot-treading is a gentle, traditional technique that crushes grape skins without breaking bitter seeds inside – while there are machines that do the same job now, feet are still considered best.
Do I need a car, or can I reach these wineries by public transport?
Renting a car, taking a taxi or booking a private driver is generally the easiest option since most quintas are tucked away in rural countryside. Public transport with a quick taxi ride is possible for some areas. In the Douro Valley, several famous wineries sit within walking distance or a quick taxi ride from train stations.
Are Portugal harvest experiences suitable for kids/families?
Surprisingly, yes. Most harvest days are incredibly family-friendly and welcoming to all ages. Kids usually love the hands-on fun of snipping grape clusters in the vines and splashing around in the granite lagares during foot-stomping sessions. Wineries typically serve fresh grape juice or non-alcoholic alternatives for children. Some, like Fitapreta, even have a dedicated kids program.
How far in advance do I need to book?
Book as far in advance as possible – ideally two months ahead! Grape harvest season only lasts a few short weeks in September, and places at working wineries are strictly limited. Popular quintas or wineries will sell out completely before harvest season even begins.
Keep reading….
- 14 common mistakes people make when visiting Portugal
- Best Douro Valley wine tours from Porto
- 35 unusual and off-beat things to do in Portugal
- Food Festival Guide: Best Gastronomic Events in Portugal
- What to wear in Portugal – packing list and seasonal guide
- 24 hours in Arraiolos: Rugs, food & wine
- Bottomless wine and secret cellars: Redondo’s tasca and talha trail
