Our fortified wine tasting in Lisbon pours five Portuguese fortified wines side by side: a Tawny Port, a Ruby Port, a Carcavelos, a Madeira and a Moscatel de Setúbal. It lasts about an hour, costs €50 per person from 2 guests (€70 for one guest) and takes place at POP, our wine shop in Graça, 100 metres from the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Port is only the start. Portugal makes several other fortified wines, and two of them come from just outside Lisbon.
- Price€50 per person from 2 guests, €70 for one
- DurationAbout 1 hour
- In the glass5 fortified wines from 4 regions
- SessionsEvery day, every hour from 14:00 to 19:00 (last session)
- OptionsPremium bottles +€10, gourmet snacks and pairing +€10 (per person)
- GroupUp to 30 guests (standing above 15)
What’s in the five glasses?
| Wine | Where it’s from | What you taste |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby Port | Douro Valley | Young, red berries, plum |
| Tawny Port | Douro Valley | Walnut, caramel, orange peel |
| Carcavelos | The coast between Lisbon and Cascais | Amber, dried fruit, toasted nuts |
| Madeira | Madeira island | Toffee and citrus, very fresh acidity |
| Moscatel de Setúbal | Setúbal peninsula, south of Lisbon | Orange blossom, apricot, honey |
These are entry-level bottles from very good producers, chosen so the styles are easy to tell apart. Of all our tastings, this is the one that surprises people most. Almost everyone knows Port. Almost nobody has heard of Carcavelos.
Carcavelos: the wine Lisbon nearly lost
Carcavelos is a fortified wine from the coast west of Lisbon, on the way to Cascais. It was famous in the 18th century. The Marquis of Pombal, who rebuilt Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake, had vineyards there. Then the city spread along the coast, houses replaced the vines, and the wine almost disappeared. The town of Oeiras kept a few hectares going, and today Carcavelos is back, in very small quantities. Few bars in Lisbon pour it. We do.
Moscatel de Setúbal: the sweet one from across the river
Cross the 25 de Abril bridge and keep going south, and you reach the Setúbal peninsula. The Moscatel made there is fortified like Port, but the grape skins are left in the wine for months afterwards. That is where the smell of orange blossom and apricot comes from. Try it with a pastel de nata. You’re welcome.
How does the hour go?
You come up to POP, Rua da Senhora do Monte 38C. The sommelier explains in a few minutes what “fortified” means: grape spirit added to the wine, which stops the fermentation, keeps some sugar and takes it to around 17 to 22% alcohol. Then each region does something different with it, and that is what the five glasses show.
The tasting is seated. For groups of more than 15 people, it is held standing. Please don’t include non-drinkers in the booking: we have soft drinks on site.
Standard or premium?
The standard tasting is the one most guests choose. If you already know Port well, the premium version pours higher-end bottles of the same styles for €10 more per person. You choose it when you book, along with the gourmet snacks (€10 per person) if you want something to eat.
Want to go deeper on one wine?
The Port wine tasting pours five Ports, from White to 10 Year Tawny (€50). The Madeira tasting compares four 10-year-old Barbeito Madeiras (€60). Prefer table wine? Try the wine and cheese tasting.
How do I get to the tasting?
POP is at Rua da Senhora do Monte 38C, in Graça, just above Alfama. Tram 28 stops at Graça, five minutes on foot. Bus 737 also stops a few minutes away. From Baixa-Chiado it is a 15 to 20 minute walk, uphill. After the tasting, the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is 100 metres away. Go at sunset.
Fortified wine tasting: your questions
How much is the fortified wine tasting in Lisbon?
€50 per person from 2 guests, for five wines: Tawny Port, Ruby Port, Carcavelos, Madeira and Moscatel de Setúbal. Booking alone, it is €70. The premium version costs €10 more per person.
How long does it last?
About one hour. Sessions run every day, every hour from 14:00 to 19:00 (last session).
What is a fortified wine?
A wine with grape spirit added during or after fermentation. It keeps some natural sweetness and reaches around 17 to 22% alcohol. Port, Madeira, Carcavelos and Moscatel de Setúbal are all Portuguese fortified wines.
Can large groups book?
Yes, up to 30 guests. Above 15 people, the tasting is held standing. For a private session, see our group tastings.
Can I cancel?
Yes, cancellation is free up to 48 hours before your tasting.