In southern Portugal, the Algarve’s rusty clementine cliffs draw in wanting holidaymakers to its beaches year after year. It’s a time-treasured postcode for getaways in the rays, but are you aware it’s a winner for wine too?

To help you figure out what to sip and where, we’ve put together this handy Algarve wine guide. So, go on, get set to clink glasses, relish reds and whites, and do it all under a canopy of captivating countryside...

The varieties

Although sparkling wines have increased in popularity over the past few years, the Algarve’s typically renowned for its reds and whites. More than 3,000 sunshine hours annually make this area prime real estate for the juiciest, low-acidity exports. So they’re always full-bodied and fresh, which means totally drinkable – just what you want on your jollies.

To help you look out for the very best varieties that go down the hatch a treat, keep your eye out for Negra Mole, Castelão and Trincadeira if you’re a red fan. As for whites, it’s all about Arinto, Malvasia Fina and Siria.

The regions

Thanks to the cracking year-round climate and fertile soil, the Algarve’s naturally got the right recipe for growing grapes on the vine. And there are four key areas that do it: Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Tavira. They’re well-placed for optimum, unshaded daylight but close enough to the sea for the sites to enjoy cooling breezes come nightfall.

Lagos

This coastal town comes quietly most of the time, with beachfronts that beckon and seaside scenery aplenty. But you can up the ante with boat trips and buzzy evenings in bars. Wine not?

Portimão

Welcome to a port city – as you may have guessed from the name – that's got plenty to offer. Navigate the cobbled streets of the old quarter before hitting the shore for a lounge on the sand.

Lagoa

Biscuity-hued hillsides and cliff faces surround a lagoon, and this place isn’t to be confused with Lagos. It’s got a small-town vibe so it’s a match for a low-key, wine-filled break away.

Tavira

Here you have a coast with the most, including a fascinating medieval castle and the must-walk-around Ria Formosa Natural Park. Pair discovering wildlife and wetlands with dining on local fare.

The vineyards

Around 2,000 vineyards and 30 producers of highly rated wines mingle here in the region. So you’ve got stacks of options, and lots of splendid slurping spots to pick from as a result.

We’d put Quinta dos Vales first on our list, as it’s a colourful, sculpture-studded estate in the west. They grow about 15 different types of grapes there, which includes rosés – ace news for the blush fiends. Meanwhile, within 47 hectares of land, Quinta da Tôr is an ultra-historical option that even crafts its own Cabernet Sauvignon, if you want to stick to what you may already know.

Guided tours about not just the local wine but agro-tourism in general can be had at Monte da Casteleja, while Alvor’s most quaffable tipples are yours to try at Quinta do Morgado da Torre. That’s where tastings are done in a stunning wine cellar.

But if you really want the wow factor, does it get any better than sampling the wines made at Sir Cliff Richard’s very own vineyard? We don’t think so! Three farms are combined at Adega do Cantor to harvest two distinct types. Forget the mistletoe, it’s all about the wine!

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