Visit to a Cork Harvesting Farm + Countryside Lunch, Évora

Discover the tradition of montado (cork harvesting), an integral part of the Alentejo landscape and culture. You'll spend the morning on the estate of Freixo do Meio, a family-run farm that has operated for generations, harvesting cork and producing other local products. You'll learn the ins and outs of detaching cork from different kinds of oak trees, as well as details about the Alentejo countryside from those who know it intimately. After this informative part of the day, you'll get to relax with a tasty lunch on-site, where you'll get to eat a traditional meal accompanied by organic produce and wine from the estate.

In the morning, you'll travel from Évora to the Freixo do Meio estate, about a 40-minute drive. This family-run farm produces wine and other products, and it's known for montado or cork harvesting, a crucial part of this country that is the world's largest cork producer. Once you arrive on the farm, you'll meet the new generation of the family, who are bringing this historic tradition into modern times. You'll visit the cork production area and learn about how this material is gathered from different oak trees. You'll also find out about the history of Alentejo, whose wine production dates back thousands of years and still includes Roman influences in various procedures still used today.

After learning the ins and outs of this tradition, you'll get to decompress with a delicious homemade lunch on the estate. Your meal might include a traditional chickpea stew cooked in clay pots over an open fire and regardless of what the day's dish is, rest assured that it will be accompanied by organic produce and wine from the estate. You'll want to save room for dessert, which might be a tasty sericaia (Portuguese egg pudding) and fresh fruit. After lunch, you'll head back to Évora.