Quinta dos Vales is located in Estômbar, practically within spitting distance of Slide & Splash, well a couple of kilometres, whose twisting colourful slides rearing up like a tangle of snakes are a blot on the landscape on a nearby hill next to the motorway.
More appealing artwork, however, dots the vineyards and grounds of the estate of the 50-hectare estate which has been transformed from a sleepy farm to one of the leading producers in the Algarve. German entrepreneur owner Karl Heinz Stock has filled his land with over 100 pieces of art, some of which are his own; abstract stone sculptures, brightly coloured bears, posing hippos, elephants hanging from trees, a mosaic-covered Renault 5 entitled the ‘love car’ hiding under some trees and ballerinas prancing through the vineyards, over the terraces and along the roads, forming one of the largest open air galleries in the Algarve. A small petting zoo with farm animals is also an attraction for younger visitors.
The first vines were planted in the eighties by a family of wealthy Portuguese industrialists and produced mainly bulk wines, its first commercial wines being produced in 2003. Karl Heinz purchased the estate in 2006 and undertook extensive renovations and modernisations, enabling him to produce wines that reflect his philosophy of quality over quantity. It is now, understandably, a popular venue for all kinds of events. If you can’t tear yourself away, then you can also stay in one of the four lovely properties on the estate.
The estate produces a range of award-winning rosés, white and reds from Portuguese and international varieties as both blends and varietals, e.g. Alvarinho, Antão Vaz and Verdelho. Interesting finds among their wines were a Viognier orange wine, a bottle of which found its way into my bag home, and a dry fortified licoroso wine made from Touriga Nacional. The Grace Touriga Nacional is also to be recommended.
