Cork Farm Experience in Alentejo

So you want to be a cork farmer? Laura Mogul

Definitely take this tour with Joaquim. He will show you his family’s montado, explain the joys and challenges of cork farming and answer every question you have. Then he’ll serve what is called “a tasting” but is really a full lunch. You will come away with huge respect for the people who live this life and keep the traditions alive. And you will never buy screw-top wine again.

Superb Experience Lynne Hambleton-Magee

We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the Cork Farm today, learning about the different oak trees, the life of a cork tree, and how cork is harvested. Our guide is the farm manager/owner. Joaquim was engaging, knowledgeable and a great communicator. He listened to all our questions and patiently answered them. The tour was topped off with a delicious lunch. The views are lovely and well worth a visit. We learned a tremendous amount! We highly recommend this tour.

Amazing up close and personal tour! Mandy Roylance

Our group of six really enjoyed this tour! We learned all about the business of producing and selling cork. Our extended journey through the farm gave us a clear understanding of the past, present, and future of the cork industry. And, we got to see the tenant pigs and meet Max, the farm dog. It was a memorable experience! A true highlight of our trip to Portugal. Highly recommend!

Most excellent tour! Ed Voogt

This experience was very informative. Our guide Joaquim was amazing. His knowledge is to notch, and he answered all our questions with ease. He was patient with our questions, and the ground your was amazing. The tasting tray at the end was stunning, way more than we expected. Highly recommended!

A First-hand Tutorial on the Fascinating World of the Cork Business David Hawkins

My wife and I strongly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn about the cork industry. We visited the farm and the two hours that we spent learning about cork were quite possibly the two best hours of our entire vacation (Lisbon, Alentejo, Nazare, Coimbra, Porto). We peppered Joachim with questions and he explained things simply so that novices like us could understand what his work was all about in building and managing a cork forest. If you're curious and like learning from intelligent people about uncommon topics such as the world of cork, then this tour should definitely be on your itinerary when you visit Portugal. You will not be disappointed! We found the discussion fascinating and came away with a great appreciation for and understanding of the efforts that farmers must make to be successful in the cork industry. The challenge is especially daunting in the cork business due to the unique growing/harvesting requirements coupled with regulatory obstacles and perhaps most of all, the market challenges to the main traditional use of cork, ie, bottle stoppers. Thank you Joachim for your time and knowledge!

Wonderful experience! Laury Scandling

The walkabout with Joaquim was a standout experience during our six-week travels in Portugal. He’s the real deal; his family has worked the land 180 years. We learned so much about cork, as well as the challenges of operating a family farm in today’s world. If you appreciate a personal, authentic, down-to-earth (non-commercialized) experience with a local, do this!

Unique experience! John Berman

Tour was great. Got to walk around farm and learn a lot about cork growing and harvesting as well as the other farm businesses. Great way to spend a couple of hours and learn about a local industry. Thank you Farm Experiences & Tours !

Amazing experience! Norma Bentham

Joaquim was an amazing host, his English was impeccable and his knowledge of the cork products was incredible. We learned a lot and appreciated the wine, olives, bread and cheese afterwards. Highly recommend this tour!

Amazing tour! Gonzo

Amazing tour with Joaquin. His information and knowledge was very impressive. The tour was amazing and he took us all through the cork orchards and even showed us the black pigs which were quite entertaining. We ended our tour with an amazing charcuterie tray, including some wine. Highly recommended

Highly recommend Damien Conte

Our visit to the farm in the heart of Alentejo, Portugal, was an unforgettable experience. We had the opportunity to learn about cork production and enjoy delicious Portuguese cuisine. The farmer was incredibly welcoming and spoke perfect English, which made our visit even more enjoyable. The farm, located amidst beautiful and isolated landscapes, offered a complete change of scenery. It was an authentic and enriching experience that I highly recommend to anyone visiting the region.

A very nice experience Iwona Kosierb

It was a really nice experience to witness the harvest of cork oak trees. I learned a lot about cork and the entire harvesting process. The host was very friendly and answered all of our questions about the cork oak trees and the harvest itself. It was a unique experience that few people get the chance to have. I can highly recommend this tour.

Incredible Experience! Andrew Rohrer

What an incredible experience! I was so impressed with the immersive experience during harvest season. Getting to see the harvest and even helping to load, or throw a piece of bark onto a truck was incredible. The farm manager was our tour guide and he was very personable and knowledgable. Max, the family farm dog, also came along for the ride! The whole experience and food/wine tasting afterwards was amazing. I highly recommend this experience, especially during harvest season!