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📍 Palmela

Appellation ✔ Checked: 10.2026 · sources: 7 Updated:

Sandy soils with the Castelão grape.

Palmela is a wine appellation on the Setúbal Peninsula south of Lisbon. Its centre is the town of Palmela on a hill in the Arrábida hills, about 25 kilometres from the capital, with a castle from which the peninsula, Lisbon and the ocean coast can be seen. Administratively the town belongs to the Lisbon region and Setúbal District.

The main grape is Castelão, locally called Periquita; it forms the basis of the reds. Palmela gained DOC status after being an IPR, and the former Arrábida zone was absorbed into it; there the soils are limestone and well-drained, which suits red grapes. Elsewhere the soils are sandy.

The district's main grapes are named as Alfrocheiro, Arinto, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fernão Pires, Muscat of Alexandria, Roupeiro, Tamarez and Tinta Amarela. Red and white wines are made, as well as fortified and sweet ones.

Next door lies another well-known appellation, Setúbal, where the famous fortified Moscatel is made. Both lie on the peninsula south of the Tagus river, opposite Lisbon. Castelão, also called Periquita, is one of Portugal's most widespread red grapes, and Muscat of Alexandria gives the sweet wines.

On the map: Palmela
kind of📍Setúbal Peninsulamain grape of🍇Castelãomakes🍷Red winemakes🍷White winemakes🍷Still winemakes🍷Fortified winemakes🍷Sweet wine📍towardia.com
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How it connects to Wine

📍 Palmela ← main grape of ← 🍇 Castelão → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine

Part of
📍 Setúbal Peninsula
Grapes
🍇 Castelão
Main grapes
🍇 Castelão
Wines
🍷 Red wine, 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Still wine, 🍷 Fortified wine, 🍷 Sweet wine

Frequently asked questions

Where is Palmela?

On the Setúbal Peninsula south of Lisbon, near the town of Palmela in the Arrábida hills.

Which grape is the main one in Palmela?

Castelão (Periquita), the basis of the reds.

What wines are made in Palmela?

Red, white, fortified and sweet wines.

What to read next

  • 🍷 Still wine — Ordinary wine without carbon dioxide bubbles.
  • 🍷 White wine — Wine made from grape juice without the skins; it can come from pale and even dark berries.
  • 🍷 Red wine — Wine from dark grapes that ferments with the skins and takes its colour from them.
  • 🍷 Sweet wine — Wine with a lot of sugar, drunk with dessert or instead of it.
  • 🍷 Fortified wine — Wine with added grape spirit; it is stronger and keeps longer.

Similar

📍 Setúbal · 📜 Lebrija · 📜 Maury · 📜 Tarragona · 📍 La Palma · 📜 Sant'Antimo

⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.

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