Casa Relvas is a family‑run wine project in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal, founded in 1997 by Alexandre Relvas to continue his family’s long winemaking traditions.

Based in São Miguel de Machede in the Redondo area, the estate has grown to manage around 350 hectares of vineyards, part of a larger agricultural estate that also includes olive groves and Montado forest.

Casa Relvas produces a wide range of wines from native grapes such as Rabo de Ovelha, Antão Vaz and Arinto through to international sorts like Sauvignon Blanc, as well as rich red blends typical of the region.

Alentejo spans Portugal’s sun-baked south-east, a broad plateau of rolling plains dotted with cork oak (montado). The climate is decidedly Mediterranean–continental: hot, dry summers and cool, damp winters, with scant rainfall and abundant sunshine. Elevation and exposure bring vital nuance—cooler, wind-kissed Portalegre rises on the Serra de São Mamede, while Vidigueira benefits from a natural wind corridor that moderates heat; areas further south and east are markedly warmer. Atlantic breezes temper western edges, and big day–night swings help preserve acidity.

Soils are varied and generally poor, encouraging low vigour and flavour concentration: granite and schist dominate, alongside limestone, clay and sandy patches. This mosaic underpins the DOC Alentejo’s eight subregions (Portalegre, Borba, Redondo, Évora, Reguengos, Granja-Amareleja, Vidigueira and Moura).

Grape varieties are both traditional and international. Reds feature Aragonez (Tempranillo), Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet (a regional star), Touriga Nacional, Castelão and Syrah. Whites are led by Antão Vaz—aromatic and resilient to heat—joined by Arinto (for zest), Roupeiro (Síria) and Fernão Pires.

Stylistically, Alentejo is generous yet increasingly precise. Reds range from plush, dark-fruited and velvety to fresher, more structural styles from higher sites; oak is used judiciously. Whites span crisp, citrus-lined Arinto to fuller, stone- and tropical-fruited Antão Vaz, often with a subtly textural, mineral edge. The region also preserves ancient talha (amphora) winemaking, yielding fragrant, gently tannic whites and characterful reds. Modern viticulture, altitude and thoughtful blending now deliver wines that balance sun-ripened richness with refreshing lift.

Rabo de Ovelha is a traditional white grape variety native to Portugal, primarily grown in the Alentejo and Dão regions. The name, meaning “sheep’s tail,” refers to the elongated, curved shape of its grape bunches.

It is a relatively neutral but versatile grape that produces fresh, aromatic wines with good acidity, making it well suited for warm climates where maintaining balance can be a challenge.

Aromas typically include citrus, green apple, white flowers, and hints of tropical fruit, while the palate shows crisp acidity, light stone fruit flavours, and a subtle mineral edge.

Rabo de Ovelha is often blended with other indigenous varieties like Antão Vaz, Arinto, or Roupeiro to add structure and aromatics, but it can also stand alone as a single-varietal wine.

Its adaptability, moderate yields, and food-friendly character make it popular for fresh, easy-drinking white wines in Portugal and increasingly in boutique natural or low-intervention winemaking.