Quinta do Piloto is a family-owned winery located near
Palmela on the Península de Setúbal, south of Lisbon in Portugal.

The estate belongs to the Cardoso family, whose winemaking
history in the region dates back to the early twentieth century.

The vineyards are influenced by a Mediterranean climate with
warm summers and sandy soils, conditions well suited to both indigenous and international grape varieties.

The estate produces red, rosé and fortified wines, including Vinha dos Pardais Tinto and Moscatel de Setúbal.

Key grape varieties grown include Castelão, Touriga
Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, Sauvignon Blanc and Fernão Pires.

Península de Setúbal is a distinctive wine region in southern Portugal, located just south of Lisbon between the Atlantic Ocean and the Sado and Tagus estuaries.

The region benefits from a warm Mediterranean climate moderated by strong maritime influences, helping grapes ripen fully while retaining freshness. Its soils are varied, ranging from sandy coastal plots to limestone, chalk and clay inland, contributing to diverse wine styles.

Península de Setúbal is best known for Moscatel de Setúbal, a fortified wine made primarily from Moscatel de Alexandria, prized for its intense aromas of orange peel, honey and spice and its ability to age gracefully for decades.

Alongside fortified wines, the region produces high-quality still reds and whites from varieties such as Castelão, Touriga Nacional, Arinto and Fernão Pires.

Divided mainly into the Setúbal and Palmela designations, the region combines historic tradition with modern winemaking and growing international recognition.

Alicante Bouschet is a distinctive red grape variety notable for its deep, inky colour, a result of being a teinturier—one of the rare grapes with both red skins and red flesh. It was created in France in the mid-19th century by Henri Bouschet, who crossed Petit Bouschet (itself a teinturier hybrid) with Grenache. Originally bred to provide intense colour and structure to blends, it soon gained recognition as a standalone variety.

Viticulturally, Alicante Bouschet is a vigorous, high-yielding vine that thrives in warm, sunny climates. It is hardy and relatively disease-resistant, though it can be prone to rot in humid conditions. The grape’s thick skins and high anthocyanin content make it ideal for producing deeply coloured wines.

Today, Alicante Bouschet is planted widely beyond its French origins, particularly in Spain, Portugal (notably in Alentejo), California, Chile, and parts of North Africa. In Portugal, it has achieved high quality status, producing structured, ageworthy wines.

Its wines are typically rich, full-bodied, and deeply pigmented, with flavours of dark berries, plum, and spice, often accompanied by earthy or smoky notes. While commonly blended to enhance colour and depth, top examples as a varietal wine can be powerful, complex, and long-lived.

Touriga Nacional is widely regarded as Portugal’s finest red grape variety, known for its deep colour, intense aromatics, and powerful structure. Indigenous to the Dão region, it is now most famously associated with the Douro Valley, where it plays a leading role in both Port and dry red wine production. The variety has also found success in other regions, including Alentejo, Bairrada, and even internationally in countries like South Africa and Australia.

Aromatically, Touriga Nacional offers a rich bouquet of dark fruits such as blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, alongside floral notes of violet and rose. It often shows spicy, herbal undertones and, with age, can develop complex hints of liquorice, leather, and cedar. On the palate, it delivers bold tannins, vibrant acidity, and excellent ageing potential.

Despite its high quality, Touriga Nacional poses several viticultural challenges. It is naturally low yielding and has small, thick-skinned berries, which contribute to its concentration but can reduce productivity. The vine is also vigorous and requires careful canopy management to ensure balanced fruit ripening and optimal exposure.

Thanks to its resilience, depth, and distinctive character, Touriga Nacional remains a cornerstone of Portuguese winemaking and a benchmark for quality in both blended and varietal wines.

Castelão is one of Portugal’s most widely planted red grape varieties and is especially associated with the Península de Setúbal, Alentejo and Tejo regions.

It thrives in hot, dry climates and performs particularly well in sandy soils, where it can produce balanced wines with good acidity. The grape is valued for its resilience and ability to ripen reliably even in challenging conditions.

Wines made from Castelão are typically medium-bodied with moderate tannins and bright acidity. Aromas often include red cherry, plum and wild berries, alongside earthy, herbal and sometimes slightly gamey notes as the wine ages.

With time in bottle, the wines can develop more complex flavours of leather, spice and dried fruit. Castelão is often used for approachable everyday reds but can also produce structured wines capable of ageing.

Alicante Bouschet is a distinctive red grape variety notable for its deep, inky colour, a result of being a teinturier—one of the rare grapes with both red skins and red flesh. It was created in France in the mid-19th century by Henri Bouschet, who crossed Petit Bouschet (itself a teinturier hybrid) with Grenache. Originally bred to provide intense colour and structure to blends, it soon gained recognition as a standalone variety.

Viticulturally, Alicante Bouschet is a vigorous, high-yielding vine that thrives in warm, sunny climates. It is hardy and relatively disease-resistant, though it can be prone to rot in humid conditions. The grape’s thick skins and high anthocyanin content make it ideal for producing deeply coloured wines.

Today, Alicante Bouschet is planted widely beyond its French origins, particularly in Spain, Portugal (notably in Alentejo), California, Chile, and parts of North Africa. In Portugal, it has achieved high quality status, producing structured, ageworthy wines.

Its wines are typically rich, full-bodied, and deeply pigmented, with flavours of dark berries, plum, and spice, often accompanied by earthy or smoky notes. While commonly blended to enhance colour and depth, top examples as a varietal wine can be powerful, complex, and long-lived.

Touriga Nacional is widely regarded as Portugal’s finest red grape variety, known for its deep colour, intense aromatics, and powerful structure. Indigenous to the Dão region, it is now most famously associated with the Douro Valley, where it plays a leading role in both Port and dry red wine production. The variety has also found success in other regions, including Alentejo, Bairrada, and even internationally in countries like South Africa and Australia.

Aromatically, Touriga Nacional offers a rich bouquet of dark fruits such as blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, alongside floral notes of violet and rose. It often shows spicy, herbal undertones and, with age, can develop complex hints of liquorice, leather, and cedar. On the palate, it delivers bold tannins, vibrant acidity, and excellent ageing potential.

Despite its high quality, Touriga Nacional poses several viticultural challenges. It is naturally low yielding and has small, thick-skinned berries, which contribute to its concentration but can reduce productivity. The vine is also vigorous and requires careful canopy management to ensure balanced fruit ripening and optimal exposure.

Thanks to its resilience, depth, and distinctive character, Touriga Nacional remains a cornerstone of Portuguese winemaking and a benchmark for quality in both blended and varietal wines.

Castelão is one of Portugal’s most widely planted red grape varieties and is especially associated with the Península de Setúbal, Alentejo and Tejo regions.

It thrives in hot, dry climates and performs particularly well in sandy soils, where it can produce balanced wines with good acidity. The grape is valued for its resilience and ability to ripen reliably even in challenging conditions.

Wines made from Castelão are typically medium-bodied with moderate tannins and bright acidity. Aromas often include red cherry, plum and wild berries, alongside earthy, herbal and sometimes slightly gamey notes as the wine ages.

With time in bottle, the wines can develop more complex flavours of leather, spice and dried fruit. Castelão is often used for approachable everyday reds but can also produce structured wines capable of ageing.

Alicante Bouschet is a distinctive red grape variety notable for its deep, inky colour, a result of being a teinturier—one of the rare grapes with both red skins and red flesh. It was created in France in the mid-19th century by Henri Bouschet, who crossed Petit Bouschet (itself a teinturier hybrid) with Grenache. Originally bred to provide intense colour and structure to blends, it soon gained recognition as a standalone variety.

Viticulturally, Alicante Bouschet is a vigorous, high-yielding vine that thrives in warm, sunny climates. It is hardy and relatively disease-resistant, though it can be prone to rot in humid conditions. The grape’s thick skins and high anthocyanin content make it ideal for producing deeply coloured wines.

Today, Alicante Bouschet is planted widely beyond its French origins, particularly in Spain, Portugal (notably in Alentejo), California, Chile, and parts of North Africa. In Portugal, it has achieved high quality status, producing structured, ageworthy wines.

Its wines are typically rich, full-bodied, and deeply pigmented, with flavours of dark berries, plum, and spice, often accompanied by earthy or smoky notes. While commonly blended to enhance colour and depth, top examples as a varietal wine can be powerful, complex, and long-lived.

Touriga Nacional is widely regarded as Portugal’s finest red grape variety, known for its deep colour, intense aromatics, and powerful structure. Indigenous to the Dão region, it is now most famously associated with the Douro Valley, where it plays a leading role in both Port and dry red wine production. The variety has also found success in other regions, including Alentejo, Bairrada, and even internationally in countries like South Africa and Australia.

Aromatically, Touriga Nacional offers a rich bouquet of dark fruits such as blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, alongside floral notes of violet and rose. It often shows spicy, herbal undertones and, with age, can develop complex hints of liquorice, leather, and cedar. On the palate, it delivers bold tannins, vibrant acidity, and excellent ageing potential.

Despite its high quality, Touriga Nacional poses several viticultural challenges. It is naturally low yielding and has small, thick-skinned berries, which contribute to its concentration but can reduce productivity. The vine is also vigorous and requires careful canopy management to ensure balanced fruit ripening and optimal exposure.

Thanks to its resilience, depth, and distinctive character, Touriga Nacional remains a cornerstone of Portuguese winemaking and a benchmark for quality in both blended and varietal wines.

Castelão is one of Portugal’s most widely planted red grape varieties and is especially associated with the Península de Setúbal, Alentejo and Tejo regions.

It thrives in hot, dry climates and performs particularly well in sandy soils, where it can produce balanced wines with good acidity. The grape is valued for its resilience and ability to ripen reliably even in challenging conditions.

Wines made from Castelão are typically medium-bodied with moderate tannins and bright acidity. Aromas often include red cherry, plum and wild berries, alongside earthy, herbal and sometimes slightly gamey notes as the wine ages.

With time in bottle, the wines can develop more complex flavours of leather, spice and dried fruit. Castelão is often used for approachable everyday reds but can also produce structured wines capable of ageing.