Helwigus Single Vineyard is tucked away just north of the village, on a sideroad crossing an area of farmland and villas set on large plots.
Invited by the owners Helwig and Madlen Ehlers, themselves long-term AWS members, the group of 24 heard the story of the winery, examined the compact production area with its state of the art equipment and finished with a walk up the hill to the old farm building that has now become an atmospheric tasting room. Inside a delicious selection of charcuterie and cheeses had been provided, accompanied by the range of Helwigus wines. Twenty years ago, the Ehlers were enjoying a glass of fine Portuguese wine at their newly-acquired property, when they decided to try making their own! When friends and wine experts tasted the results, they were so impressed by the quality of the wine that within a few years Helwigus wines became a serious business and since 2013 has been DOP regulated, a recognition of quality and authenticity. The focus is on Portuguese varieties, together with some Syrah - a grape suited to the Algarve climate – and so the Helwigus range is dominated by reds, although when the visitors came to buying wine at the end of the visit, the white and rosé were also popular, and members filled their boots before departing!
The AWS will be taking a summer break after the next event at O Barrados on 15 June.
More information on the AWS is available at www.algarve
winesociety.com and on Helwigus Single Vineyard at www.helwigus.com. Visits by appointment only.