Quinta do Gradil is one of the oldest properties in Cadaval and is in the Lisbon wine region. It is located by the Serra de Montejunto (Montejunto hills), occupying 200 hectares of agricultural area and 80 hectares of vineyards, including fantastic biodiversity in the heart of Portugal. The first historical references to Quinta do Gradil date back to 1492. At the time it was a rich agricultural property and one of the royals' favorite hunting grounds. Only in the 17th century did wine become an economic activity. At the time almost all the production was sold to the city of Lisbon.
All the vineyards at Quinta do Gradil were at risk of being uprooted in the 18th century under the orders of Dom José, but after several complaints from the workers and after an inspection of the vineyards, their quality was reaffirmed and a disaster was thus avoided. Quinta do Gradil has seven centuries of winemaking tradition and history, with notable figures influencing the success of the estate, one of them being the Marquês de Pombal, who acquired the property in 1760. Luís Vieira is the current owner of Quinta do Gradil, and since its purchase in the 1990s has modernized the century-old winery, rehabilitated the vineyards and developed wine tourism to offer unforgettable wine experiences combined with history.
The wines from Quinta do Gradil show the essence of the region's terroir, such as the native varieties, Arinto and Fernão Pires, and others adapted to the area, such as Viosinho, Alvarinho, Sauvignon Blanc and the red variety Tannat. In this historical landmark, which is just 1 hour away from Lisbon, visitors can choose various experiences: wine tastings or brunches, picnics or grape harvest experiences. Visits to the actual winery area are only possible on Saturdays for health and safety reasons when the winery is not actually in operation.
