At Quinta de Sampayo, in Vale da Pinta, Cartaxo, a family recovered 1000 Galician olive trees and invested in the revival of the Trincadeira das Pratas variety. With sensory experiences, the doors are open to experience authentic rural life.
In 2024, where some saw bush, a family imagined magic. He decided to save the heritage of more than 300 years from abandonment and make the farm live a new era today. It is guaranteed that the legacy of Luiz Teixeira de Sampayo — the visionary, first Viscount of Cartaxo — continues to live on. Where grandparents laid the foundations, children lead the way, grandchildren grow up among nature and animals.
A Quinta de Sampayo It has become “down to earth” wine tourism, where children (those in the family and those who visit them) learn that wine is born from respect and not from a machine.
The center of Quinta do Sampayo’s activity is wine and the way it is produced, with a focus on authenticity, sustainability and respect for the environment. terroir.
It is a heritage from 1718 with the energy of a family that refuses to let history cool down in which wine tourism emerges as the most effective way of publicizing this work, it functions as the largest and most immersive showcase of the wine they produce.
In this sense, it intends to assert itself as a hub of sensory experiences, provided by the uniqueness of this territory. It invites you to slow down through experiences that combine ancestral knowledge with creativity.
They open the doors to guided tours, wine tastings and exclusive events, which can also be held at Espaço Sampayo, in Pontével, just a few minutes from Quinta do Cartaxo.
Experiences that celebrate the land: Pruning, Tasting and Painting
Quinta do Sampayo
Following the seasonal opportunities, there is a “Pruning & Tasting” itinerary (€30), immersing yourself in the vineyard, with an explanation about viticulture with André Domingues, pruning the vineyard while you’re at it and learning about the cycles of the moon. It is possible to feel the pulse of the land on the “Walk through the Vineyards” (€30), or experience the community spirit on the “Harvesting as a Vinhateiro” program, complete with transport by tractor and regional lunch (€80).
Take the Premium Tasting (€30), guided by the winemaker, Marco Crespo, or the challenge of creating “A unique wine, yours!” (€70), an adventure of experimentation that begins with a blind tasting of four wines and, through mixing varieties, takes on the role of winemaker. Who knows, you might discover a talent for “wine alchemy”. You are guaranteed a fun time and a bottle of wine to give to friends or as a souvenir.
Go horseback riding through vineyards (€70) and culminate in a picnic (€60). If you have an artistic streak, tap into it and use red wine to paint a canvas with artist Massimo Esposito (€115). If your preference is to combine wine and gastronomy, the “In the Cellar with the Chef” initiative (€100), usually in the company of it’s the right experience.
Ana Macedo, Quinta do Sampayo
Each visit is intended to be “an invitation to be part of the family and celebrate life, glass in hand, between heritage and innovation”. Quinta de Sampayo rejects the concept of mass tourism. “We don’t want a visitor factory”, says the host family. “The objective is proximity and anyone who visits the farm is invited to immerse themselves in authentic rural life.”
Ana Filipa Macedo took over the management of Quinta do Sampayo to honor her father’s legacy and transformed the place into a life project, focused on tradition, respect for the region and local community. She has the support of her husband in managing this project, Pedro Emídio, and a dedicated team.
They see the revitalization of the winery and vineyards as an ongoing and collective mission. Between the 1000 recovered Galician olive trees and the investment in the resilient Trincadeira das Pratas grape variety, this project lives in harmony with nature, not forgetting the contribution of the little goat Julieta and other “companions”, turkeys, ducks and sheep. Everyone has a role to play in the ecosystem.
Discover Trincadeira das Pratas
The family’s commitment to the identity of the place is reflected in the vineyard. Of the property’s 90 hectares, 56 are dedicated to viticulture, including 11 hectares of new vineyards.
The highlight is the recovery of native varieties, work developed with the viticulture and oenology team, with special affection for Trincadeira das Pratas. This grape variety, which in 1920 was one of the most planted in the region, today proves to be a precious ally: resistant to the current climate, it produces fresh wines that “speak” about the land.
Respect for nature extends to the traditional olive grove. The 1000 Galician olive trees, previously forgotten, were recovered to produce organic extra virgin olive oil, cold extracted, which preserves the genuine flavor of Ribatejo.
About three years ago, Quinta do Sampayo gained a new soul and a new impulse, guided by the determined and passionate vision of Ana Macedo, daughter of the last owner, José Júlio de Macedo. Determined to rebuild the family property and continue her father’s dream, naturally with her brand, the lawyer by profession, began a profound process of transforming the brand, which involved rebuilding properties, repairing equipment, replanting the vineyard and modernizing systems.
In 2023, the first wines of a new era were born, which are consolidated, with the 2024 harvest made available last year. After many years away, it was in a conversation with her daughter that Ana Macedo made the decision to visit the Farm. “Returning to Quinta do Sampayo was much more than just satisfying an unknown need, it was like opening a book of memories and finding lost pieces of myself.” He experienced a “mix of contradictory emotions, we came to see the winery, the animal houses and the vineyards, many vineyards”.
Determined to assemble a team that matches the project’s ambition, she surrounded herself with professionals who share her passion for wine and the territory. “This return means honoring my father’s vision and, in some way, continuing it, in light of my own vision of what the Farm can be, the mark it can leave on the region and on the wines produced”, he adds.
When visiting this place that tells the story of a territory and a family, you can taste several references of white and red wines and olive oil. (Rua Comendador Francisco Firmino Ribeiro da Costa, Quinta do Sampayo, Vale da Pinta, Cartaxo. Tel. 243248021).
