Dão Wine Region – Santar

We think some of the best excursions from Tiny Escape are to two of our biggest wine regions: the Dão and Douro Valley.  The fastest stop with a great payout is Santar.  If you have been in Portugal for 24 hours or more, you’ve likely seen the striking red, green and gold Casa de Santar wine labels.  It’s a great wine, but Santar is more than a memorable label or just one winery.  Santar is a stately village with an interesting story.

In the middle ages, the Crown granted nobles land in exchange for loyalty, military service and local governance.  Santar was one of the most lucrative and convenient territories because the Dão valley is so fertile and minutes away from Viseu; a well-fortified medieval city and a strategic trade hub.  So, what did all of these ultra-rich nobles do?  They built expansive palaces and exquisite gardens to show their refinement and one-up their neighbors.  Today we benefit from their competitive spirit by getting to see those gardens, once visited only by royalty and the super wealthy.

The gardens are a must-see but so is a stroll through the village-center with its cafes, cute shops and charming homes.  And then, of course, linger for a wine tasting.  We recommend three wineries that have good wine ratings and offer tastings (reservations only):

• Paço dos Cunhas & Casa de Santar – Ask about their vineyard jeep tour.
• Santar Vila Jardim – They have a wide variety of tour options.
• Quinta do Sobral – Less touristy which is good but check to see if they have the experience you want.