It were the Phoenicians, in its maritime travels that, reaching the distant lands of the British Isles, have promoted the beginning of the wine production in the mouth of the river Tejo, with vines brought from Syria, thus being responsible for promoting the vine in our country, where it found favourable and natural conditions for its development.

The zone where the actual Estremadura is placed has been under the Muslim rule for four centuries, and viticulture was resumed only after the founding of the nation and the reconquest of lands to the Moors.

This vocation was strongly encouraged with the knowledge disseminated by the religious orders, the Benedictines first, followed by the Clunicenses and finally the Cistercian Order, which, in Estremadura, had a prominent position in Alcobaça. The clearing of land allowed to create hunting grounds, with new areas for the vineyards, and for its cultivation techniques described by the "geopónicos", from Rome time, have been resumed.

An era of stability and economic development emerged as a result of the exploration and commercialization of the products brought by sea and land, the wine being a leader in this field.

This situation remained until the dynastic crisis caused by the death of King Fernando, aggravated by the situation lived throughout Europe, with hunger, epidemics and wars, with the consequent economic recession.

In this context the wine sector sees a new setback, taking some time to recover, due to the importance that in the 14th and 15th centuries was given to the Discoveries and the recruitment of capable men for that task.

The 19th century, though it had an era of overproduction of wine, was a period marked by a series of weighty facts for the culture of vines.

The beginning was drastically marked by the French invasions that, in addition to lead to the abandonment of many lands, after the widespread acts of looting on the route followed by the invaders, still caused, particularly in Estremadura, south of Torres Vedras, the diversion of all rural workers to defend Lisbon (the famous Line of Torres).

The attack, on the entire country, of phylloxera, an insect that attacked the roots of the European vines, caused the death of most the vineyards in Portugal. When the solution was found, rapidly the slopes of Estremadura where again filled with vines.

Consolidated the recovery of the culture of the vine and resumed its expansion throughout Estremadura, several areas see their regional pasture type wines recognized.

With the publication of the Decree of 1 October 1908, conditions were created to start the process of demarcation of the regions of Carcavelos, Colares and Bucelas. The same could have happened with Torres and Alcobaça, but reasons difficult to understand led to a wait of nearly 80 years.

The change in the habits of rural way of living, the consumer habits and the wine policy itself, as consequence of the integration in the European Community, led to a rethinking of that structure.

The selection of grape varieties, the enhancement of technology, the knowledge of new designations of origin, together with the effort of the vine producer and the information of the oenologist, were cornerstones to achieve the current situation, putting the Estremadura wines in a high deserved quality level.

The main white grape varieties are: Arinto, Fernão Pires, Malvasia, Seara-Nova and Vital, and the reds are Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão, Tinta Miúda, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira, beyond the contribution of foreign varieties as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.