Cook the Farm Portugal
April 8-18, 2027
11 days
12 max.
DURATION
COHORT
DATES
When people think of Portugal, they often picture tiled façades, ocean views, and the golden light of Lisbon. But beyond the capital and the coastline lies another rhythm shaped by agriculture, communal traditions, and a deep relationship to the land. In the heart of the Alentejo, a region of vineyards, olive groves, and cork forests, daily routines still revolve around food, land, and community.
Over eleven days, we’ll base ourselves in Vila de Frades, a small wine town known for its talha winemaking tradition since the Romans. Here, the family winery, Gerações da Talha, and village become our home, both a classroom and community. From morning walks to the bakery, afternoons in the kitchen, and evenings around the table, life here is grounded in the familiarity of neighbors, local producers, and the continuity of daily ritual.
Food in Alentejo is inseparable from the landscape, a cuisine born from its olive groves, cork forests, wheat fields, and vineyards. We learn by doing: cooking traditional dishes, harvesting from gardens, milking goats, and tasting wine, olive oil, and honey at their source. We follow ingredients from land to table, guided by farmers, cooks, and artisans whose work continues generations of knowledge.
Beyond the kitchen, we explore vineyards by jeep, visit ceramicists shaping the clay amphora used in winemaking, and spend time in the montado, the unique ecosystem of cork oak forests, grazing animals, and wild edibles. We will take a day trip to the town of Évora, where layers of history meet contemporary life, and family-run estates offer insight into traditions that continue to evolve.
Cook the Farm Portugal is about engaging directly with a landscape, and understanding how things are made, where they come from, and the people behind them. We will explore relationships to land, craft, and one another. This is a program shaped by participation and curiosity, grounded in real experiences of food, land, and daily life in the Alentejo.
Cook the Farm Portugal
Dates: April 8-18, 2027 (11 days)
Cohort: 12 people, maximum
Single Occupancy: $8,245
Double Occupancy: $7,330
Over eleven days, we’ll step into the Alentejo landscape and meet the people who keep its traditions alive: shepherds, farmers and winemakers, whose work is inseparable from the land around them. From cellars where wine ferments in clay amphorae, to the vast montado system, a unique mosaic of cork oak forests, pasture, and biodiversity, we’ll explore how food and farming continue to shape the region’s identity.
Through cooking, tasting, and exploring, we’ll see how food ties together place, community, and heritage offering a grounded look at what defines this region.
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Arrival Day: We’ll meet in the afternoon in Lisbon before heading south to the village of Vila de Frades. After settling into our accommodations, we’ll gather for introductions and share our first dinner together at the family-run winery Gerações.
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An introduction to the landscapes and food traditions of the Alentejo. We will take a walk through town to discover the village where we will spend the next 10 days, followed by a welcome lunch in a local taberna. In the afternoon, we head into the kitchen for our first cooking lesson exploring the foundations of Alentejo cuisine.
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A day dedicated to Vila de Frades’ winemaking heritage. We start with an introduction to talha (amphora) wine before heading out for a jeep tour of the vineyards. In the afternoon, we will visit a local ceramicist who crafts the clay amphora essential to this wine-making technique.
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Early morning visit to the town bakery where we learn about the history of the region’s bread baking culture. After breakfast in the town square, we have a cooking lesson with a local chef. Afternoon walk back to town and enjoy a free evening to explore at your own pace.
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A day immersed in the montado, Alentejo’s unique cork oak ecosystem. Guided by local experts, we’ll learn about cork harvesting, wildlife, and traditional land management. A gentle hike and foraging session to connect us directly to the landscape before returning for dinner.
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We travel to Évora, a UNESCO-listed city rich in history. Morning visit to a local farm to learn about the region’s heritage breed black pig. After lunch in Évora, there’s time to wander its historic streets before returning to Vila de Frades.
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At a family-run regenerative farm, we harvest seasonal produce directly from the fields to prepare a meal outdoors. We will cook our bounty over fire and share lunch at the farm. The evening is yours to explore the village.
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Morning visit to a dairy farm, we milk goats and make fresh cheese. After a farm lunch, we walk through the farm’s olive groves and visit the mill to understand the full process of olive oil.
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Visit a beekeeper to learn about bees, honey production, and their role in the ecosystem. After lunch, we visit the nearby Roman ruins of São Cucufate.
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On our final day together, we set out on a rota das adegas, the village tradition of visiting home wine cellars and tasting along the way. The journey culminates in a festive farewell dinner, accompanied by traditional cante alentejano singing.
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After breakfast, we say our goodbyes and depart Vila de Frades and transfer to Lisbon.
Projected schedule. Activities and presenters are subject to change without notice and dates of events may be adjusted to suit venue and/or producer needs. The program is an idea of themes, activities, and topics that may be covered.
Life in Vila de Frades: The program takes place for all 10 nights in the village of Vila de Frades, a small wine village in the heart of the Alentejo, surrounded by vineyards. Life here moves at a slow familiar rhythm, shaped by local gathering spots and daily rituals. Known for its talha winemaking tradition, the village offers an intimate glimpse into a way of life where food, wine, and hospitality are deeply intertwined.
Language: Most programming is in English. Translation will be provided for Portuguese lecturers and/or experiences.
How to get there: Fly into and out of Lisbon (LIS). CTF provides a group transfer to and from Lisbon airport/city center at set times on the arrival and departure dates: these will be confirmed in advance of the program. Vila de Frades is approximately a two and a half hours drive from Lisbon by car. Independent travel is not included and is your own responsibility.
Accommodation: In Vila de Frades, you will stay in restored traditional houses in the village just minutes’ walk from the main gathering place where meals are shared. Single rooms have bathrooms shared with one other participant. Double rooms have a dedicated bathroom. Bathrooms are not necessarily ensuite. There will be a linen and towel change twice during the program.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Accommodation
Lodging in comfortable homes with living areas. Rooms are in various homes around the village just minutes walking from the main house where we gather for meals.Shuttle Transfer
Transfer from Lisbon airport / city center at a set time on arrival date and departure dates.Meals + wine
All meals (including wine with dinner) and activities outlined in the program, and transfers to all activities.
NOT INCLUDED
Flight
Airfare to and from Lisbon, Portugal is not included.Insurance
Travel insurance must be arranged independently by participants.Extra
Laundry available for a fee. Gifts and or extra provisions you’d like for yourself on outings.