Lower Alentejo estate with organic vineyards, olive groves, and the red Herdade dos Lagos Carapeto.
The producer
Herdade dos Lagos is a 25 hectare Lower Alentejo estate owned by Germany's Zeppenfeld family for more than thirty years. Its vineyards grow Aragonez, Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet, and have been farmed organically since 2008. A renovated winery uses a Europress for gentle pressing and chilled tanks for red wines. The estate also encompasses 80 hectares of olive groves, producing extra virgin olive oil. Carapeto 2022 is the named Alentejano red, aged with stainless steel and French oak.
Known for
Organic Alentejo red wines
Notable facts
The vineyards have been farmed organically since 2008 without herbicides or chemical pesticides.
The estate keeps 1,200 Merino sheep for vineyard grazing before young shoots develop.
The winery uses a Europress for gentle pressing and chilled tanks for red wines.
The estate also encompasses 80 hectares of olive groves.
The story
Platinum for Touriga Nacional
In 2024, HDL Touriga Nacional 2022 received a Platinum distinction at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The judging was blind. A 243 person international panel tasted 18,143 wines from 57 countries. The judges included 20 Master Sommeliers and 61 Masters of Wine, with the panel representing 33 countries. The distinction belonged to one named wine and one vintage from Herdade dos Lagos, Touriga Nacional 2022. The wine was identified by both its cuvée name and its vintage in the result.
Platinum for Touriga Nacional
In 2024, HDL Touriga Nacional 2022 received a Platinum distinction at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The judging was blind. A 243 person international panel tasted 18,143 wines from 57 countries. The judges included 20 Master Sommeliers and 61 Masters of Wine, with the panel representing 33 countries. The distinction belonged to one named wine and one vintage from Herdade dos Lagos, Touriga Nacional 2022. The wine was identified by both its cuvée name and its vintage in the result.
From the atlas
Herdade dos Lagos
Herdade dos Lagos is a Lower Alentejo estate with organic vineyards, olive groves, and wines in red, white, rosé and sparkling styles.
At A Glance
Region
Lower Alentejo
Main grapes
Aragonez, Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet
Named red
Herdade dos Lagos Carapeto 2022
Defining feature
Organic vineyard farming
The Producer
Aragonez, Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet fill the 25 hectares of vineyards at Herdade dos Lagos in Lower Alentejo. The Zeppenfeld family from Germany has owned the estate for more than thirty years.
The vineyards have been farmed organically since 2008. The winery has been completely renovated and modernized, with a Europress for gentle pressing and chilled tanks for red wines. The equipment supports fruity wines while the traditional estate buildings contain tasting, sales, storage, office and barrique cellar spaces.
Place
Herdade dos Lagos is in Vale de Camelos, in Lower Alentejo. The estate also encompasses 80 hectares of olive groves that yield extra virgin olive oil, placing wine and olive cultivation within the same agricultural property.
Carapeto carries the Alentejano designation on its label. The wine sits within a regional category, while the estate's named grape plantings give the range its variety.
Wines
The range extends across red and white wines, rosé and sparkling wine. The producer presents these wines as vegan and organically certified.
Herdade dos Lagos Carapeto is a 2022 Alentejano red wine aged for eight months. Ninety percent of the ageing takes place in stainless steel tanks and 10% in French oak, giving the wine a cellar regimen split between neutral steel and oak contact. HDL Touriga Nacional 2022 is another named red wine from the estate.
In The Glass
Carapeto has a dark blue purple colour. Its aroma is nuanced, fruity and slightly spicy, with oak, blackberry, blueberry, violet, rosemary, liquorice, black pepper and vanilla. The palate is dry and medium in body, with balanced medium high acidity, good tannins and a long finish with pleasant warmth.
Final Word
Herdade dos Lagos combines organic vineyard farming in Lower Alentejo with a modernized winery and a range that includes Carapeto, white wine, rosé and sparkling wine.