Asset manager Norfin plans to begin planting a 30-hectare (roughly 74 acres) vineyard next to Vilamoura’s equestrian centre at the end of 2026. The Vilamoura Vineyards project will produce its own wine, and irrigate the vines with treated wastewater. According to the company, it will be the first winegrowing operation in the Algarve to take this approach.
The first phase covers 15 hectares. Planting of the full 30 hectares should be completed within the following three years, under planting authorisations approved by the Wine and Vine Institute (IVV). The chosen grape varieties comply with the Algarve Wines demarcated area, and were selected to suit the region’s unique soil and climate.
Norfin’s branching out into the vineyard and wine tourism sector add an agricultural strand to Vilamoura’s existing offering of property, tourism, leisure, and sport. Norfin, which manages the investment in Vilamoura, has spent more than two decades managing investments and property assets in Portugal, across sectors including residential, logistics, retail, and tourism.
The company has presented the use of treated wastewater as part of a robust water management strategy, given the recurring scarcity of water in the south of the country, and the need to find long-term solutions in the face of climate change.
The chance to plant a vineyard here arose from an agro-economic study by the University of the Algarve (UAlg), which confirmed the land’s suitability for winegrowing. The plots sit within the National Agricultural Reserve and the National Ecological Reserve.
After assessing whether a vineyard was compatible with the land’s constraints and the regulatory framework, Norfin teamed up in 2025 with an Algarve producer to create Challenge Escape Wine. The company will deliver the project, provide technical advice on every front, and run the wine tourism side.
“This vineyard reflects our long-term vision for Vilamoura: a destination that grows in a balanced way, valuing the environment, the economy and the identity of the territory all at once,” says Paulo Patrocínio Reis, Norfin’s head of urban planning for Vilamoura and Monte Rei. “It shows how development, environmental protection and distinctive economic activities can go hand in hand, creating value for the area and the wider region, and strengthening Vilamoura’s bond with its landscape and natural resources.”
Wine branding specialist Rita Rivotti has created the identity for Vilamoura Vineyards. The brand draws on Vilamoura’s heritage and its connection to the sea, aiming to reflect the maritime influence and sun exposure of the area, which Norfin describes as amongst the highest in the country.
“This project is a unique opportunity to showcase the Algarve’s winemaking potential through a singular terroir, shaped by the proximity of the sea, an abundance of light and a strong commitment to sustainability,” says Francisco Castelo Branco, the consultant leading implementation for Challenge Escape Wine and a consultant to Arvad Wines. “We want to create wines that capture the identity of Vilamoura while helping to enhance the region, adding a new, high-quality offering built on authenticity, landscape and excellence. It is a long-term vision that brings farming, wine tourism and territory together in a single proposition.”
Source: PÚBLICO
Photo credit: Norfin
