Region - An important agricultural region - Adega Cooperativa de Borba

An important agricultural region

The Alentejo region is located in the south of Portugal. The word Alentejo means literally "além do Tejo", "beyond the Tejo", and in fact the Alentejo is located south from this river, and is the biggest province of Portugal, occupying 1/3 of the national territory. To the north it borders on the river Tejo, to the west on the Atlantic Ocean, to the east on the Spanish border, and to the south on the region "Algarve". The province Alentejo is subdivided in four regions: Alto Alentejo (Upper Alentejo), Alentejo Central (Central Alentejo), Baixo Alentejo (Lower Alentejo) and Alentejo Litoral (Littoral Alentejo). It counts 46 municipalities, dispersed over the districts of Portalegre, Évora, Beja and part of Setúbal.

The Alentejo is a vast area, essentially rural, with a low demographic density. It offers an exceptional environmental quality and a preserved landscape: vast plains covered with large olive groves and vineyards, oak groves and groves of holm-oaks, natural parks, hunting areas and lakes.

The Alentejo is the principal agricultural region of Portugal, representing almost half of the agricultural surface in use in the country:

the principal crops produced in large volumes are cereals, olives and grapes, besides some important niches like horticultural products.
the olive oil sector has an important role in the region, being responsible for 30% of the national production.
for what silviculture is concerned, oak groves and groves of holms-oaks stand out. They represent around 70% of the national total, which equals 40% of the world total.
the Alentejo has great aptness for the production of authentic quality wines.
the breeding of cattle also plays a role of fundamental importance - of bovines, but also of pigs, goats and ovines, which alone represents around 50% of the national total breeding.