The drive south crosses the Vasco da Gama Bridge — at 17 kilometres, the longest in Europe — where the Tagus opens into something closer to sea than river. Your guide uses the journey the way good guides do: not as a lecture, but as a conversation. By the time you reach the Peninsula, you'll already understand why what grows here tastes the way it does.

The first stop is Filipe Palhoca Vinhos — a family estate where the winemaker knows your guide by name. A structured tasting moves through the estate's range alongside presunto, aged cheese, pumpkin preserve, and olives — not a garnish board, but a genuine introduction to how the Palmela region eats alongside what it grows. There is time to walk the vines, understand the varieties, and ask the questions that don't fit on a wine label. Nothing is rushed.

Option 1/2: The second estate is where the day shifts register. João, the winemaker, leads the visit himself — a walk through the cellar, an honest account of how wine is made here and why, and a tasting that works through the estate's range including Setúbal's Moscatel. João has been making wine on this Peninsula long enough that the stories come naturally. Whether you arrived knowing nothing about wine or everything, you'll leave knowing something you didn't before.

Option 2/2: At our second stop we'll meet Bernardo, the winemaker behind this Alentejo estate's wines, who will guide us through a fascinating and detailed tour of the winemaking process. We'll start with a sparkling wine tasting, and throughout the tour, you'll be invited to try a selection of wines directly from the vats — a unique and fun experience!

Lunch is in Setúbal itself — a regional spread that reflects the season, served in a setting that feels genuinely local rather than arranged for tourists. Appetisers, main course, drinks, and coffee are all included. For those wanting to elevate the experience, an upgrade to a Michelin Guide restaurant in the region is available — request at the time of booking, subject to availability. Take the time you need before the afternoon begins.

After lunch, we'll head to a cozy winery and farm. Here, you'll enjoy more local wines at your own pace and have the chance to explore the vineyards and meet the farm animals. Relax and soak in the peaceful atmosphere as the sun sets over the countryside.

As you cross the 25 de Abril Bridge on the return to Lisbon, Cristo Rei appears on the southern bank — a 28-metre figure of Christ standing arms outstretched on a 75-metre pedestal, modelled on Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer. From the bridge it feels close enough to study. The scale only registers when you realise the cars beneath it are the size of insects. At golden hour the light catches the white concrete and the whole south bank of the Tagus turns amber. It's the kind of sight that stops conversation in the vehicle without anyone needing to say anything.

The return to Lisbon crosses the 25 de Abril Bridge as the city reassembles on the horizon. On one bank, Cristo Rei stands arms outstretched catching the last of the light. On the other, Lisbon spills down toward the Tagus in terracotta and white. If the timing is right — and on a full day tour, it usually is — this is the bridge at golden hour. It is the kind of ending a day like this deserves.