Quinta do Barbusano winery — Attraction in São Vicente

We visited for the 14:30 tour & tasting. The last couple of kilometers to the winery are a bit narrow but manageable and quite scenic. We arrived 30 minutes early and enjoyed the surroundings while the earlier group was finishing their tasting.

A few minutes after our arrival an employee let us know that the 14:30 tour had unfortunately been cancelled and the next one would be at 16:00. We hadn’t realised reservations were needed, as the website only lists the tour times without mentioning advance booking. Unfortunately, a tasting wasn’t possible at that moment, so we were offered the option to buy a single glass of wine and return later.

We had a glass and then left a little disappointed. Mainly because the setting is so beautiful and clearly worth a visit. The disappointment was mainly the lack of creativity in offering a solution to a guest.

Top tip: Make a reservation before visiting!

Suggestions for improvement: • Clearly mention it on the website if booking is required. • If a tour is cancelled, consider offering guests a simplified or self-guided tasting. It would make the experience more welcoming. ⸻

If you’d like, I can also make a short punchy Google Maps version that’s even more likely to be read in full by people browsing quickly. Would you like me to...

Magnificent! We called ahead to book a tour and tasting - though you can just have tastings according to their scheduled times. Perfect English was spoken by our Portuguese tour leader (a lovely woman who is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and an overall lovely person! I am truly sorry that I cannot recall her name.) The Quinta is situated high on a hillside overlooking lush and picturesque valleys, vines and the iconic church tower of São Vicente. The tasting including generous samples of 6 wines produced by the Quinta accompanied by toasts, cheese and sausage. The wines are TOP -- we purchased several bottles of our favorites to take away. This is a perfect experience and we will return again and again and will purchase Quinta do Barbusano wines again and again. The quinta owner, Senhor António, is a special human being and one of the most generous humans you will every have the pleasure of meeting. THANK YOU Quinta do Barbusano for a...

This was the most memorable winery experience we’ve ever had, thanks entirely to our incredible wine guide. We didn’t meet anyone else from the winery, but the guide alone made the visit exceptional. He was warm, professional, and impressively knowledgeable—able to explain every detail about the wine, the vineyard, and the island’s winemaking traditions in a way that was both engaging and informative.

The setting was stunning and truly unique—so immersive that it naturally draws your full attention. You feel completely connected to the place.

The wines we tasted had a distinct character, true to the island’s terroir. They offered a bright, mineral-driven profile with a more acidic edge, reflecting the local soil and climate beautifully. Each glass told a story of the island’s uniqueness.

Highly recommended for anyone seeking a genuine, guided wine experience that goes beyond...