The Rocim estate invites you to go foraging
Bees at the service of the Rocim vineyard
Herdade de Rocim. This estate, situated in the Alentejo region in central Portugal, likes to diversify its offerings.
Here, the idea is to explore the vineyard, which covers 70 of the estate’s 120 hectares and lies near the small towns of Cuba and Vidigueira.
Indeed, this region is a breath of fresh air: a microclimate cools the summer temperatures and softens the harshness of winter. As a result, the terroir and climate work in perfect harmony, allowing indigenous grape varieties to reach their full potential.
Among these native varieties, Arinto stands out as the king. Meanwhile, the queen is, quite naturally, the queen bee.
Moreover, the estate is committed to organic and regenerative viticulture, with a strong focus on protecting the soil, conserving water and limiting the use of pesticides.
More recently, beekeeping has taken on a more prominent role, as bees are now regarded as valuable allies of the vines. Their pollination work is, in fact, one of nature’s best ways to ensure healthy crops.
Thus was born The Hum of the Landscape (Zumbido da Paisagem), a bucolic experience centred on honey—and www.lisbonne-affinités.com was able to hear the precious bees’ gentle “zzzz” up close.
Walk and tour of the beehives
The Herdade de Rocim has joined forces with a neighbouring estate, the Herdade de Granja, which has beehives situated beneath holm oaks and cork oaks.
All around are wild plants that, in fine weather, will provide the bees with food – pollen – which will also yield honey.
The walk begins in a jeep and ends on foot amidst a landscape typical of the Alentejo: rolling hills covered in oak trees. In the distance below lies a dam: water is a precious resource in the region.
And at the edge of the path, the beehives.
It’s best to move slowly, whisper, and avoid shouting or stamping your feet or clapping your hands. Worker bees react quickly to noise. If they feel threatened, they will attack.
A complete experience.
Back in the modern buildings of the Rocim apiary, the buzz of the countryside will come to life on your plates.
Indeed, the day will unfold as a culinary and sensory experience.
The estate has selected four different honeys, ranging from the lightest to the darkest, which you are invited to taste. This will be a blind tasting – with no product labels – to see if you can recognise which flowers the bees have foraged from.
Most of the time, bees can fly up to 2 kilometres from their hives to collect nectar from flowers. But the shorter the distance they have to travel, the better off they are.
Sunflower, rosemary, thyme, acacia, vine… are among the most renowned sources of honey in the Alentejo. When the beekeeper does not know the exact origin of their honey, they call it ‘Multi flowers honey’.
Bees are workers who feed the queen and defend the hive. A hive can contain up to 100,000 individuals.
The sweetness of honey, the caress of wine
The Romans loved honey and wine. When they occupied the Iberian Peninsula, they developed techniques there to produce more and better. In particular, the ‘talhas’ – those large terracotta jars that are still used in exactly the same way today.
Herdade de Rocim is situated in the heart of the ‘talhas’ region. The winegrower quite naturally decided to make partial use of this system to produce traditional wines according to rules that are sometimes very modern.
A visit to the adega – the wine cellar – is a must.
But first, let’s sit down to eat! The ‘Buzz in the Landscape’ experience includes a delicious meal at the estate’s restaurant.
The chef has concocted a special honey-themed menu. In addition to the charcuterie platter
The surprising insect museum in Vila Ruiva
In www.lisbonne-affinités.com, we were pleasantly surprised to discover a small museum in Vila Ruiva, not far from Cuba.
An enthusiast, João Cappas, has set up a veritable insect laboratory, specialising in bees. On the family estate, several rooms are dedicated to the history and social behaviour of bees, wasps, ants and even termites.
Visitors learn about queens and colonies. On leaving the Cappas Insectozoo in Vila Ruiva, you feel as though you’ve met Jules Verne.
The children come away delighted with their adventure. Bookings are required for visits
CAPPAS INSECTOZOO
Rua 5 de Outubro, 40
7940-456 Vila Ruiva – CUBA
Portugal
TEL 284 495 136
At the bakery, there’s honey too
The Buzz in the Landscape – Beekeeper for a Day experience can easily be complemented by other local discoveries.
For instance, a visit to Alda Dimas’s bakery in Faro do Alentejo is well worth the detour. There, Alda, with her beaming smile and innate kindness, proudly runs a family business that has been passed down for more than 50 years.
Indeed, the traditional Alentejo bread, instantly recognisable by its distinctive “head”-shaped form—created by folding the dough over itself before baking in a wood-fired oven—is an experience in its own right. Moreover, this rustic bread is an essential ingredient in many regional specialities, including the famous migas.
Alternatively, it can simply be enjoyed with a handful of olives and a glass of Talha de Rocim wine.
What’s more, Padaria Dimas also offers delicious honey-based treats and traditional cakes, often served with a small coffee. Among the local favourites are delicacies with delightfully poetic names such as popias and esses.
Above all, however, the bakery’s finest ingredient is undoubtedly Alda’s warmth and generosity.
And, if you’re lucky, you might even meet the beekeeper from Sameldro while you’re there.
In short, it’s an experience to be enjoyed without moderation.
Padaria Dimas
Travessa Pública (no street number)
7940 Faro do Alentejo
Tel.: (+351) 284 412 440
Mobile: (+351) 968 421 368
Open Monday to Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Closed on Sundays.
A Herdade de Rocim update
‘Buzz in the Landscape’ is one of the activities organised by the Domaine de Rocim throughout the year. Summer concerts, the grape harvest in August and September, followed by the opening of the talhas – a major festive occasion in autumn.
The estate, tended like a garden, focuses on sustainable development and immersion in the landscape within traditional communities.
A visit is a must.
The ‘Buzz in the Landscape – Beekeeper for a Day’ experience costs €120 per adult. Special children’s rates: €40 for ages 4 to 12 and €60 for ages 12 to 18
Herdade de Rocim
Estrada Nacional 387, Apartado 64, 7940-909 Cuba | Alentejo. Visits from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11.00 to 18.00. Sundays and Mondays, by appointment
https://rocim.pt/?srsltid=AfmBOorQR471Csce31Ir3g7UHCANjt9SEv77GmhoHKm29MqKEKawY3y0