Feira de São Mateus is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Dão & Lafões calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Campo de Viriato in Viseu, in the heart of one of Portugal's most distinctive wine areas. It has been running since 1392, with a long unbroken local tradition behind it.
Oldest fair in Portugal. Dedicated wine pavilions featuring Dão wines. Cultural performances, gastronomy, month-long event. Also features roasted chestnut, local crafts. Wine festivals across Europe typically combine producer tastings with food pairings, live music, and a strong sense of place. Visitors can expect access to wines from a range of producers in the appellation, alongside food stalls offering regional specialities, masterclasses or vineyard walks for those who want to learn more, and an opportunity to buy directly from producers at cellar prices. Many events run across multiple days or weekends, allowing visitors to sample different parts of the programme according to interest, and combine well with the area's wider tourism offer. The event is organised by Câmara Municipal de Viseu, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year.
The Dão region in central Portugal sits in a granite plateau encircled by mountain ranges (Caramulo, Buçaco, Estrela) that protect the vineyards from Atlantic and continental extremes. The region's flagship grape is Touriga Nacional — Portugal's most internationally-recognised red variety — alongside Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Jaen (Mencia) and Alfrocheiro for reds, and Encruzado (one of Portugal's most respected white varieties), Bical, Cercial and Malvasia Fina for whites. Lafões in the north of the appellation produces lighter, more acidic wines closer in style to Vinho Verde. Dão wines have a reputation for elegance and ageing potential, with names like Quinta dos Carvalhais, Quinta da Pellada and Niepoort's Conciso establishing the region's quality reputation.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for TBC August-September 2026. Cost details are best confirmed directly with the organiser ahead of travel. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at visitviseudaolafoes.pt. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
The Dão region is reached via Lisbon (2.5 hours by car) or Porto (1.5 hours), with Viseu as the regional capital and main wine-tourism base. The region's main producers cluster around Mangualde, Nelas and Penalva do Castelo. Beira cuisine pairs the wines with chanfana de cabra, posta à Mirandesa (the area's distinctive beef cuts), serra da Estrela cheese (the famous mountain sheep's milk cheese, eaten by spoon when ripe), and the trout and sausage specialties of the inland mountains. The Serra da Estrela natural park sits east of the Dão wine area.
