The native grape varietals

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Thursday, October 20, 2011 / / 0 comments

There is a wide range of grape varietals in the Demarcated Douro region, in the north of Portugal.
These grape varietals have adapted to different climate conditions, and micro-climates... the terroir ability to offer optimal conditions to wines.

The native varietals have been grafted with different types of rootstocks since that philoxera (pest that destroyed most of the vineyards all over Europe) reached to Portugal in 1865.
This process has been done according to their compatibility with different types of roots and the characteristics of the soil in which the vines were planted.

The cultivation of the different types of vines is regulated by a Decret-Law, that lists all the authorized varietals, the  recommended ones and percentages.

Nowadays, winemakers and oenologues have opted for about fifteen white grape varietals (for example: Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Donzelinho, Rabigato, Côdega, Gouveio...) and about fourteen of red grapes varitals (for example: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca...)

The maximum authorized yield is 5500 litres/ha - 7500kg/ha, but anually the average per hectare is aproximately 3000 litres/ha - 4100kg/ha.

Gonçalo Devesas

Douro Wine region... World Heritage !

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Saturday, October 15, 2011 / / 0 comments

The Alto Douro Wine Region, has been inscribed as World Heritage in December 2001, one of the three pre marked areas of the Douro region that represents 110.000hect of the vast Demarcated Douro Region (250.000hect).
In 1756 the “Marques de Pombal” restricted the Douro Valley region with 335 milestones, distributed along 250.000 hec. ,making it the oldest defined and protected wine region in the world.

A living landscape where generations of men have been working for years and years, blasting the shale, revolving the land, planting the vines, creating the terraces that surround us through hills ... a feat rewarded with a “honorable mention” for the first demarcated region in the world with three pre marked areas.

Row upon row of walls; paths; vineyards... all the pieces of a perfect puzzle

 A unique landscape, with a lot to discover, such as the Estates, the stairways to heaven (slopes), the terraces, the paths, the vineyards, the olive groves, wathercourses, quays and railways.
An amazing scenarium when seen from the top of a slope, where the incredible designed rows of walls is the most important highlight of the landscape, as it makes us reflect upon the meaning of the hard work that went into their construction.

Therefore our Port wine is the pure reflection of the Douro in the diversity of native varietals and a unique terroir.

Gonçalo Devesas

Vintage declarations

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Wednesday, October 12, 2011 / / 0 comments

The most prestigious category, representing about 2% of the annual production of each Shipper.
The grapes must be picked from vines graded with A and B quality, and should be bottled between July 1 of the second year and June 30 of the third year posterior to the harvest.

After fermentation the Port wines are selected and then kept to age in huge oak vats, samples are then sent to the IVDP - (Port Wine Institute) for tastings and thousands of chemical analysis made annualy.

If the Port wine Company received approval that the wine will be certified as a Vintage, others Cellars/brands will be consulted and the market conditions studied in order to declare the previous year as a traditional Vintage, being classified as a fabulous year for most of the shippers.

Still the Vintage will be quite different from a House to another, because of the micro climate, the House style and vinification process...

It is with the Vintage that Port Houses are still using the granite tanks (5,000ltrs to 8,000ltrs)  for the foot trodden, where the men, usualy vineyard workers that will be doing the treading sessions for about three hours during the night.

Gonçalo Devesas