Vineyards

Our grapes come from three properties, totaling 8 hectares of vineyards.

We have about 8 hectares of vineyards, in three small properties, Cornalheira, Carvalha and Arrabalde.

In Cornalheira, there are 5 hectares of vineyards planted on the schist slopes of Vale Figueira (Figueira’s valley), at an altitude ranging from 350 to 400 meters. This valley, that somewhat further down flows in Veiga valley, an extensive plain where the small river Ribeira de Piscos flows, now famous for the Foz Côa engravings, of which the “man of Piscos” is pointed out as a particularly rare human representation of the Paleolithic art.

Vale da Figueira valley was, till the 60s of last century, cultivated with rye, sometimes coexisting on the slopes, with almond trees. The old olive trees already existed at that time in the valley. The cornfields were abandoned and the weeds grew.

The first vineyards were planted on the early 70s, transferred from other more humid and productive places, but more prone to disease. Thus were born our oldest vines, with the grapes varieties and the techniques usual for the time in the region. Since the beginning of this century, we are investing in the vineyards improvement, either through new planting, either by grafting existing vines with different grape varieties.

The rock based schist soil, poor in organic nutrients, is great for producing quality wines. In these 5 hectares, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca are the main varieties, but there is also Tinta Roriz, Sousão, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Amarela.

Carvalha vineyard is located 650 meters above sea level, 2 km from the village of Freixo de Numão. The terrain is mostly flat and the soil is schist rock. This vineyard exists in the family for about 50 years, there are 5 hectares in total, 2 of vines and 3 other planted with almond trees.

We’ll be producing our Whites from here in the near future. The old vines are being replaced by white grape varieties, Rabigato, Códega de Larinho and Viosinho.

Arrabalde vineyard is located in Freixo de Numão. This property of just over 1 hectare, has a very small vineyard planted in the 90s, with 5 of the best grape varieties, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão and Tinta Barroca.

At an altitude of 550 meters, sandy and granitic soil, provides wines with great freshness.