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Adega de Penalva wines are delicious everyday examples of one of Portugal’s most intriguing appellations — the Dão. Perched above the Dão river itself as it snakes through its granite valleys, the Adega de Penalva is one of the leading cooperatives in the area, boasting around a thousand member growers. It’s important to note, though, that the average holding per member amounts to barely over a hectare—a figure that reminds us how tenaciously much of rural Portugal clings to its old ways. (On that note, all fruit destined for the ‘Indigena’ bottlings is hand-harvested.) Since its founding in the 1960s, the Adega has been collecting its members’ grapes and producing clean, characterful wines with a minimum of fuss that showcase real regional typicity while remaining extremely attractively priced. Adega de Penalva Indigena Dao Tinto is made with 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and 30% Jaen (Mencía). Hand-harvested, fully destemmed and aged in a combination of stainless steel and concrete tank. Aromas of leather and blueberries lead to a palate full of dark fruits with cherry and raspberry notes. Pairs well with beef and lamb. -
António Madeira is a Frenchman with Portuguese roots who considers that the heart of Dão, one of Portugal’s most interesting wine regions, is in the Serra do Estrela, which is where he can trace his Portuguese roots back to. Madeira has been researching the area since 2010, and he has managed to rescue interesting vineyards with abandoned old vines growing an impressive number of native varieties. This is winemaking that dates back a long time, where the plots have special granite soils, a good altitude and sun exposure and they are cultivated with great care for the environment. All of these factors result in authentic wines, with an honest personality. An excellent return to origins. -
Alexandre de Almeida, founder of the oldest hotel chain in Portugal with the same name, began producing Buçaco Wines in 1917 when he realized what the Hotel Winery concept meant after many visits to European hotels, including those on the French “Côte D’Azure”. This gave him the idea to open his own winery at the Buçaco Palace, starting to produce varieties that would come to be known as the glorious “Buçaco wines”. In the early 20th century, one of the most interesting pages on Portuguese wine was created, the wine that was to become a much-envied icon, but which was always intentionally kept out of the limelight. Its creator, Alexandre de Almeida, adopted the concept of linking luxury hotels to a winery with their own wine. If we look back, ever since the first harvests we realized the importance of this icon that was served to kings, queens and heads of state, as proven by menus, proudly kept at the Hotel Palace Buçaco. Buçaco wines were just that: objects of culture limited to very restricted circles, the elite. Their fantastic and noble labels still bear the symbol of their nobility to this day and age. The Buçaco wines were and still are always produced in the same way using the same methods as in the past. The fact that the grapes come from the Dão and Bairrada regions guarantees a wonderful wine that nobly develops in the bottle. If you happen to visit this unique 5* Hotel, just North of Coimbra(between Lisbon and Porto) you will be in for an experience. Situated in the Bussaco National Forest, this 5-star hotel occupies the hunting palace of the last Portuguese kings. Palace Hotel do Bussaco is an excellent example of Manueline-Gothic architecture. Its richly decorated corridors feature antique furnishings, large paintings and traditional Portuguese glazed tiles. Its elegant restaurant offers a range of exclusive Bussaco wines(only). Classic French cuisine and traditional Portuguese dishes are served at Palace Hotel do Bussaco’s restaurant. It is decorated with paintings by João Vaz, Moorish ceilings and exotic hardwood floors. Guests can try a glass of rare Port vintage at the bar. Fantastic experience with amazing wines -
With the Conciso Branco, Niepoort have once again succeeded in creating a fresh and elegant white wine from the Dão region which shows off the potential of its old vines and granite terroir. The grapes come from the Quinta da Lomba, which has exceptionally old vineyards, with some vines being almost a century old with average altitude of 80 meters above sea level. These sites are planted predominantly with Bical, Encruzado and Malvasia, among other indigenous grape varieties of the region. Suggested dishes featuring cod and other oily fish. Pairs well with local sausages and is a great accompaniment for cheese from the “Serra da Estrela” or other buttery creamy cheeses. -
Mira do O produces expressive, concentrated wines. Despite the concentration, all the wines are fresh, elegant, well-balanced and shows great maturation potential. Dao region is valued by wine lovers for its expressiveness, freshness, concentration of taste and longevity of the wine. The region is a little further away from the Atlantic Ocean, but its cold winds still cool Dao vineyards. For this reason, the wine is high levels of acidity and great balance. The poor granite soil prevalent in the region gives the wines more texture, depth and spice. It is worth mentioning that here is a register and a large part of the old, local Portuguese grapes. Mira do O Druida Encruzado Reserva is made from a small vineyard located on a 500-meter plateau. This plateau provides protection from excess Atlantic moisture. At the same time, the temperature fluctuations caused by this altitude allow the grapes to ripen perfectly during the day, but they are more refreshing due to the cooling vineyards. The winemaker follows the principle of minimalist intervention: to change the wine as little as possible during its production. For this reason, the very characteristics of the grape stand out. Pair it with aperitif, roast white meats, sautee greens -
Nuno Mira do Ó is a one-man viticulture and enology powerhouse. A deep-thinking, well-traveled, generous person totally focused on expressing the great terroir of his native country. His peers look his way for guidance because his experience bringing forth wines of place covers almost every major wine region in Portugal. He launched his eponymous brand in the Dão wine region with Druida Encruzado. The wine is named for the ancient Celtic druids whose connection to the earth and plants drove their quest to achieve spiritual equilibrium through the balance of nature. As an enologist and viticulturist, Nuno is in constant search for balance between the soil, the climate, and the vines. Mira do Ó wines seek to attain perfect sensory balance with the utmost respect for nature. This is a pursuit driven by passion and a desire to share wines filled with freshness, elegance, and aging potential. These wines are handcrafted in the Dão from indigenous varietals with vineyards in granite soil sitting above 500 meters of elevation to capture the region’s cool climate. Store the bottles lying down in a cool place (15-17ºC). Drink at 11-12º C and pair with fine food. -
MOB takes its name from the surname initials of the three Portuguese winemakers behind this exciting project. Jorge Moreira, Francisco Olazabal and Jorge Serôdio Borges. -
This project was born from the will of three winemakers, Jorge Moreira, Francisco Olazabal and Jorge Serôdio Borges, to make a wine together. The chosen region was the Dão, a region for which there is a common admiration that was born in the tasting of older wines, from the 60s and 70s that surprise for their elegance and freshness. The identity and complexity of these wines is indeed remarkable and serves as an inspiration for MOB wines. -
Nat Cool is an innovative, naturally “cool and funky” concept initiated by Niepoort in the Vinho Verde wine region. The movement later expanded into Bairrada and the Douro Valley and is now represented in various Portuguese as well as international wine regions. Nat Cool is not just about producing low-intervention wines – it embodies a movement uniting many different producers striving towards a shared goal of crafting uncomplicated, light and easy-to-drink wines. In 2020, the Nat Cool “family” grew, with its foray into Portugal’s Dão region. It is here, on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela Mountain Range that the DrinkMe Nat Cool is created and where we explore the region’s potential for elegant, fresh and straight-forward wines. Pair it with Light and simple dishes as well as comfort food -
Dão is quickly becoming the most sought-after region for Portuguese winemakers to venture into; according to many, it’s one of the world’s most perfect microclimates: mountains protect it from continental heat to the east and Douro’s heat to north, and cool Atlantic breezes come inland to keep the overall temperatures more regulated, making for wines with bright acidity, ethereal aromatics, and compelling complexity. The DO’s granitic soils allow indigenous grapes to shine through in the wines, and provide firm, crunchy tannin against the bright fruit. Alvaro Castro has noted that “if God were to design a wine-growing region, what he would come up with would look a lot like the Dão.” There is no modern Dão without one of the region’s longtime legends, Alvaro Castro, whose estate encompasses two small properties (or “quintas”) known as Pellada and Saes. Alvaro makes wine here with his daughter Maria, carrying on a tradition of winemaking on this property that dates to the 16th century! Together, they have resisted the internationalization push of the ‘80s and ‘90s, instead doubling down on their slow-wine approach, using local varieties grown and crafted in the true Dāo “field blend” style. The Dão is home to the finest plantings of Touriga Naçional in Portugal. The microclimate that protects it from the extreme heat of the eastern winds and the overly wet conditions to the north and west provides a cool, temperate setting for Touriga to showcase its hallmark rose petal aromatics and soft fruit. Aged in neutral oak, this is a pure, unadulterated expression of Dão Touriga. Average age of 15 years. Tended in granite and clay soil at 550m (1811ft) elevation. Pair with roast pork, lighter game like rabbit and quail, and mushroom dishes. -
Sogrape Vinhos was founded in 1942 by Fernando van Zeller Guedes, with the ambition of making Portuguese wines known to the world and a long-term vision based on the quality of the wines to be marketed, the importance of the novelty of the brands, and the presentation of its wines. Today, led by the third generation of the founding family, Sogrape Vinhos is increasingly faithful to the goal it has had since it was founded: to be a family-owned company with an international vocation, focused on the production of quality wines, on innovation, and the development of global Portuguese brands. Sogrape Vinhos has about 830 hectares of vineyards in Portugal. Quinta dos Carvalhais is located in the municipality of Mangualde, near Nelas and Alcafache. The soil, the climate, the experience of those who have always produced wine make the Dão truly special. This 105-hectare estate, situated at an altitude of 465-500 metres, has 50 hectares under vine on predominantly granite soils. Warm days and cool nights at this altitude slow down the grape ripening process and result in wines with lovely depth yet vibrant fruit and a signature freshness. Precision viticulture is carried out on the estate with a multitude of different plots matched to specific grape varieties and harvested at different times. The fruit for the 2021 Encruzado was sourced from four different plots. Two cooler plots, one next to the lake on the estate and another often shaded by the oak trees, deliver a vibrant acidity the blend. Another plot with more sandy soils produces intensely aromatic grapes. All of the vineyards are farmed sustainably and harvesting is carried out by hand. -
This wine rises from 500 meters above sea level in the granite soils of the right bank of the Dão. These low yield vines are about 30 years old and produce high quality grapes of the varieties Jaen, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Pinheira, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional. This wine is a very personal vision over the Dão and its wines, enhancing the elegance and freshness that are natural to this region. True value in wine. Food orientated but aren't all the wines?
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