The first Guarda Rios harvest was done in 2006 and, curiously, not in the Alentejo. This wine is associated to the Winemaker and Director of Monte da Ravasqueira, who, in 2012, brought the Guarda Rios with him. Like the birds, this wine migrated and settled next to the dams on a property in Arraiolois, where it found the ideal terroir in which to express all its exuberance and vivacity.
The family currently owns 45 hectares under vine in the Alentejo Plains. The highlight of this vineyard is that there are close to 8 diverse soil types and 29 carefully selected plots here. Therefore, it is great for growing quite a few full-bodied grape varietals. The vines are grown at an average height of about 270m above sea level. The Alentejo Plains cover almost one-third of Portugal, and are home to various soil types such as clay, sandy, marble, granite, limestone, shale and more.
Thanks to the hot & dry Mediterranean climate in this area, it is ideal for growing some of the rare & indigenous varietals. The native reds grown here are Aragonez, Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet. Roupeiro, Arinto and Antao Vaz are the native whites grown here. All of these are grown in organized regions along Alentejo. The main regions of the plains where the vines are grown with utmost care & dedication are Borba, Redondo, Reguengos and Evora. These regions are divided based on their climate, soil quality and their ability to create full-bodied & aromatic grapes.