- Quinta do Cerro da Nora
Property of Douro Wine Devotion since 1996, Quinta do Cerro da Nora is located 3Km from Pinhão on the left bank of River Pinhão, just opposite to the village of São Cristóvão do Douro. Initially, this estate had 4 ha of vineyard and 12 ha of bushes where an authentic work of “territorial filigree” had to be done. Several small parcels of different owners, which were located within the estate, were then purchased which allowed the vineyard area to grow up to 12 ha of fully letter A classified vines.
Benefiting of its schist soil and prime solar exposure, in the early 2000s, new vines of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Barroca and Sousão were planted in this estate, where initially only rock and bushes were.
- Quinta do Castelinho
Quinta do Castelinho is located in São João da Pesqueira, more specifically on the left bank of the Douro River, opposite the Alegria railway station and downstream of Cachão da Valeira (Valeira Gorge). It was acquired by the grandfather Manuel in 1964, even before the construction of the Valeira Dam, at the time accessible only on foot or by boat. Soon the decision was made to invest in the conversion of approximately 8 ha of vines into the current 50 ha of vines of the highest quality. To do so, contiguous plots to Quinta do Castelinho were acquired, converting literally by fire and sword, bushes and rock into terraces where vines of noble grape varieties were planted.
Benefiting from a schist soil, which promotes excellent drainage and optimum irrigation of deep roots, even in dry weather, and a height difference that ranges from 100m up to 450m, which allows combining the sweetness of the grapes from lower levels with the freshness of the grapes of higher levels, Quinta do Castelinho gathers all the conditions for the production of excellent wines.
Currently, on top of 50 ha of letter A classified vineyards, where vines of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão are predominant, Quinta do Castelinho also has an area of 8 ha of olive grove, where one of Douro’s finest olive oil is extracted, as well as a 2 ha citrus fruit orchard.
Quinta do Castelinho is located in São João da Pesqueira, more specifically on the left bank of the Douro River, opposite the Alegria railway station and downstream of Cachão da Valeira (Valeira Gorge). It was acquired by the grandfather Manuel in 1964, even before the construction of the Valeira Dam, at the time accessible only on foot or by boat. Soon the decision was made to invest in the conversion of approximately 8 ha of vines into the current 50 ha of vines of the highest quality. To do so, contiguous plots to Quinta do Castelinho were acquired, converting literally by fire and sword, bushes and rock into terraces where vines of noble grape varieties were planted.
Benefiting from a schist soil, which promotes excellent drainage and optimum irrigation of deep roots, even in dry weather, and a height difference that ranges from 100m up to 450m, which allows combining the sweetness of the grapes from lower levels with the freshness of the grapes of higher levels, Quinta do Castelinho gathers all the conditions for the production of excellent wines.
Currently, on top of 50 ha of letter A classified vineyards, where vines of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão are predominant, Quinta do Castelinho also has an area of 8 ha of olive grove, where one of Douro’s finest olive oil is extracted, as well as a 2 ha citrus fruit orchard.
Cachão da Valeira (Valeira Gorge) was a naturally narrow gorge of the Douro River which made impossible the river’s upstream navigability.Despite having been destroyed at the end of the 18th century, the name remains and is known as the spot where, in 1861, the vessel where D. Antónia Adelaide Ferreira and the Baron of Forrester were, sank. In this final voyage, the vessel capsized and the Baron was dragged down deep into the river due to the money belt he was wearing at the time. Only D. Antonia survived, so the legend goes, thanks to her billowing skirts that helped her float to shore.