DOURO BEIRA – Vin du Portugal

THE STORY

In the Douro Valley, Pascal Debon experienced an emotional shock when he saw these vineyards hanging on the mountains, overlooking the majestic Douro river : these vineyards are inscribed on the Unesco world heritage list. Magic wines of pure discovery are born on these steep terraces made of schist soils, which only man can reach… The dream is realized with the acquisition of two properties : the Quinta Beira Douro and the Quinta do Malhô located in Ervedosa do Douro, in the heart of the best wine producing region of Douro, the Cima corgo.

The various micro-climates between the two properties, one exposed to the North along the river and the other exposed to the South in altitude, give wines of different character, rich in identity and elegance.

The Quinta Beira Douro

Quinta Beira Douro extends over 10 hectares of vineyards. the vineyards are composed of more than 80 years aged vines. The Quinta is located on the left bank of the Douro River. The soil is made of deep schists that provide a natural drainage allowing the vines to deeply root. Thanks to a North exposure and a temperate climate, the grapes mature slowly and harmoniously and give complex and elegant wines .The wines also have a large capacity to age in bottles.

The Quinta do Malhô

Quinta do Malhô extends over 5 hectares of vineyards, located in the Valley of the Rio Torto at an altitude of 300 meters.

The Quinta enjoys excellent sunshine with a south-southwest orientation. The age of the vines is between 40 and 90 years.

Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga franca, Sousão, Rufete, Tinta amarela, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão… show the richness and the diversity of the grape varieties that compose the wines, characterised by an exceptional concentration of aromas, a beautiful tannic structure and a perfect balance.

Viticulture and winemaking

Due to the steep slopes, the work in the vineyards is done by hand. We do not use herbicides and all controls are manual. We only use organic fertilisers. The cultivation of soils, which have been compacted for years, is made by ploughs drawn by horses. During the harvest, the grapes are picked up by hand and placed in small crates.

Vinification starts with the trampling of the grapes in the Douro’s traditional “lagares” to extract smoothly the aromas and the tannins.
Then the juices of the different varieties are mixed and then ferment in barrels or in tanks at a low temperature of 16 °C to protect the fruity character of the wines.

Douro wines

The Douro is a region with multiple grape varieties (more than 80) which are already mixed in the vineyard. All our wines are blended wines whose percentages vary every year.
The most well-known grape varieties are the Tinta Roriz, the local name of the fabulous Tempranillo with firm tannins, the Touriga franca locally called “Fleur de Douro” which gives colour and aromatic complexity and the Touriga Nacional which is the the most popular grape variety in the Douro, giving small yields with a beautiful richness of tannins, dark colour and aromatic power.

The range of wines

Grand Cru Quinta do Malhô

This wine is composed exclusively of old vines of more than 80 years of the property.
The colour of the wine is black, sign of a high concentration. The nose is an explosion of ripe fruits, blackcurrant, raspberries, blackberries with some spicy and stewed fruits notes. A perfect woody and ripe tannins.

Grand Cru Quinta Beira Douro

This wine is produced exclusively with vines aged over 80 years. The wines show a beautiful black ruby colour. The nose is intense and complex with both floral notes and notes of ripe black fruits, spices and blackberries. In the palate, this wine is powerful, concentrated and very fresh.

The Beira Douro Touriga cuvée is issued from Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional vines, about 20 years old. At the tasting, this wine express aromas of red fruits, ripe tannins, the palate shows a beautiful volume and a balanced finish with a good acidity.

The Beira Douro Reserva cuvée is composed with grapes coming from the two Quintas, each Qunta giving its character. The combination of characters results in an exceptional wine, well balanced in colour, aromas and flavours. At the tasting, the wine reveals deeply ruby color, intense aromas of ripe fruits, spice and balance oak flavours.

The Dádiva
Grand Cru aged in amphora

The grapes are selected from the best plots of the vineyards of Quinta do Malhô and Quinta Beira Douro. Vines are 80 years old, Touriga Franca et Touriga Nacional.

Aged in clay amphoras of 150 liters during 24 months, this wine releases its pure natural flavors. The Dadiva is a proof of a deep love of the Nature, of the vine and of the eco-aware work of the men. This is a gift of the Life.