VR Beiras
, Portugal
Winery Overview
Foz de Arouce has a long history of winemaking that can be linked to the legend of the Arab King Arunce, who
built a castle in the region to protect his daughter, his treasures, and of course, his wine. Today, the fourth Count of
Arouce, João Fillipe Osorio, lives nearby in his 16th century family home overseeing one of the most consistently top
rated estates in Portugal – Foz de Arouce. Some of the original 70 year old vines still produce fruit today.
Location of Vineyard
Conde de Foz de Arouce is located in the Lousã Municipality, near the city of Coimbra, in the region of Beiras. The
estate comprises 15 acres of vineyard on schist and quartz soil. The vines are planted on a steep mountain that faces
the sun and is bathed in fog each morning, a crucial component to preserving freshness in the wine. Surrounded by
windmill topped mountains, the vineyard is protected from the strong Tejo winds.
Winemaking Philosophy
The vineyard is planted primarily with Baga, though many other traditional Portuguese varieties are included.
Wine production is limited to around 10,000 bottles of red and 1,500 bottles of white each year. A focus on
terroir
is emphasized, producing some truly unique wines, as Foz de Arouce is the only vineyard in a 50 mile radius. Top
Portuguese oenologist, João Portugal Ramos, has married into the family and helped lift Foz de Arouce’s wines to
Portugal’s uppermost echelon.
VR Lisboa
, Portugal
Winery Overview
Quinta do Monte d’Oiro (“Hill of Gold”) was founded by winemaker, José Bento dos Santo, in the early 1990s.
His goal was to develop top quality wines in a European style while respecting his vineyard’s unique
terroir
. The
wines, which are deep, mineral and personalized, carry the Quinta’s identity, and their unique robust character is a
harmonious match with classical and haute cuisines. Over the past 20 years, the winery has achieved international
renown with wines chosen for the Portuguese president’s cellar at the Palácio de Belém.
Location of Vineyard
Quinta do Monte d’Oiro is located in Estremadura, Alenquer, 30 miles north of Lisbon. The area has been praised
in various documents dating as far back as the 17th century, as a privileged
terroir
that produces great wines. The
37.5 acre vineyard is dedicated to the red grapes Syrah, Cinsaut, Petit Verdot, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz;
Viognier is its only white grape. The climate is Mediterranean with Atlantic influence, and the soil composition is
clay-limestone.
Winemaking Philosophy
Strict guidelines and procedures are followed during the production process, which is assisted by Grégory Viennois
(Maison M. Chapoutier’s head winemaker). The vineyard is manicured to achieve production in small quantities
with very low yields (about 1.5 to 2.6 tons per acre), and grapes are carefully handpicked into 33 pound boxes.
Fermentation is rigorously run in temperature controlled stainless steel vats; long maceration is employed and
extended aging occurs in the best new French oak barrels such as Seguin Moreau, Radoux and Taransaud.
