FRA_GG_N45-WEB

PORTUGAL
– REGION –
Quinta Nova vineyards
the globe to glean information. They rigorously analyse the
grapes from the vineyard’s 41 different plots. They observe
every stage of the winemaking process to try and understand
what is best for their grapes as this is the means by which they
intend to achieve perfection.
There are 100-year old terraces at Quinta Nova, divided into
two extraordinary plots: a 2.5-hectare plot and another covering
4.5 hectares. The vineyards are a unique genetic heritage, given
their enormous size. All the vines were planted immediately
after phylloxera (some 80 different grape varieties) which have
lasted until now to produce high quality wines. Yielding very
low output, the vines are tended using traditional methods,
where the soil is farmed using time-honoured techniques – a
horse and plough – and fertilized organically with the objective
of preserving Douro history and safeguarding tradition.
In the vineyards, in addition to the 80 native varieties which
are preserved with great care and represent some 12% of total
vineyard acreage, there is also Touriga Nacional (20% of total
acreage), Touriga Franca (24%), Tinta Barroca (11%), Tinto
Cão (6%), Tinta Roriz (17%), Tinta Amarela (%), Souzão (3%)
and Tinta Francisca (3%).
AUTUMN 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE 79