Quinta dos Nogueirões: From farming to wine production in the Douro Valley
There are multiple paths that lead to wine production, some come a long way like manorial estates that kept their position and never stopped producing wine, others like investment groups transform unused land into new vineyards. In their turn, the Salta Monteiro family, owners of Quinta dos Nogueirões, has always been linked to a diversity of cultures including livestock, rainfed agriculture, vineyards, and other indigenous cultures from Trás-Os-Montes and the Douro Valley, but it’s in the last generations that the vineyards have gained prominence.
The properties were restructured and progressively converted almost entirely from the 1970s to the present day. The family also had a parallel activity related to land preparation for planting and construction of Quintas. Over the years, by participating in numerous endeavors, the family has left its mark on the Douro wine landscape.
The Salta Monteiro family succeeded in farming and became knowledgeable about geography and soil. This gave them the full perception of their surrounding terroir. Eventually, the family started supplying the main Port houses with grapes used in making high-quality Port and still wine.
A new direction
In 2011, and after decades of selling their grapes, it was time to take a bold step, and the Quinta dos Nogueirões company was born, deriving its name from the largest property of the family.
Currently, the family holdings comprise about 60 hectares, 40 of which are vineyards, 5 with olive groves, 2 with cherry trees, and 1 hectare of orange groves, among other crops.
The farms are located in the heart of the Douro wine region in São João da Pesqueira, on the right bank of the Torto River, one of the main tributaries of the Douro River.
Family properties:
- Quinta dos Nogueirões
- Quinta do Praíto
- Quinta Vale D’Amoninho
On a subsequent occasion we made an excursion up the valley of the Rio Torto, so named from the labyrinthine course taken by the mountain stream, which is bounded on either side by chains of winding hills. In many parts their slopes offer a succession of gently-rounded buttresses, presenting great varieties of aspect, and being in every way admirably adapted for the cultivation of the vine.
Facts about Port and Madeira, Henry Vizetelly (1880)
Wine portfolio
Quinta dos Nogueirões Touriga Nacional VV (Old Vines)
Information regarding the 2015 vintage
- Type of wine: Grande Reserva Tinto DOC Douro
- Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional (100%)
- Produção: 1050 bottles
- Winemaking: Traditional foot treading in granite “lagares” with maceration and controlled temperature
- Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels, 1-year bottle aging
Quinta dos Nogueirões Selection Touriga Nacional
Information regarding the 2016 vintage
- Type of wine: Tinto Selection – DOC Douro
- Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional (100%)
- Production: 1402 750ml bottles and 49 1500ml bottles
- Winemaking: Traditional foot treading in granite “lagares” with maceration and controlled temperature
- Aging: 16 months in French oak barrels
Quinta dos Nogueirões Reserva
Information regarding the 2017 vintage
- Type of wine: Tinto Reserva Doc Douro
- Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional (20%), Touriga Franca (40%), Tinta Roriz (30%), Tinta Barroca (10%)
- Vinificação: Traditional foot treading in granite “lagares” with maceration and controlled temperature
- Ageing: 12 months in French and American oak barrels
Santo Graal Branco
Information regarding the 2019 vintage
- Type of wine: Branco Doc Douro
- Grape varieties: Viosinho, Gouveio, Rabigato
- Winemaking: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with controlled temperature
- Aging: Stainless steel tank followed by bottling
Santo Graal Rosé
Information regarding the 2019 vintage
- Type of wine: Rosé Doc Douro
- Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Francisca
- Winemaking: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with controlled temperature
- Aging: Stainless steel tank followed by bottling
Santo Graal Tinto
Information regarding the 2016 vintage
- Type of wine: Tinto Doc Douro
- Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz
- Winemaking: Traditional foot treading in granite “lagares” with maceration and controlled temperature
- Aging: Stainless steel tank
Santo Graal Reserva Branco
Information regarding the 2017 vintage
- Type of wine: Reserva Branco Doc Douro
- Grape varieties: Viosinho, Gouveio, Rabigato
- Winemaking: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with controlled temperature
- Aging: 8 months in new French oak barrels, on its fine lees, with batonnage.
Santo Graal Sauvignon Blanc
Information regarding the 2019 vintage
- Type of wine: Sauvignon Blanc Douro
- Grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc
- Winemaking: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with controlled temperature
- Aging: Stainless steel tank followed by bottling
The future
New investments are being made with interventions on the land, new vineyard plantations, olive groves, and the creation of spaces for wine tourism as well as the construction of a new winery, which will expand the company’s size and production capabilities. Regarding the wine portfolio, they’re preparing the launch of more varietals under the Quinta dos Nogueirões brand and also the Santo Graal Reserva Red.
