Terroir

Quinta da Cabreira is a 150-hectare estate located in the Douro Superior in the parish of Castelo Melhor, within the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa. This prize location on the left bank of the Douro River is home to 114 hectares of vineyards, 4 of which are planted in old vines while 110 are new.

Quinta da Cabreira was purchased by Quinta do Crasto S.A. as a part of an expansion plan devised in the late 1990s. In 2000 the land acquisitions necessary for this ambitious project began. The goal was to produce a wine that would be more international while still expressing the unique characteristics of the select terroir of the Douro Superior – this is the highest altitude (approximately 610 metres) and the driest spot of the whole Douro Valley.

Between 2004 and 2009, new vineyard plots were planted predominantly with the most traditional Douro grape varieties. Rabigato, Viosinho and Verdelho were some of the white varieties chosen and they were planted at the highest altitudes (between 400 and 450 metres). Red wine grapes including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Sousão, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Francisca were planted at lower altitudes (a maximum of 400 metres). These varieties gave birth to the Crasto Superior Branco in 2014. This followed on from the first of this range, the Crasto Superior Tinto launched in 2008.

These products are the fruit of a strategy betting on innovation and the internationalisation of the brand, without sacrificing the traditional spirit of Quinta do Crasto. The winemaking and grape-growing teams have carried out extensive experimentation with different grape varieties such as the red grapes Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. This search for surprising qualitative distinction led to the production and launch of a Vinho Regional Duriense – the Crasto Superior Syrah, the third launch in the Crasto Superior range. This wine has proven how exceptional the grape variety can be when grown in such a uniquely special terrior like the Douro Superior.

The Quinta da Cabreira estate has 109 vineyard plots at altitudes ranging from 130 to 450 metres. Three types of planting systems are used: vinha ao alto (vines planted vertically on slopes up to 30%); patamares of two rows of vines (terraces on slopes greater than 30%, and planted up until 2008); and patamares of just one row of vines (terraces planted from 2009) in order to obtain the greatest homogeneity amongst the grapes.

With a predominantly north-facing aspect, summer temperatures as high as 45°C (temperatures can vary as much as 0.5°C per 100 metres of altitude) and annual rainfall levels that for many years have been lower than 0,4 m³, the entire area of Quinta da Cabreira is covered with a drip irrigation system equipped with soil moisture sensors. This system is complemented by a weather station that registers the annual weather data and enables the grape growing team to deal with the climate of such an arid region while supporting decision making about any necessary vine treatments.

The production of Quinta da Cabreira is intended to complement that of Quinta do Crasto, so as to ensure the maximisation of the company’s winery capacity. Each new vine at Quinta da Cabreira produces between one to two kilos of grapes while one kilo of grapes produces a 75cl bottle of wine. Annually, Quinta da Cabreira produces around 250,000 bottles of Crasto Superior Tinto, 30,000 bottles of Crasto Superior Branco and 20,000 of Crasto Superior Syrah. In addition, about 4,000 olive trees are planted in groves alongside the grape plots so that Quinta da Cabreira is able to produce 30,000 bottles of extra virgin Quinta do Crasto Selection olive oil.