Quinta do Pôpa

Winter was characterized as the driest of the last 40 years, with this low availability of water in the soil conditioning the vigor of the vines. The budbreak occurred on normal dates, and then there was a delay in the vegetative cycle until the beginning of flowering, which occurred in the last days of May, in difficult conditions that gave rise to a strong desavinho and bagoinha. Subsequently, the low temperature caused a further delay which lasted until the beginning of the harvest. Despite the difficulties, the grapes arrived at the winery in smaller quantities but in perfect sanitary conditions, ripe and balanced, resulting in wines of excellent quality.
At the beginning of October, the grapes were picked by hand from the Old Vines over 80 years old, not being reached by botrytis cinérea. After a thorough sorting in the vineyard and transport in 20 kg boxes is done the total destemming and crushing. The maceration takes place cold (10 to 12oC), as well as alcoholic fermentation (below 25oC) with homogenization by foot treading, for greater extraction of color and aroma, always in open granite mills with stainless steel interior and controlled temperature.