Quinta Do Vesuvio

Quina do Vesuvio is set in the prime wine growing area of the demarcated Port region, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, the limits of which were set in 1756. Vesuvio’s superb terroir is defined by a complex and unique combination of microclimates and soil conditions, ideal for producing the grapes used to make Port. The vineyards at Vesuvio are in part as a result of the steepness and variability of the terrain. The old vineyards were concentrated on only 105 hectares, less than a third of the total property. Quinta do Vesuvio is one of the only Douro quintas to be privileged with vineyards over 25 years old that were planted by variety. The principal grape varieties are Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Touriga Nacional. The average age of the vines ranges from 10 years for the new plantings to 35 years for the old plantings. At Vesuvio, experimental vineyards can be found, with the latest trellis and pruning methods being tested, along side some of the oldest traditional vineyards in the Douro. Where technological innovations have been introduced, it is in an effort to improve quality without altering the basic methods. The process of treading the grapes remains the same, but the quality of the wine continues to improve. Due to the size of the estate, annual production is approximately 800 pipes per year (1 pipe =550 litres). All of the grapes are picked by hand.