Wine Dinner – Douro Maçanita Vinhos – SOLD OUT

Located in the Douro region, the Maçanita Vinhos are located in all its three sub-regions. Each of these sub-regions has its own characteristics. Depending on altitude and distance from the Douro River, we can find schist as well as granite soils. Maçanita’s vines are found at different altitudes in different sub-regions.

The vines of Baixo Corgo are generally cooler, as this sub-region is closer to the coast and has greater Atlantic influence. The Maçanita vines in Baixo Corgo are located between 550 and 700 metres above sea level on schist soils. The grape varieties planted are Viosinho, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Arinto, and Folgasão. These are vines that convey a lot of freshness and minerality given their location and altitude.

The Cima Corgo vineyards are more temperate, situated in the heart of the Douro, where the Atlantic influence is balanced. Because Portugal is a country with a long coastline, the influences from the Atlantic and the continent are felt strongly throughout the Douro region, causing temperatures to rise from the Baixo Corgo to the Douro Superior. In Cima Corgo, the vineyards of Maçanita Vinhos are located at different altitudes and in different types of soil.

The Sousão and Touriga Nacional Cima Corgo vineyards are located at an altitude of 550 metres, on yellow schist soils facing the Douro River, with milder temperatures, further aided by the altitude. This produces wines of great elegance and balance, with fresh fruit notes and very soft tannins.

Another of Maçanita Vines is located at an altitude of 170 metres in blueschist soils. Here, we have the vineyard from which we harvest the Touriga Nacional Letra A.

Letra A is a classification that appeared after the creation of the House of Douro (an alliance between winegrowers in the Douro region) in the mid-20th Century. This classification was intended to classify and reward each farmer on the practices of the land and viticulture. Other aspects taken into account are the location of the vines on the Douro landscape, altitude, type of soil, planting density, microclimate, etc. The vines that gathered the best of these parameters and that are said to be best performing for the production of Port wine grapes were awarded the classification Letra A. The vines that gathered the least advantageous conditions for producing Port wine were given the classification Letra F.

Also, in Cima Corgo, at an altitude of 550 metres, in an area of transition from schist to granite, the old Maçanita vines are grown (an ancient vine stock). Located in the less noble zone of the Douro classification, the Letra F, these are the vineyards that most impressed the Maçanita siblings. With a genetic and social history of around 150 years, grapes are produced with a very specific character, with non-interventionist viticulture, without herbicides and according to the rules of integrated production. The recovery of these vineyards is one of the great aims of Maçanita Vinhos, to give life to the ancient vines of the Douro Letra F.

The Douro Superior, known for its warmer, more mainland climate, is the sub-region of the Douro closest to the Spanish border and therefore the sub-region with the least Atlantic influence. The vineyards of the wine “Quanto mais Arinto mais Gosto de Ti” can be found in the Murça area, at an altitude of 540 metres, on schist soils in the Douro Superior. A vineyard that despite being in the hottest sub-region of the Douro, has deep soils, with access to water, at altitude, this unique feature proves a later ripening of the grapes, with lower sugar levels and consequently high acidity and freshness.

On July 10th let’s try to answer the question – What are “wines from Douro” ?  at Barrica by YoursPorto.

19:00 – Welcome Drink at Alibi

20:15 – Dinner at Barrica