Quinta Da Pellada is a wine farm situated in central Portugal in the Dão region.
Álvaro Castro, the winemaker, is widely acknowledged to be the leading producer in Portugal’s Dão region, known as the Burgundy of Portugal because of the elegance of its wines.
He makes a large array of wines from his two Quintas – Quinta da Pellada and Quinta de Sães– all of which aim at elegance and finesse, and expressing their terroirs to the full.
Álvaro was a civil engineer before he inherited Quinta da Pellada which dates back to the year 1570. Since taking over the properties in 1980 he has served as winemaker for both of his family’s properties.
He is a fierce traditionalist, and the “old-school” nature of his wines showcase the brilliance that comes from an honest expression of place and time without intervention His wines embody the idea that “wine is made in the vineyard,” and he is unapologetically critical of winemakers who mess with their raw product too much.
He speaks most passionately about making wines that “reflect the soil.”
With the white varieties such as Encruzado, Cerceal Branco and Bical, and reds such as the Tourigas Nacional and Roriz, Alfrocheiro, Jaen, Tinta Amerela and Tinta Cao, there are many possible combinations that enable Alvaro’s imagination to thrive. What links them is his blend of traditional and modern techniques, creating wines of balance and integrity.
