Quinta da Pellada Casa

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Dão is increasingly regarded as one of Portugal’s most compelling fine-wine regions, prized for its protected mountain setting, granitic soils, and balanced climate that combines continental warmth with cooling Atlantic influences. Framed by the Serra da Estrela, Caramulo, and Buçaco ranges, vineyards planted at elevations of roughly 450 to 600 meters benefit from slow ripening conditions that foster bright acidity, ethereal aromatics, and finely structured tannins. The historic estate of Quinta da Pellada, first documented in 1527, lies near Vila Nova de Tazém and has been a key reference point in the modern revival of Dão wines. Álvaro de Castro inherited the property in 1980 and dedicated himself fully to restoring the family’s winemaking tradition, later joined by his daughter Maria, trained in oenology, who continues to shape the estate’s contemporary vision alongside a small technical team. Today, Pellada wines are rooted in a philosophy of minimal intervention and deep respect for nature, combining traditional field-blend viticulture with thoughtful modern practices. The estate’s old vineyards, often averaging 70 years or more and composed of dozens of indigenous varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Alvarelhão, Tinta Pinheira, and Tinta Amarela, are cultivated to express the nuanced character of each parcel. Granitic soils and the moderating influence of nearby river valleys contribute mineral tension and structural precision, while the region’s diurnal shifts preserve freshness and complexity. This slow-wine approach results in age-worthy, terroir-driven reds that reflect both the historic identity of Dão and the Castro family’s ongoing commitment to authenticity and site expression.

RATING HISTORY:

2019 92W&S, 91WA; 2017 96WA, 2013 95WA, 93+VFTC

GRAPE:

100% Field Blend. The field blend comes from a single plot of old vines,. It is estimated that there are about 47 different grapes, mainly Alfrocheiro, Touriga Nacional and Baga. Sustainably grown vines planted in granite base with lines of sand and clay with strong presence of rose and white quartz rocks at 550 m (1,805 ft) elevation.

VINIFICATION AND AGING:

Wine was aged in eight-year-old French barrels for about 28 months.

LOCATION, SOIL, CLIMATE:

This wine is another of the lessons of the winery in terroir: this plot of Pellada is the "most exposed" of the three and has more compact soil with a little clay in addition to granite, the intense presence of white and rose quartz and that which have more hours of sunshine per day.

TASTING NOTES:

Intense garnet color. Bergamot in tea, violet in orange peel and berries with cacao and vanilla. Very expressive, elegant with generous tannins. Very chewy and gastronomic - Robert Parker

ALCOHOL CONTENT:

13.0%

UPC CODE:

5606686001529