Quinta do Montalto not only dates back to the year 1880 (five generations) but is one of very few wineries that makes a beautiful local wine from the 1100s in the same traditional way it has always been made. Now, this wine lies within the DOC of Medieval de Ourém Encostas d'Aire. In general, their wines are labeled Vinho Regional Lisboa, because they are in farthest-north area of Lisboa (previously Estremadura), between the villages of Ourém and the famed Fátima (where the Blessed Virgin Mary was said to appear to three children in 1917). Montalto is perched in the middle of 50 hectares of certified organic land, and just 15 hectares are vineyards--the rest is dedicated to fruit, gardens, and forest. All of their native varieties are beautifully illustrative of the grapes and area, as they use native yeasts for the fermentation of their Medieval and red wines, very neutral oak, and light filtering methods. Montalto wines are pure, expressive, an incredible value, and a wonderful representation of what the region is known for.
QUINTA DO MONTALTO - VIRTUAL VISIT
The following interview was recorded in the fall of 2020 during the Covid lockdown. These videos were intended to promote sales and create requests for samples during a time when promoting new wines was challenging. Although this promotion is over, the videos contain SO MUCH great content that we want to make it available to you.
To watch this Virtual Visit on YouTube - click HERE Pro-Tip: Underneath each video there is an expandable description (click Show More) where you will find 'time-stamps' that are quick-linked to particular topics throughout the video for easy navigation and quick information
The following interview was recorded in the fall of 2020 during the Covid lockdown. These videos were intended to promote sales and create requests for samples during a time when promoting new wines was challenging. Although this promotion is over, the videos contain SO MUCH great content that we want to make it available to you.
To watch this Virtual Visit on YouTube - click HERE Pro-Tip: Underneath each video there is an expandable description (click Show More) where you will find 'time-stamps' that are quick-linked to particular topics throughout the video for easy navigation and quick information
montalto 'medieval de ourém'
fernão pires, trincadeira The Medieval de Ourém Encostas d’Aire is a wine that has as much incredible history as it does personality. Dating back to the 12th century, the methods that the monks passed on to the locals have lived for centuries and are still carried out in a select few cellars in this now noted DOC. The Medieval wine is a blend of local white Fernão Pires grapes, as well as the red Trincadeira. As it was planted in ancient times, it is still planted at a very high density (about 7,000 plants per ha). The white grapes were harvested by hand and removed from the skins in an old basket press, where the must was then collected into large and old chestnut barrels after passing through a simple basket for ‘filtering.’ The barrels were filled 80% full with the Fernão Pires, and waited for a few days until the red grapes were hand de-stemmed and fermented for 4 days in a large tub, pulled off of the skins, and put in the barrels. After two months together in wood, the wine can be bottled or moved to stainless steel tank depending on demand. A fresh and lively light red/rosé style wine that has incredible acidity, lively fruit, and dynamic personality, is the result of this age-old method. |
montalto 'vinha da malhada'
aragonez, trincadeira, touriga nac. etc The Vinha da Malhada takes its name from a 3.5-hectare vineyard of the estate where much of this fruit comes from. It is a blend of the two local varieties Aragonez and Trincadeira which were brought into the cellar for a natural fermentation in 5 and 10 thousand liter stainless steel tanks. Once both fermentations completed, the wine saw its first addition of SO2 for stabilization and preservation, was fined with bentonite and pea protein, and after a few months was bottled without filtration to result in a lively and wonderful red. The color is deep and robust, and the aromatics that shoot from the glass are fruity and fresh. The palate offers a very deep structure while being noticeably light on its feet, with bright tones of fruit, and a clean sensation of soil and place. A very food friendly bottle of wine, it should be drank within the first five years of its life. |