Vieira de Sousa is a newly official Port house that dates back to the 18th century; as they have always farmed exceptional fruit from the Douro River region but used to sell the majority of their juice to larger estates nearby. As they have made small bits of Port for the family for over a century, the house now makes only their own Port as Luisa Vieira de Sousa Borges (the current and now operation generation of the family) completed a degree in oenology in 2008 and decided to take her family's business to a new level. In her young 30's, she is ambitious and is tackling a world of old traditional wine made by old men, by making incredible juice on her family's land. All estate fruit is used for the wines, coming from four different quintas (vineyards) at varying elevations, dispositions, and influences. In 2009 they bottled their first vintage Port from their top Quinta do Roncão Pequeno site, and the rest will now be history. In old stone lagares, they foot crush their fruit, let only the natural yeasts begin the fermentation, allow natural settling for clarification, and use incredibly delicate and quality brandy for fortification. Naturally, the final aged wines are exceptional, classic, and will be recognized as some of the greatest Ports available on the market.
VIEIRA DE SOUSA - 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
STILL WINES
vieira de sousa 'alice' white
rabigato, viosinho, gouveio The Alice White is a blend of local white varieties from some of the family’s plots of vines located around 500 meters above sea level on the plateau of Celeirós. The hand-harvested fruit comes to the cellar for a quick pressing and begins its fermentation in stainless steel tank at low temperatures to maintain as much freshness of fruit as possible. After being bottled in January the resulting wine is not only fresh, but also vibrant and alive. Aromas of bright citrus come forth, with pomelo, basil, and faint orange blossoms. The acidity in the mouth is laser sharp, balancing a cold slate minerality with incredible lime and green papaya, and lingers with mouth-watering brightness. |
vieira de sousa 'fine' white port
tinta roriz, touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta barroca The Alice Red Reserva is a blend of several traditional grapes from the Douro Valley, coming from the steep vineyards of the estate, and from nearly 40-year-old vines. After the grapes are brought into the cellar, they were de-stemmed and then put into stainless steel tanks for natural fermentation, with almost two weeks with the skins before pressing. The wine then rested in old French barrels for about 3 months before it was bottled and put to market. The finished wine is explosive with personality, and although it hints at the stewed dark fruits of Port, it is far from oxidative in character. Ripeness pours out from the nose, dark black cherries, juicy blackberries, purple plums, anise, and clove. On the palate the fruit persists, but the ripeness takes more of a back seat and displays a juicy balance with fresh acidity and soft tannins. Earth tones and thistle flower appear in the mid-palate, and a dazzling texture continues through to the end. |
PORT WINES
vieira de sousa 'fine' white port
malvasia fina, rabigato, verdelho, etc. The Fine White Port is the entry-level example to the white style of Port that the Vieira de Sousa estate does better than anyone else. It has spent the least time in barrel, though still focusing on the oxidative element of the wonderful white grapes used, but perfect for a delicious cocktail, or still wonderful simply paired with food and desserts. The grapes are a very traditional blend of Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Voisinho, and Gouveio, where the hand-harvested fruit was brought into the cellar for a foot-treading press in old granite lagares. It ferments in lagares with extended time on the skins, until it reaches the desired Baumé, (in this case 3.4). It was then fortified with Brandy to keep the sugar level and fruit flavor vivid and rich, aged in old wooden vats (a bit in stainless steel as well) to expose oxygen to the wine, developing rich nutty characteristics, elegance, and delicious flavors. 
vieira de sousa 10yr white port
malvasia fina, rabigato, verdelho, etc. The 10yr White Port is a highly aromatic and complex wine that takes advantage of prolonged skin contact and an oxidative process of a long time in oak barrels, in order to create a remarkable treat from the local white varietals. A field blend of Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Verdelho, and Gouveio come into the cellar after a hand-harvest on steeply sloped sites, for an old-fashioned foot crushing in giant concrete lagares to begin fermentation. Once fortified with grape brandy and then moved to large and old oak vats, the wine rests for many years, and the final bottling is a blend of vintages that average to at least ten years. The brilliant gold that shines forth from the glass is packed with a raisined and nutty aroma, leading to a sweet and fresh palate of fig, golden raisin, ginger, and pear. An incredible structure with acidity and weight, this wine pairs perfectly with creamy cheeses, thick chutneys, and nuts. 
vieira de sousa 'lbv' port
touriga nacional, tinta roriz, etc. The Late Bottle Vintagae was destined for vintage Port yet continued its aging longer than the maximum three years allowed and was bottled after its fifth year of aging. A hand-harvested blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinta Cão, and Tinta Roriz, was brought to the cellar for an old-fashioned foot crushing in large concrete lagares to begin a natural fermentation. When halted by fortifying with grape brandy, the wine was moved to large and old oak vats for aging before bottling. This LBV is dark ruby in color and shows concentrated qualities of red and black fruit, with spicy pepper and dark chocolaty goodness. Very smooth tannins and an overall balance on the palate makes this extra aged vintage specific Port a remarkable choice for pairing with strong cheese, chutneys and nuts. 
vieira de sousa 1950 Colheita
touriga nacional, tinta roriz, etc. The rare and extremely limited 1950 Colheita Tawny Port is a breathtaking time-stamp of a single year in the history of Vieira de Sousa. Now over 70 years old, its date commemorates the birth year of Luisa’s mother, Lurdes. This Port was originally harvested and placed into a giant old barrel to begin its slow journey through time, meant to blend in with the younger to the older Tawnys over the years. Each time wine was pulled from the barrel, the remains would be transferred to smaller barrels again and again until finally, the left over Tawny from 1950 fit in just a single 500L barrel. As perfect as oxidized Port can be, it has become wonderfully concentrated in both its sugar and, more importantly, its stunning acidity. Now in bottle for the first time (only 600 bottles produced!), a greenish brown hue pours out its story of 7 decades in a dark, dank, and remarkable old cellar. Unfiltered, untamed, and unbelievable, this wine is a technicolor journey back thru time. Tasting the love and the passion it was graced with by three different generations of winemaker’s hands, while being mixed with the emotion and the heartache of all that has gone before it in its 70 years. It is Tawny Port at its most breathtaking and historic moment, whilst dancing amongst the cobwebs strewn between ancient barrels. |
vieira de sousa 'fine' tawny port
touriga nacional, tinta roriz, etc. The Fine Tawny Port is a wonderful delicious example of the ‘Tawny Style’ in the region, from the Vieira de Sousa estate. The aging is done in large old vats (tonel) to encourage an oxidative environment for this deliciously nutty Port. This is a very traditional blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa (Franca), Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz, where the hand-harvested fruit was brought into the cellar for a foot-treading press in old granite lagares. It ferments in lagares until it reaches the desired Baumé, which is the measure of sugar that gives the potential alcohol point for Port (in this case 3.3). It was then fortified with Brandy to keep the sugar level and fruit flavor vivid and rich, and then put into oak vats for aging for many years. The final tawny offers a rich palate that is very balanced and elegant, with nuts and caramel notes, dates and figs, and a long expressive finish. 
vieira de sousa 10yr tawny port
touriga nacional, tinta roriz, etc. The 10 year old Tawny is a gorgeous example of the estate’s beautifully complex grapes after going through traditional practices and aging. A field blend of native varietals such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Cão, and Tinta Roriz, are handpicked and brought into the cellar, and then placed into old traditional stone lagares for an old-fashioned foot pressing and fermentation. When the process is halted by fortification with grape brandy, the wine is placed into a combination of different large and old oak casks for many years, with the bottled wine having an average of 10 year aged Port in it. The aromas are intense and heady, with dried fruits, figs, nuts, and plum, leading to a silky and soft texture on the palate with stewed fruits, cinnamon stick, and dates. The freshness is remarkable, and the depth and length makes this contemplative sipper a treat for enjoying after a good meal. 
vieira de sousa 40+ year very old white malvasia fina, rabigato, verdelho, gouveio The Very Old White Port from Vieira de Sousa is one of the most unique offerings found in the Douro Valley. The Sousa history boasts arguably the largest stock of white Port aging in the cellar over anyone in the region. From these giant and absurdly old barrels that the Very Old White is drawn, the Port wine inside has aged for anywhere from 40 to 100 years. The white grapes came from the family’s oldest holdings in Celeiros, and is a field blend comprised of Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Verdelho, and Gouveio. The dark hued nectar is remarkably elegant with highly complex aromatics that have only been accentuated over the years from its oxidative aging and prolonged skin maceration. With a range of fresh to dried figs on the palate, and nuttiness that is backed by a lifted contrast of acidity, this wonderful Port can give endless pleasure while one contemplates the history that the wine has seen while waiting for its bottle. |
vieira de sousa 'fine' ruby port
touriga nacional, tinta roriz, etc. The Fine Ruby Port is a young and delicious example of the ‘Ruby Style’ in the region, from the Vieira de Sousa estate. Spending no time in wooden vats, the approach for Ruby Ports is meant to focus on the intensity of fruit, rather than the play with oxygen that Tawny styles are known for. This is a very traditional blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa (Franca), Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz, where the hand-harvested fruit was brought into the cellar for a foot-treading press in old granite lagares. It ferments in lagares until it reaches the desired Baumé, (in this case 3.2). It was then fortified with Brandy to keep the sugar level and fruit flavor vivid and rich, offering delicious aromas and flavors of red fruit and plums, a decadent mouthfeel, and soft tannins. Once open, drink this wine within several days, as it is about the fruit, not the oxygen. 
vieira de sousa vintage port touriga nacional, tinta roriz, etc. The 2017 Vintage Port is a powerful and classic example of what was arguably one of the greatest Port vintages in several decades. With plenty of rain through the winter and spring to help the grapes sustain the warm summer and a very hot August, maturation was perfect for the grapes to stand alone in a vintage bottling. Hand-harvested fruit was brought in to the cellar for an old-fashioned foot crushing into large concrete lagares to begin natural fermentation. When halted by fortification with grape brandy, the wine was then aged for three years in stainless steel before being bottled. Like vintage Port always promises, this wine is robust and concentrated, while having compact precision and amazing elegance on the palate. Inky in color with brambly black fruits and spice in the nose and mouth, this Port will be incredibly long-lived, and is an over-sized chair and fireplace’s best friend. 
vieira de sousa 40+ year very old tawny
touriga nacional, tinta roriz, etc. The 40+ Year Tawny Port is one of Vieira de Sousa’s prized wines, having a history in the cellar that reaches back farther than the age of the current generation that bottled it. The common red grapes of the Douro Valley (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesca, and Tinto Cão) were hand harvest many years ago and saw a traditional foot crushing in large granite lagares before the fortification and aging in giant old oak vats. For the barrel that gave its wine to these bottles, it sat untouched for well over 40 years, and some of the Port inside was likely in that barrel for close to 100 years. The resulting Tawny is unlike all of its younger examples, as the complexity over the years truly turns into one of the most elegant dessert wines on the planet. A green-rimmed gorgeous brown port fills the glass and gives off remarkable aromatics of walnuts, roasted figs, and the Portuguese countryside. On the palate there is a fabulous concentration of coffee and liqueur, prunes, dates, toasted nuts, and chocolate. |