QUINTA DA BOAVISTA
Penalva do Castelo
Dão
João and Luísa Tavares de Pina took over the family’s 18th century estate in the 1990s, a sprawling property, spanning 40 hectares of land including 13 hectares of vines, is located in the Dão region in northern Portugal. This region is one of Portugal’s oldest, sheltered by two mountain ranges, the Serra do Caramulo and iconic Serra da Estrela. It is known for its granitic soils and higher elevations, with potential to create characterful elegant styles.
Besides the region’s typical soil composition, some of the Quinta’s vineyard plots are enriched with marine sediments over 500 million years old. These sedimentary shale clayey rocks, contribute to a slower ripening process lending to wines with intense flavours and a great mineral depth.
João has been the driving force behind the farm’s wine production project. From the outset, he aimed to maintain the family's traditional approach to farming, adhering to organic practices and embracing polyculture. Living amidst the vineyards allows him to intimately understand their evolution and needs, fostering a deep connection with nature.
The vines are set in between forests of pine, eucalyptus and oak trees, and the vineyard's floor is covered with autochthonous flowers such as chamomile, clover, Serradella and various grasses. A series of lavenders are positioned at the end of each row. Their anti-fungal properties act as natural protection against infections.
This biodiversity attracts all series or microorganisms, birds and and bees, promoting the health of both vines and soils. The winery is also covered in solar cells making Quinta da Boavista a net exporter of electricity and carbon neutral. No herbicides or pesticides are used, only a small amount of copper-sulphate when necessary.
.
João has also initiated a nursery project aimed at reviving old forgotten native varieties. In the cellar, grapes are always spontaneously fermented and the wines are not filtered nor fined. Only a small dose of SO2 is occasionally added at the bottling stage.
The cooler climate of Castelo de Penalva naturally lends to wines with a beautiful freshness and very low abv’s. João likes to embrace this elegance, employing gentle extractions and eschewing new wood, opting instead for stainless steel or large chestnut barrels for his top wines. More recently, João and Luísa’s daughter Inês has joined the family business full-time. She is now learning the family trade, bringing fresh energy and new ideas to the estate's operations.
The Rufia and Tretas labels are part of an elegant, yet playful range made with younger vines. The wines exhibit bright acidity and perfumed mineral character, showcasing the distinctive qualities of the local varieties
Rufia Branco
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Penalva do Castelo, Dão
Varieties Encruzado, Cerceal Branco, Malvasia Fina, Bical
ABV 11.5%
Soils Granite, Shale, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking The local varieties are hand harvested from younger vine plots with South exposure at 550m above sea level. The blend is mainly composed of Encruzado (55%), followed by Cerceal Branco (25%), Malvasia Fina (5%) and Bical (5%). The fruit is de-stemmed and direct pressed into stainless steel tanks, where it spontaneously ferments for 10-12 days to full dryness. The wine stays on it’s lees for 8-9 months. The wine is unfiltered a minimal dose of sulfur is only added at the bottling stage.
Tasting Note Soft citrus, white pears, hints of pine and an oatmeal note in this beautiful thirst quenching white.
Rufia Rosado
Vintage 2022
Style Rosé
Region Penalva do Castelo, Dão
Varieties Rufete, Touriga Nacional
ABV 11.5%
Soils Granite, Shale, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking The local varieties are hand harvested from younger vine plots with South exposure at 550m above sea level. The wine is made of a 50/50 blend of local Rufete and Touriga Nacional. The fruit is de-stemmed and direct pressed into stainless steel tanks, where it spontaneously ferments for 7 days. The wine spends 8-9 months on the lees.
The wine is unfiltered a minimal dose of sulfur is only added at the bottling stage.
Tasting Note Sour cherry, apricot fruit and scrubbed herbs. A unique fun rosé, with generous fruit that can stand up to a meal!
Rufia Clarete
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region Penalva do Castelo, Dão
Varieties Rufete, Touriga Nacional
ABV 11.5%
Soils Granite, Shale, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking The red grapes are manually harvested and and des-stemmed before being spontaneously fermented in open top tanks. These spend a short maceration of 24 hours on the skins, followed by a 15 day fermentation. The wines spends 8/9 months on primary lees before being aged for a further few months in closed tanks. The wine is not fined or filtered and the only a small dose of SO2 is added at bottling.
Tasting Note Clarete in traditional Portuguese style, used to describe a partly extracted red made to be drunk a little cooler and generally characterised by lower abvs. The Rufia Clarete is fun and juicy with beautiful bright red cherry notes, candied peach, blossom tones and paprika spice.
Tretas
Vintage 2021
Style Red
Region Penalva do Castelo, Dão
Varieties Jaen, Touriga Nacional, Rufete
ABV 11%
Soils Granite, Shale, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking A blend of predominantly Jaen (or Mencia in Spain - 73%) with Touriga Nacional (17%) and Rufete (10%). The local varieties are hand harvested from younger vine plots with a southerly exposure at 550m above sea level. The fruit is de-stemmed and direct pressed into stainless steel tanks where it is macerated for 4-5 days and spontaneously fermented for a total of 8-10 days. The wine spends 8-9 months on the lees, it is unfiltered and a minimal dose of sulfur is only added at the bottling stage.
Tasting Note An energetic red with tones of sour cherry, orange zest and crunchy blackcurrant fruit. This is super light with mouthwatering acidity, best served chilled!