The Vineyards
There are 14 vineyards spread across the approximately 50 hectares of Quinta da Raza.
While each is part of a whole, they each have their own specificities, histories, and unique beauty, containing indigenous grape varieties from the Vinho Verde Region. Similarly, we ensure they are the most appropriate and well-adapted to the type of soil, topography, and orientation/exposure. Let’s get to know them a little better.
Vineyard of Sorte do Alto da Raza
The ancestral name dates back to old designations used to distinguish different types of terrain in the region: “tapadas,” “outeiros,” “bouças,” “glebas,” “tacos,” “sortes,” among others. In the past, Sorte do Alto da Raza, now used to refer to the entire approximately 6 hectares of this vineyard, corresponded to the current residence of the owners of Quinta da Raza, Mafalda, and Diogo Teixeira Coelho. It is also the vineyard closest to the winery. Restructured in 2017, it includes four grape varieties: Alvarinho, Trajadura, Azal, and Vinhão. Sometimes, we take our tourists and visitors on a short tour of this vineyard, introducing them to the characteristics and peculiarities of each grape variety. During these tours, obligatory stops include the Organic Garden and the Animal Farm. In the garden, we have regional fruits, aromatic herbs, and other vegetables such as carrots, lettuces, delicious cabbages, and succulent beefsteak tomatoes. On the farm, Portuguese Pedreses chickens, capons, turkeys, geese, mute ducks, and bísaro pigs make up the fauna, demonstrating that there are still happy, free-range animals living in harmony with each other and nature.
Vineyard of Bouça Fria
To the north of Sorte do Alto da Raza is Bouça Fria, 3 hectares divided between two red grape varieties that are usually associated, especially in monoculture, with rosé wines. We are talking about Espadeiro, which gives rise to the famous Espadal wine, and one of the most beloved indigenous varieties, Padeiro, still known locally as Padeiro de Basto. Its delimitation is quite clear, almost orthogonal in its southern and western boundaries; to the north and east, it borders an old service path to agricultural properties, “The Caminho do Alto,” the border between the parishes of Veade and Canedo de Basto. The considerably high altitude allows for a beautiful landscape, including the Marão and Alvão mountain ranges, where other vineyards such as Vinha da Raza or Tapada da Troca are also present.
Vineyard of Raza
Without a doubt, one of the most unique vineyards, composed of different plots. In the flatter area on the west side, there are 3 hectares of Alvarinho and 2.5 hectares of Azal. Heading east, on a small mid-slope elevation, there is a plot called Tapada da Troca, filled with one of the varieties that has recently gained more attention throughout the Vinho Verde Region: Avesso. On the counter-slope, Tapada do Sargento, grafted with Trajadura, is revealed. Among the distinct aspects of this vineyard, we highlight its magnificent south exposure and the soil, of granitic origin but with a high concentration of silt and clay, giving it superior water retention capacity.
Vineyard of Pombeiros
The charming Vineyard of Pombeiros is named after the large number of pigeons that, not too long ago, populated the area, being extremely important for the subsistence economy of many families in the region. To the north and northeast, it is surrounded by the Ecopista do Tâmega, a remnant of the extinct Tâmega Line, now frequented by locals and tourists on foot or by bicycle. In this vineyard, we have the Azal and Trajadura grape varieties.
Vineyard of Tapada da Eira
Tapada de Eira is oriented to the south, ensuring an extraordinary sun exposure, allowing one of our favorite varieties, Azal, to reach its ideal ripening point. This native grape of Basto is present throughout the entire area of this vineyard. Here, the numerous fragments of quartz shine on the ground, contributing to the delicious mineral notes so present and appreciated in our wines.
Vineyard of Lugar d’Além
Vineyard of Lugar d’Além is a paradigmatic example of the old vineyards in the region and how our farmers worked them, composed of a remarkable variety and mixture of traditional white varieties from the Basto sub-region. Its name comes from an old existing farm property, perpetuated in this vineyard, located in the parish of Canedo de Basto.
Vineyard of Carvalhal
Vineyard of Carvalhal is one of the oldest, and its area is distributed among the Vinhão, Padeiro, and Azal grape varieties. In 1997, a section of the Padeiro variety, which was practically extinct at the time, was grafted here. . Unlike others, the name is easy to explain: the vineyard itself connects to the Carvalhal Forest, so named for the large number of oak trees. In this authentic repository of biodiversity, don’t be surprised to see squirrels, foxes, wild boars, or even a deer or two. The maintenance, cleaning, and conservation of this forested area are ways in which we express our commitment to environmental sustainability and the safeguarding of future generations.
Vineyard of Outeiro
Vineyard of Outeiro is the closest vineyard to the Outeiro House, from which its name is derived. Compared to others, this is one of the most intricate vineyards, with sinuous and curved boundaries, adapting not only to the terrain but also to the Outeiro House, its garden, and the adjacent buildings, most of which are of livestock or agricultural nature, such as the old dovecote, warehouse, cattle barn, or the centuries-old granite wine presses where, even today, we ensure the traditional foot treading of the Vinhão reds. In terms of grape varieties, Padeiro, Arinto, and Avesso are present in the Vineyard of Outeiro.
Vineyard of Cerdeiredo
This designation is used to name one of the oldest vineyards on the property and one of our wines in the Vineyards Collection range – Vinha de Cerdeiredo. In reality, it is a small collection of traditional red varieties (whose origin dates back to the time of Diogo Teixeira Coelho’s grandfather, Inácio Xavier de Barros Teixeira Coelho) that we decided to preserve during the major vineyard restructuring carried out in the early 1990s. This process involved collecting and selecting the branches of the old vines of the existing red varieties throughout the farm, including Azal Tinto, Amaral, Rabo de Ovelha, Espadeiro, Borraçal, Touriga Nacional, Padeiro, and Vinhão. Currently, at 34 years old, the Vinha de Cerdeiredo continues to surprise us.
Vineyard of Calçadas
The name of this vineyard is due to the remains of an old road, worn and rolled, from the numerous carts that passed through here and the many feet that walked on it. The vineyard, with a gentle slope, is oriented to the south, located on a level immediately below the Vineyard of Outeiro. We decided to graft three grape varieties here, specifically Arinto, Trajadura, and Alvarinho.
Vineyard of Moinho
Arinto and Padeiro are the grape varieties that make up the Vineyard of Moinho. In addition to these high-quality grapes, the Moinho reservoir is where we have our water intake and pumping station used for irrigating our vineyards. Indeed, this location has an intrinsic relationship with water, as until the mid-1980s, a mill was in full operation here, essential for corn milling. Likewise, in this same structure, there was a saw, powered by the force of water, for cutting wood.
Vineyard of Peneireiros
This name, which designates the place where Quinta da Raza is located, is also the name of a bird, a small falcon, that still flies over the skies of our region today. In essence, just as the countless pigeons of yesteryear served to name the Pombeiros vineyard, the countless falcons or “peneireiros” also fulfilled this beautiful purpose of naming these vineyards. Composed of three irregularly shaped plots, in the Vineyard of Peneireiros, we find three grape varieties: Vinhão, Azal, and Arinto, regionally also known as Pedernã.
Vineyard of Lamelas
This is undoubtedly the most unique and distinctive vineyard at Quinta da Raza. Several aspects make it unique. Firstly, the soil, mostly schist, requires greater resilience from the plants. Indeed, the name ‘Lamelas’ comes from the way this metamorphic rock breaks particularly in this location, into small and elongated sheets. Another particularly distinctive attribute is the terraced arrangement, with each terrace having its corresponding stone wall. We can also highlight the panoramic aspect, as from its summit, there is a panoramic view of the entire region, with the Farinha Mountain standing out. In its extension, Gouveio grapes grow and ripen – a variety for which Quinta da Raza is the only proud producer in the entire Vinho Verde Region – accompanied by Avesso and Azal.
Vineyard of Gagos
As the name suggests, this vineyard is located in the place of Gagos. Taking advantage of the natural topography of a former very flat cultivation field, the Vineyard of Gagos is exclusively dedicated to the Padeiro grape variety. The soil, characterized by a high sandy component of light color, resulting from the disintegration of the granitic rock substrate, allows the wines from here to reflect the typical characteristics of the variety, particularly at the organoleptic level.
