2021 Quinta do Montalto Medieval de Ourém

Region: Encostas d'Aire DOC < Lisbon < Portugal

Grapes: 80% Fernão Pires, 20% Trincadeira

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic/biodynamic farming, sandy limestone soils; after harvesting, the grapes are transported to the winery in small boxes (18-20kg),  fermented separately; red grapes are distemmed with a “ciranda” directly to wooden vats called “dornas” and the fermentation lasts 4-10 days in open barrels, then the partially-fermented red grapes are thrown in on top of the white ferment to finish fermentation; when this final joint fermentation is complete, the cap will sink to the bottom of the barrel, helping filtering naturally the wine; bottled unfined/unfiltered with no added So2; øø zero-zero; 13% ABV

Winemaker: André Gomes Pereira

• Historic estate that dates back to the year 1880 in the farthest-north area of Lisbon, family-run for 5 generations
• 50 hectares of certified organic land, with only 15 hectares are vineyards -- the rest is dedicated to fruit, gardens, and forest
• Chillable red/white co-ferment
• Medieval style dating back to a 12th century Cistercian monastery that was outlawed by EU wine law (which didn’t allow red/white blends in quality wines) until it was recognized in 2005 as part of the new DOC Encostas d’Aire
• Drinks like a deep pink rosé or light red, perfect for charcuterie and cheese
• Crushed raspberries, strawberries and spice