Quinta do Vallado 40 Year Old Tawny

Region and Vineyards

Quinta do Vallado, founded in 1716, is one of the oldest and most iconic estates of the Douro Valley. Located near Peso da Régua in the Cima Corgo sub-region, its vineyards stretch along steep, schistous slopes that rise dramatically above the Douro River. This terroir, marked by low fertility soils and intense sunlight, yields grapes of remarkable concentration and structure.

The estate cultivates a mosaic of old, mixed-planted vineyards, some with vines over a century old. These parcels include a staggering diversity of varieties, predominantly Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, and Touriga Franca, among many others. The Douro's climate, with hot, dry summers and cold winters, coupled with the traditional field-blend approach, contributes to the profound depth and complexity found in Quinta do Vallado's Ports.

Winemaking

The Quinta do Vallado 40 Year Old Tawny Port is a carefully blended wine, the fruit of numerous vintages matured in seasoned oak casks of 600 litres. The prolonged aging process, stretching across decades, allows gradual oxidation and concentration, creating the hallmark amber-brown colour and extraordinary aromatic depth of a fine aged tawny.

Crafted from old vine parcels comprising more than 35 native grape varieties, this tawny embodies the Douro's viticultural heritage. Winemakers Francisco Ferreira and Francisco Olazabal oversee the blending of cask-aged lots to achieve balance, complexity, and consistency. The final blend boasts 142 g/L residual sugar, lifted by a vibrant acidity (5.42 g/L), and finished at 19.5% alcohol, resulting in a wine of great intensity and poise.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep amber with golden-green glints at the rim, reflecting long oxidative aging.
• Aroma: Very intense and complex, with layers of dried fruits, figs, dates, tobacco leaf, toasted nuts, and subtle hints of exotic spice.
• Palate: Concentrated and richly textured, unveiling flavours of English fruitcake, figs, and roasted nuts. The sweetness is seamlessly balanced by freshness, leading to an endlessly persistent finish.

Did you know?

Quinta do Vallado is not only one of the oldest estates in the Douro Valley, but it also belonged to the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, affectionately known as "Ferreirinha," a woman who revolutionised Douro viticulture in the 19th century. The estate today remains a symbol of her pioneering spirit.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Roquefort cheese: The intense saltiness and pungency find harmony with the tawny's sweetness and nutty depth.
• Foie gras terrine: The richness of foie gras is beautifully lifted by the wine's freshness and candied fruit complexity.
• Caramelised pecan tart: Echoes the nutty, toffee notes of the tawny while enhancing its luscious sweetness.
• Dark chocolate with sea salt: The bitterness of cacao and touch of salinity contrast the wine's opulence, accentuating its elegance.

Tradition

Quinta do Vallado, established in 1716, is one of the oldest and most famous "Quintas" in the Douro Valley.

It once belonged to the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, and still belongs to her descendants. It lies on both banks of the Corgo River, a tributary of the Douro River, near its mouth, close to the town of Peso da Régua.

For almost 200 years, Quinta do Vallado´s main activity was the production of Porto wines that were commercialized by the Ferreira Port House (belonging to the Ferreira family).

Following Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira´s great achievement, her Great grand-son Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, and his son Jorge Cabral Ferreira were the main architects of the further development of the Quinta´s vineyards and winery.

Modern Times

Moving from the centuries-old tradition of selling the farm´s production to the Ferreira Portwine House, in 1993, under the direction of Guilherme Álvares Ribeiro and his wife Maria Antónia Ferreira, the company decided to extend the business towards the production, bottling and marketing of own-label wines.

Also in 1993 under the guidance of Prof. Nuno Magalhães, a deep restructuring of the vineyards was started, with the objective of increasing the production of high quality grape varieties.

These new vineyards were planted with the best varieties in single plots, breaking with the old tradition of planting many different varieties in the same vineyard.

The homogenization of treatment, ripening and picking times made for a clear improvement in processes and translated into a much more regular, easy to control and economically effective quality production.

With 50 ha of vineyards aged from 6 to 15 years and having kept 20 ha of the best old plots, more than 80 years old, Quinta do Vallado, and it's executives João Ferreira Álvares Ribeiro, Francisco Ferreira (head of agricultural management) and Francisco Olazabal (oenologist), all descendants of Dona Antónia, has achieved national and international acclaimed levels of quality and recognition.

The construction of the new winery and barriques cellar, started in 2008 and concluded in the fall of 2009, combines state of the art technology with a high quality architecture project, making it one of the places to visit in the Douro valley.