The Alto Douro Wine Region is the oldest demarcated region in the world. Ripped by the river that gives it its name, it has a very particular climate made up of unparalleled hospitality, nature and landscape.
The peculiarities of a region
This is the oldest demarcated winegrowing region in the world, characterized by an uneven, monumental, and sumptuous, dominated by deep and rugged valleys.
The Alto Douro winegrowing region, classified as World Heritage in the cultural landscape category, with a long tradition of wine production, is made up of the Baixo-Corgo, Cima-Corgo, and Douro Superior sub-regions.
Quinta dos Murças is situated in one of the most iconic parts of the Alto Douro wine region, between Pinhão and Peso da Régua, where the climate belongs to the Cima Corgo region, where winters are very cold, springs and autumns short with dry and fierce summers.
The topography is rugged and tells the natural history of Man against the elements. Here, deep and steep valleys dominate, forming a variety of microclimates which, when understood, can help create some of the most interesting and sophisticated wines from the Douro.
From the schist and gravel soil sprouts flora amongst the crags, illustrating the resilience of life.
For those living here, there’s a price to pay for the breathtaking beauty of the Douro, however, there are rewards for those who understand and cherish it.
The River Douro both attenuates temperatures and reflects the sun. This effect, combined with the release of heat from the schist soil, helps temper the extreme cold of winter nights.
The Estate Experience
Quinta dos Murças is located on the right bank of the Douro River, between Régua and Pinhão, and is characterized by the presence of eight terroirs, different altitudes and solar exposures, schist soils and a characteristic climate of the Douro River valley. The vineyards are home to dozens of native grape varieties, grown organically, from which wines with a sense of place are born. This is also a historic Estate where the first vertical vineyard in the Douro was planted, dating to 1947.
Tourism has a Main House, Store, Winery, and Cellar. While staying in the house, guests can experience the Estate’s daily life and discover the region in an authentic experience, either by walking, going on a trail or on a boat trip.
