2022 Quinta Casal das Freiras Reserva Branco

A wonderful piece of history in the heart of Portugal

Quinta Casal das Freiras winery is located 7 km south-west of the Portuguese Tomar in the district of Santarém on farmlands that once belonged to the Templars and later to the Order of Christ. The very old winery has been owned by one and the same family since the 19th century (1882), the current owners now represent the 4th and 5th generations of the family. The traditional farmhouse is set amongst vineyards, olive groves, corn and grain fields, forests and cork oaks, making it a unique and diverse agricultural landscape. Partly because of its location on the river, the area is very fertile and is very beautiful and authentic with a varied landscape and beautiful historic towns such as Tomar, Constancia and Santarém and Golega.

The ancient tradition of olive and vineyard culture is preserved by José Vidal, owner of Casal das Freiras. The estate with its ancient olive groves and vineyards of different ages falls under the wine region of Tejo in the heart of Portugal. The vineyards with exposure to the south cover an area of ​​12 hectares spread over 5 plots of different ages of 60, 45, 21, 10 and 3 years. Protected by the Serra d'Aire in the west from the Atlantic winds, the climate is characterized by cold winters and hot, dry summers that improve the grapes' optimal ripeness. The red Touriga Nacional, Castelão, Trincadeira, Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet are most common in the slightly sloping clay limestone soils. Among the white varieties, the focus is mainly on Fernão Pires, Arinto, Rabo de Ovelha and Sauvignon Blanc.

In the winery, traditional technologies such as the Algerian amphoras and the stone mills for crushing grapes are combined with modern techniques. The winemaking, through a classic method of long-lasting maceration, produces beautiful red wines with pomegranate color, which are beautifully fruity and full of flavor. Refined light wood tones soften the tannins and do not drown out the fruity notes, so that the typical profile of the region is beautifully preserved.

Quinta Casal das Freiras is also developing some wine tourism activities. Visitors can admire the surrounding landscape and visit the winery, the old 20th century olive oil mill, and the wine tasting room. Here the wines can be tasted, accompanied by regional products such as olives, cheese, traditional sausages and jam. Depending on the time of year, it is still possible to view or even participate in some of the ongoing agricultural work, such as harvesting, trampling the grapes or picking olives.

Quinta Casal das Freiras wines order online at Grand Cru wines

You can of course buy Quinta Casal das Freiras wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine trade with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium, where you can order both special wines and wines for every budget. Quality products, fast delivery & reliable service that is Grand Crus!

The Portuguese wine region Tejo was also called Ribatejo until 2009 and takes its name from the famous river Tagus (Tejo). The area, located northeast of Lisbon, in the heart of Portugal, is very fertile partly due to its location on the river. The area is best known for its vineyards, olive groves, forests, the famous Lusitano horses and bullfighting. The area is beautiful and authentic with a varied landscape and beautiful historic towns such as Tomar, Constancia and Santarém and Golega. The best wine is grown on the flat land (charneca) of the Tagus Delta. In the past, mainly large quantities of wine were produced in this region, but fortunately there are now very ambitious winemakers who make excellent wines.

In 2000, the Tejo received the DOC status for which some areas were classified, while the wines from all over the region may use the designation Tejo VR (Vinho Regional). VR is something like the French Vin de Pays and the DOC is comparable to the AOC in France.

Tejo is one of the oldest wine regions in Portugal and is close to Lisbon. Tejo has a rich heritage of historical treasures, from Roman ruins and castles to late Gothic monasteries and medieval hilltop villages. With the Portuguese, Tejo is known as the land of vineyards, olive groves, cork forests and the famous Lusitano horses. The River Tejo is everywhere in the landscape of this wine region. It formed this fantastic valley, defines the climate and soil and has been of great importance to the economy for centuries. The surrounding plains and riverbanks are ideal for cultivating Portugal's native and international grapes, allowing the producers to make unique wines. The region has a temperate climate with average temperatures and warm days and cold nights during the summer. The result: cool wines with a lot of freshness and aromas.

The Portuguese wine region Tejo was also called Ribatejo until 2009 and takes its name from the famous river Tagus (Tejo). The area, located northeast of Lisbon, in the heart of Portugal, is very fertile partly due to its location on the river. The area is best known for its vineyards, olive groves, forests, the famous Lusitano horses and bullfighting. The area is beautiful and authentic with a varied landscape and beautiful historic towns such as Tomar, Constancia and Santarém and Golega. The best wine is grown on the flat land (charneca) of the Tagus Delta. In the past, mainly large quantities of wine were produced in this region, but fortunately there are now very ambitious winemakers who make excellent wines.

In 2000, the Tejo received the DOC status for which some areas were classified, while the wines from all over the region may use the designation Tejo VR (Vinho Regional). VR is something like the French Vin de Pays and the DOC is comparable to the AOC in France.

Tejo is one of the oldest wine regions in Portugal and is close to Lisbon. Tejo has a rich heritage of historical treasures, from Roman ruins and castles to late Gothic monasteries and medieval hilltop villages. With the Portuguese, Tejo is known as the land of vineyards, olive groves, cork forests and the famous Lusitano horses. The River Tejo is everywhere in the landscape of this wine region. It formed this fantastic valley, defines the climate and soil and has been of great importance to the economy for centuries. The surrounding plains and riverbanks are ideal for cultivating Portugal's native and international grapes, allowing the producers to make unique wines. The region has a temperate climate with average temperatures and warm days and cold nights during the summer. The result: cool wines with a lot of freshness and aromas.

Arinto is a grape variety grown mainly in Portugal and is considered one of the most important white grapes in the country. It is best known in the regions of Vinho Verde, Bairrada, and Bucelas, where it is used to produce delicious white wines. Arinto is a grape that is easy to grow and is therefore common in the Portuguese vineyards.

What does an Arinto wine taste like?

The Arinto grape has a high acidity and is therefore very suitable for producing wines with pronounced acidity. Arinto wines are therefore often fresh and fruity in taste, with notes of citrus, green apple and sometimes even a hint of minerality. Due to its high acidity, the grape is also ideal for blending with other grape varieties that are less acidic.