Giannikos Winery - Burmester

The silence is only disturbed by a passing train. The river flows slowly between the rocky banks and produces a landscape that is extraordinary and stunningly beautiful. The Portuguese poet Miguel Torga described the Douro as "an abundance of nature". Burmester testifies to this. Schist and granite. Stone and dust. The stone 'olive lagar' (old press) is proof that the fertile land was already cultivated during the time of the Roman empire.

Burmester's estate belongs to the tough people who have cultivated it for centuries. The grape varieties grown here are the traditional varieties of the region. A compromise between nature and human intervention is continuously made here, particularly aimed at preserving the biodiversity of the vineyard. The harvest at Burmester is an event in itself. It starts early to avoid overripe grapes. The crushing of the grapes is done very carefully to maintain the purity of the fruit. The tannic structure is preserved - the tannins are there, but they are refined and elegant. The maturation phases are balanced, preferably in oak, with the aim of integrating, never taking out.

Burmester wines are characterized by fruity and balsamic notes, fine acidity and the necessary elegance to age gracefully. Like the place where the grapes are grown in the first place, located on the left bank of the Douro River, between S. João da Pesqueira and Vila Nova de Foz Côa in the famous Douro Superior sub-region, it benefits from a microclimate that its wines gives character. The vines are spread over 100 hectares of both traditional and modern terraces, stretching from the top of the hill (at an altitude of 300 meters) to the Douro River. The main grape varieties are Touriga Nacional (about 50%), Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão. There are also smaller plots of Tinta Barroca and Tinta Amarela.