A funky hidden gem from Portugal!

Region: Montejunto, Portugal

This is the PoP's version of the Castelao wine from Tiago and Antonio. The grapes here also come from Montejunto, north of Lisbon, and undergo a light maceration, with only three days on the skins, and are fermented on whole clusters. The wine rests for 11 months. This is a "junior Castelão", lighter and fresher than most wines made of this grape, however, it still shows the uniqueness of Portuguese wines with its Atlantic character.

Da Cruz e Teles is a partnership between two of the most brilliant vignerons/ winemakers from Portugal, Tiago Teles (Gilda, RAIZ) and Antonio Marques-da Cruz (Quinta da Serradinha).

The idea of working together started in 2015 when they approached the family of the late Jose Mendonça about working their vineyard in Figueira da Foz, a village north of Lisbon. This place was the main source of the grapes of Quinta dos Cozinheiros, the producer of a wine that became a reference point for the new generation of winemakers in Portugal. The vineyard, located just 5 miles from the Atlantic, proved ideal for the wines of Teles and Marques-da-Cruz. Its 50-year-old vines of Baga and slightly younger vines of Maria Gomes and Arinto are co-planted on clay-limestone soils and farmed organically. The proximity to the coast keeps the heat at bay and the grapes find great balance between ripeness and minerality.

🍇 Organic and Sustainable Practices