WINERIES

Two regions, two wineries, two places where the desire to make unique wines inspires us every moment.

Porta de Teira

Set between a mountain range and salt flats, in a green landscape where three of the four elements – land, water and air – inspire different wines.
The company’s first vineyard in the Tejo region was planted in 2000, four kilometers from the city of Rio Maior, on a slope of the Serra d’Aires e Candeeiros mountain range. The vineyard comprised 2.5 hectares, and the varieties that were planted were those that were best suited to the conditions: Touriga Nacional, Aragonês and Syrah.
Four years later, after discovering large quantities of active limestone in the soil, João Barbosa planted one hectare of Pinot Noir. Vinification, which had initially been done in friends’ wineries, began to be done “at home” after the Porta de Teira winery was built. Also that year, another 1.5 hectares of Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro were planted.
In 2009 the company planted the first white grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc and Fernão Pires. The vines are planted on rich, south-facing, calcareous-clay slopes with optimum drainage and great capacity for exchange with the plants, in a Mediterranean climate with Atlantic influence. All this contributes to a good balance of the vines, small productions, concentrated grapes, and a potential for acidity that is the basis for our Ninfa wines, which are fresh and have longevity.

Valle de Junco

With a high level of temperture variation – hot during the day and cold at night – Valle de Junco is the tranquility of a different Alentejo, set in a distinct landscape, with a winery set apart from the rest of the world.
In 1997 João Barbosa purchased 22 hectares in the Alto Alentejo region of Esperança, Portalegre. Because he is a big admirer of Burgundy wines, he bought this land with poor, fine- textured, acid soil, with a continental climate with influence from the São Mamede mountain range, and a potential for concentrated acidity and long maturations.
In 2000, ten hectares are planted with Syrah, Alicante Bouschet, Aragonês, Trincadeira, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Barroca and Touriga Nacional. Most of the vineyard benefits from southern exposure, and growing on granitic slopes, the plants are forced to compete with each other, creating a special balance. Productions vary between three and four tons per hectare, and the grapes have complexity, delicacy and minerality, all characteristics that are very present in the Lapa dos Gaivões brand.
The year 2005 marked the completion of the Valle de Junco winery. Prior to this, the grapes were carefully transported to neighboring wineries for vinification.