Quinta das Maias Branco, Gouveia, Dao

Description

Quinta das Maias Branco is a white wine from the Dao wine-growing region of Portugal. Quinta das Maias itself is owned, since 1997, by Quinta dos Roques, a very famous Dao wine estate, and their wine are made at the Roques winery by the same wine-making team. This prestigious property consists of 12 hectares of old vine vineyards located at a higher altitude than Roques in the the foothills of Portugal’s highest mountain range, the Serra de Estrela, some 42 miles form the Roques winery. The estate at Gouveia is named after the Maias or May flowers, also known as Weaver’s Broom, which surround the vineyards and now adorn the label – the flowers, funnily enough, The estate is predominantly planted with the Jaen (also known as Tinta Mencia), Touriga Nacional, Tinto and Tinta Roriz red grape varieties. However, Quinta das Maias Branco 2013 is a blend of Malvasia Fina, Cercial (Sercial), Verdelho and Encruzado. The soil is mainly composed of sandy, granite soil and is poor quality, meaning the vines have to work hard, and the vineyards are located at around 680 metres above sea level. Over the last 5 years the Quinta das Maias has been working on converting to organic viticulture.