History: The history of Tapada do Chaves dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, when the Chaves family planted the first vineyards on the slopes of the Serra de São Mamede in their small tapada, beginning a relationship of passion and dedication to the land. Located in the parish of Frangoneiro, on the outskirts of Portalegre, Tapada do Chaves has been in existence for over a century and assumed a prominent role in the creation of the demarcated region in Alentejo with its wines of protected origin. In Tapada do Chaves there are two of the oldest vineyard plots in Alentejo, in production, with records in the years 1901 for the red vine and in 1903 for the white vine. With 60 hectares of land and 32 hectares of wine-growing heritage, the tapada is located on a granite massif and at a generous altitude, in an area strongly influenced by the orography and agroforestry cover, in a microclimate that is decisive for the quality and typicality of the wines produced there. It is a unique place due to its heritage and potential.
Grape Varieties: Arinto, Antão Vaz, Fernão Pires and others.
Soil Type: Granite
Vineyard: Old vine (1903)
Tasting Notes: Bright citrus-green color. A classic unwooded Alentejo profile on the nose, with intense fruit, depth, and complexity. Ripe white fruit, plum, and pear aromas are layered with hints of dried herbs and delicate floral notes. Full-bodied and pleasantly creamy, it shows concentrated fruit balanced by firm acidity and a very subtle minerality. The finish is long, elegant, and characterful, with impressive volume and persistence.
Vinification: Hand-harvested from three plots in the Castanheiro vineyard, located at approximately 400 meters above sea level. The grapes were carefully selected and then whole-cluster pressed, without destemming. The must was clarified naturally by gravity using the traditional low-temperature static settling method. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks with neutral yeasts, with the aim of preserving the authenticity and terroir expression of the Tapada do Chaves vineyards.
Ageing: 9 months in deposits on lees with periodic bâtonnage followed by 12 months in the bottle.
Drink Between: 2025 to 2039
Serving temperature: 14ºC
Winemaker: Pedro Baptista e Duarte Lopes.
Availability: In 1-3 business days
