Quinta Da Bella

DÃO, PORTGUAL

Encircled by imposing mountains, the enchanting Dão region is a land of sprawling pine and eucalyptus forests stretched right across the northern part of central Portugal, between Aveiro on the Atlantic coast and Guarda near the Spanish border. Forming a soaring backdrop to the east and south, the Serra da Estrela mountain range is very much the heart of both Portugal and the Dão wine region, with many of the best vineyards laid out like lush green carpets along its verdant foothills.

The name derives from a river which seasonally cuts a narrow gorge through the granite hills of central Portugal and today the demarcated Dão region produces some of the country’s most popular table wines. The region has around 20,000 hectares of wine production spread across 376,000 hectares of land. It spreads through the districts of Coimbra, Guarda and Viseu. Its low fertility, granite-based soils, along with its continental climate give way to subtle, elegant wines.

In a nutshell: Quinta de Bella is an extensive property of around 50 hectares located at 380 metres in altitude.

The terroir: The property benefits from its proximity to the Dão river. It has an excellent exposure and granite sand soils of high quality, also known as ‘rotten granite’ or ‘noble granite’. High density plantings combined with traditional sustainable viticulture, completely dry farmed, yields powerful, concentrated grapes, with plenty of flavour and minerality, that embodies wines of tantalising aromas, texture and ageing potential.

The wines listed here are single varietal displaying the pure expression of the grape and vintage. The Bella Elegance range comprises single varietal wines focused on the fruit, whilst the Dom Bella range represents more structured wines and matured in seasoned oak, only made in exceptional vintages.

The Dão ‘personality’: Sometimes referred to as the ‘Burgundy’ of Portugal, the Dão region produces elegant wines, with fabulous ageing potential.