2023 Ramos Pinto Duas Quintas Branco

Ramos Pinto were the original pioneers of quality winemaking in the Douro, a legacy that lives on today and has been adopted throughout the region. Duas Quintas gets its name from the two estates the fruit is grown for the wines - Quinta de Ervamoira and Quinta do Bons Ares. Ervamoira lies in a rocky area on the banks of the river Côa, where the weather is hot and dry. This adds density and body to the wines. It was the first Quinta in the Douro where, in contrast to tradition, individual vineyard blocks were planted with a single variety, selected for the grape's most appropriate soil and climate. Bons Ares is a granite vineyard of higher elevation with cool growing conditions, adding freshness and vivacity.

Plot by plot, the grapes are tasted in the vineyard until the time is right for harvesting. Once in the winery, the grapes are sorted by variety and plot, then the whole bunches are cold macerated for 24 hours before being gently pressed. The must is fermented in underground vats, mostly of stainless steel; just 10% is fermented in a mix of French and Austrian oak vessels of varying capacities. The wine is then aged on its lees until bottling in the March or April after the harvest.