Dão organic wines

The Portuguese wine-growing region of Dão was defined in 1908, both in terms of its boundaries and extent, as well as its sub-regions. It encompasses 20,000 hectares of vineyards located in the following sub-regions: Arganil, Oliveira do Hospital, and Tábua around Coimbra; Aguiar da Beira, Forno de Algodres, Gouveia, and Seia around Guarda; and its own sub-region of Viseu. The Dão borders the Douro wine region to the north, Beira Interior to the east, Vinho Verde to the northwest, and Bareida to the west and southwest.

From a viticultural perspective, both the granite-rich soils in a very hilly      
landscape and the climatic conditions with large temperature differences between day and night, as well as between the seasons, are of great advantage.

Under the best conditions, the Dão region can produce elegant, Burgundy-like wines with full body, pronounced acidity, complex aromas, fine fruity notes, and soft tannins. They age beautifully, enhancing their refinement and making versatile food companions.

Distinguishing grape varieties in the Dão wine-growing region

Touriga Nacional: a noble red variety that produces full-bodied red wines with diverse aromas and fine tannins.

Encruzado: the noblest variety for producing rich, complex white wines.

Alfrocheiro: a native red grape variety that produces wines with delicate aromas and increases in complexity with ageing.

Jaen: a red variety that produces wines with moderate alcohol content, low acidity, and very ripe fruit aromas, making it well-suited for blending with Touriga Nacional.

The prestige of Dão wines:

In the 19th century, they were instrumental in the Portuguese wine industry. They won national and international awards and were sold at higher prices than other wines.
Starting in the 1960s, large cooperative wineries emerged in the Dão region, seeking economic success through the production of inexpensive, undemanding wines.

It wasn't until 1995 that a return to this tradition began. The existing production regulations for producing good wines were once again observed. Small producers, the quintas, returned to the forefront. They were the ones who focused on quality and ensured the renaissance of Dão wines. Among them is Quinta dos Roques, which will soon be included in our range.

This image is from the Dão CVR database, which relates to the designation of origin designations between 1998 and 2004 and serves as a knowledge tool for the region and the sector. Technical University of Lisbon. Lisbon 2008. Author: Carlos da Costa Silva.