Located on the left bank of the Douro, near Ervedosa, Quinta de Ventozelo is one of the most beautiful and impressive in the region. There are many sensations that we experience when we stop at Quinta de Ventozelo. It is not only the view over the Douro, or the vineyards, that surprise. It is also the overwhelming, expectant silence, and the unmistakable richness of aromas that fill our breast at every step. The breadth of what you feel when visiting the farm makes us want to know this place deeply. In the past, Quinta de Ventozelo was a land cultivated by Cistercian monks, great promoters of local agriculture and founders of Port wine, who populated the region in the Middle Ages. The first historical reference of Ventozelo dates from 1288, but around 1500, due to the Cistercian monastery of S. Pedro das Águias, which came into the possession of the gentlemen of Quinta do Poço, Lamego, who founded it as a farm. This is one of the largest and oldest farms in the Douro. It has been passing through different hands over the centuries, hands that shaped it and transformed it to what it is today. In 2014, Quinta de Ventozelo was acquired by Gran Cruz, Portugal’s largest wine exporting company, which has been converting its grapes since 2011. Gran Cruz’s strategy seeks, since then, to appreciate the enormous potential of the property. This goes not only for working the wealth and diversity of their wines, but also for betting on olive oil, wine tourism and nature tourism. In total involvement with this place and its terroir, all the work developed has as main focus to privilege and preserve its simplicity and authenticity. The unique geography of Quinta de Ventozelo gives it numerous possibilities of exploration. A large area is occupied by Mediterranean forest where many species of fauna and flora find shelter. At the agricultural level, productions such as olive oil, honey, fruits and cork also occupy their place, with viticulture being the main activity. It is a true reserve of the biodiversity of Douro. The exceptional conditions of soil and climate of Ventozelo provide an excellent vitiviniculture. Of all the species and cultures that cohabit here, this is the one that predominates. The 200 hectares, with more than one million vines planted, extend from the Douro, about 130 meters, to the top of the farm, above 500 meters, where the grapes reach a remarkable freshness. The objective of the technical team is to enhance the differentiation and excellence of this land, based on its diversity of altitudes, exhibitions, age of vines, density of plantation, variety of grape varieties and systems of conduction. Understanding this complexity and adapting the best winemaking practices to obtain unique wines is a compelling challenge. Each Ventozelo wine preserves the essence of this place, always with the elegance and balance of the great wines of the Douro.
