Herdade do Esporão
With a contemporary style and an elegant, intense profile, the white wine Defesa do Esporão reveals the character of carefully selected and well-defined plots from the Alentejo region, drawing inspiration from Portugal’s history.
In the 13th century, D. João de Aboim, a descendant of Egas Moniz and a central figure during the reign of King D. Afonso III, established the Defesa do Esporão from several territories donated by the municipalities of Monsaraz and Portel. This is one of the oldest properties in southern Portugal. Defesa do Esporão was a prominent example of such properties, which were tied to the formation of Portugal during the Christian reconquest of the south. Its boundaries, defined by a charter at the end of the 13th century and preserved in the Torre do Tombo, remain unchanged to this day, with centuries of agrosilvopastoral practices based on biodiversity conservation and multifunctionality that Esporão continues to uphold as a good practice for ecosystem protection.
The 2022 growing season was dry. During the vegetative rest period (autumn-winter) and in spring, temperatures were mild, and precipitation levels were low. In the vineyard, bud break was early, and moderate temperatures accelerated vegetative development. The very high temperatures and lack of water in the summer led to uneven ripening among the grape varieties, resulting in a precise harvest with a special focus on expressing each variety.
Vinification: The vines are on average 20 years old and are planted in granitic/schist soils with a loamy-clay structure. Mechanical harvesting, cooling of the grapes, vacuum pressing, cold must decantation, and fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures for 15 days. Bottled in April 2023.
Enology: Sandra Alves & Teresa Gaspar.
Physicochemical Parameters:
Total Acidity: 5.3 g/l
pH: 3.2
Reducing Sugar / Baumé: 1.4 g/l
Allergens information
Contains sulphites.
SKU: 101346
