We recently
we hopped over to visit Monte da Ravasqueira with some clients. Rob
Allen (London Trade Sales) reports on our time there...
The estate itself is a charming estancia where previously they stabled and raised thoroughbred horses to compete in carriage races and events, leaving a legacy of whitewashed stables and a museum to house their large collection of carriages. In addition to this they have other buildings more associated with wine, with their own bottling line and cellar storage all on site. It is a lovely set up and we were very well looked after in a very personal way, as if the family owners had just invited us to stay for a couple of days.
Wine wise they are very forward looking and slightly experimental with plantings of varietals not necessarily associated with Portugal, such as Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier (late harvest sweet went down well with mostly everyone) and Negramaro. Indeed some of their single varietal wines are amongst their most interesting wines, for me their Touriga Franca and Viognier are very much worth searching out, as are their Reserva tinto & branco dual varietal pair (Touriga Nacional & Syrah, Viognier & Alvarinho respectively). So many wines, so little time, but it is no surprise that they have a clutch of awards from Decanter magazine, IWC & IWSC.
Thanks should go to Francisco & Sophie for doing all the planning and those clients who joined us from Anglia Country Inns, Roxie Steak Restaurants, The Lord Morpeth and The One Bull in Bury St. Edmonds.
Never having travelled to the Alentejo, my expectations were high having tasted some of their wines before. An hour or so drive from Lisbon and we were enjoying the lovely countryside and starting to learn the topography. Monte da Ravasqueria are located on some of the highest land around and so has commanding views over the plains of Alentejo. This also has an impact on their winemaking style, giving them better natural acidity & elegance which they value very highly across their wines, differentiating them from the “traditional” style (riper and more alcoholic with less acidity).
The estate itself is a charming estancia where previously they stabled and raised thoroughbred horses to compete in carriage races and events, leaving a legacy of whitewashed stables and a museum to house their large collection of carriages. In addition to this they have other buildings more associated with wine, with their own bottling line and cellar storage all on site. It is a lovely set up and we were very well looked after in a very personal way, as if the family owners had just invited us to stay for a couple of days.
Wine wise they are very forward looking and slightly experimental with plantings of varietals not necessarily associated with Portugal, such as Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier (late harvest sweet went down well with mostly everyone) and Negramaro. Indeed some of their single varietal wines are amongst their most interesting wines, for me their Touriga Franca and Viognier are very much worth searching out, as are their Reserva tinto & branco dual varietal pair (Touriga Nacional & Syrah, Viognier & Alvarinho respectively). So many wines, so little time, but it is no surprise that they have a clutch of awards from Decanter magazine, IWC & IWSC.
Thanks should go to Francisco & Sophie for doing all the planning and those clients who joined us from Anglia Country Inns, Roxie Steak Restaurants, The Lord Morpeth and The One Bull in Bury St. Edmonds.
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