Quinta do casal monteiro

Quinta do Casal Monteiro produces estate wines from Portuguese and international varietals planted on about 200 acres of vineyards, located on the Campo terroir directly along the Tejo (Tagus) River in Portugal’s Tejo wine district.

The winery was founded on the legacy of Dom Luis de Margaride, who inherited the estate in 1928 and devoted his life to the study of viticulture in the Tejo river valley – one of the oldest wine regions on the Iberian Peninsula. When the current generation of the family took the reins in 1979, they modernized the winery and returned the vineyards to a more natural form of management, including replacing pesticides with integrated pest management (IPM, biocontrol through natural predators).

Today, the Quinta produces a range of terrific wines showcasing the best of the Tejo district’s bright fruit and clean style.

The tejo district

Located just inland from Lisbon on both sides of the Tejo river Tejo and Ribatejo have a variety of soil types, mostly alluvial river deposits. The three subdistricts of Bairro, Charneca, and Campo are defined by their elevation, soil type and proximity to the river which moderates the climate. Monteiro is located in the terroir closest to the river itself, the Campo, which lies on sandy alluvial soils with some clay. It’s a fairly fertile soil and the grapes reach ripeness fairly quickly, allowing an earlier harvest to preserve the acidity and brightness of the fruit flavors.

The Wines

Monteiro makes a range of wines, from the light, fresh and value-priced Terra de Touros wines up to their top of the line Clavis Aurea.

Casal Monteiro Touriga Nacional “Unoaked”: Best known for its role in the table and fortified wines of the Douro district, Touriga Nacional is also grown in the Tejo where it produces a brighter, less tannic wine. This version is vinified in stainless and bottled without barrel ageing to preserve the peppery/ plummy character of the fruit and is a great example of Tejo Touriga. Pair with grilled chicken or sausages, or with spicy Indian or Mexican cuisine.

Clavis Aurea: A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca & Cabernet Sauvignon from 30-year old vines. Vinified through Malo in stainless, then aged 12 months in a mix of 80% French and 20% American oak. This is a rich, velvety and serious wine. Brilliant deep garnet color, with aromatic hints of red ripe fruit, jelly, black plums and cocoa, all well integrated with the oak undertone. On the palate is powerful and velvety with an intense and persistent finish. Perfect with roasts or aged cheeses.