The Vale Barqueiros Estate, covering some 800 ha, was founded in 1853 and is situated a few kilometres from Alter do Chão in the beautiful northern Alentejo region. It is a large estate owned by the family of Commander Vasco Faria, whose main activities are the cultivation of grapes and olives using irrigation.
It currently comprises 122 ha of vineyards and 368 ha of olive groves, from which only the finest olives are selected to produce the estate’s own wines and olive oils, marketed under the “Vale Barqueiros” brand. The estate also comprises 140 ha of cork oak and stone pine woodland, 2 dams, 3 lakes, a members’ hunting ground and a sport fishing club.
The history of the Vale Barqueiros Estate dates back to the 14th century and its origins are strongly linked to the Order of St. Benedict of Aviz, founded by the Knights Templar. At that time, the Castle of Seda, currently a village in Alto Alentejo, was constantly under threat of attack as it represented an important landmark of our country and a symbol of independence. Due to this situation, the Order of St. Benedict of Aviz ordered the creation of a military reserve near the Castle of Seda so that in case of emergency they could rescue the fortification as quickly as possible.
It was then that the Vale Barqueiros military reserve emerged. It was given this name because, in order for the soldiers to reach the aforementioned castle, it was necessary to cross the Ribeira de Seda river, and for this purpose there were boatmen, individuals with small boats who transported the soldiers to both banks.
The estate is clearly dominated by Portuguese grape varieties, which lend it a strong regional character and are perfectly suited to the characteristics of the Alentejo landscape and climate.
Among the typical Portuguese grape varieties, the standout reds are Aragonês, Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional, whilst the standout whites are Arinto, Fernão Pires and Antão Vaz. As a relatively recent addition, the winery has focused on internationally recognised grape varieties that offer greater complexity, such as Alicante Bouschet, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Herdade de Vale Barqueiros, in addition to an extensive vineyard area featuring a wide variety of red and white grape varieties, has its own winery where all its wines are produced using the very latest technology, whilst always respecting the tradition and expertise acquired over more than 25 years of producing the ‘Vale Barqueiros’ wines.
Wine production at Herdade de Vale Barqueiros, led since the 2022 harvest by Mário Andrade and his team, is based on the creation of small batches of above-average quality, in which all the characteristics that define the estate’s ‘terroir’ are clearly evident, thus enabling the creation of highly distinctive wines in a region, Alter do Chão, which many years ago (in the 19th century) was recognised as being of the highest calibre for wine production.
Terroir and tradition. The knowledge passed down through generations.
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