Alves de Sousa Archives - Made in Flavours

Quinta de Oliveirinha Grande Reserva 2017

Alves de Sousa

Alves de Sousa’s family produces their own wines, according to a family tradition that begun 5 generations, which is today also being continued by his children.

Family Tradition

The production of wines is a family tradition for Domingos Alves de Sousa: his father (Edmundo Alves de Sousa) and grandfather (Domingos Alves de Sousa) had already been winegrowers in the Douro. Contrarily to what it would be expected, Domingos Alves de Sousa held another career at the beginning of his professional activity

The Calling

After having his degree in Civil Engineering, he couldn’t resist any longer to the double appeal (of the land and the blood), and abandoned its activity in 1987 to dedicate himself in exclusive to the exploration of the “Quintas” (estates) he received from his family inheritance and to other properties later acquired, where he executed a precise work of gathering and reorganization of the vines

Changing Point

For many years he supplied some of the most famous and prestigious Port companies like Ferreira and Borges Wines. But the problems that affected the sector in the end of the eighties lead the family to question the models followed until that day. And this was the changing point. Domingos Alves de Sousa turned himself to the valuation of the "leftovers" of the Port Wine (as it was considered back in those days), meaning, the Douro wines, until then traditionally forgotten in relation to the “generous wine” (Port)

Quinta da Gaivosa

The rough slopes. The rudeness of the soils. The almost centennial vines and the olives. The forest. And the Marão in the arisen, witness of all the years that had passed trough Quinta da Gaivosa. The familiar and sentimental bows get tighter. It was here that everything started. An Alves de Sousa raised it and gave it the name. An Alves de Sousa presented it to the world under the form of one of the most emblematic wines of the Douro. All the work, all the care and devotion, all the arduous but rewarding grape growing. This same spirit is transported to the vinification center inside the winery designed by the Architect Belém Lima and endowed with the technological and human means, essential to the creation of the best wines.

Quinta do Vale da Raposa

Situated right after Quinta da Gaivosa, it is almost difficult to separet the two properties. Where it finishes one it starts the other. The gathering was made in the end of the eighties when Domingos Alves de Sousa acquired the 18 ha of the Quinta do Vale da Raposa. In 1991 it was the stage for the first steps in the production of wines D.O.C. Douro with a white wine that soon had the attention of wine lovers and deserved the best references. Such fact demonstrated the value of the Gaivosa’s Slopes terroir(name by which the zone is known) and recognized all the work developed there.

Quinta da Estação

With an excellent exposition and magnificent localization, almost “diving” in the Douro river, this “Quinta” has been one of the main research fields of Alves de Sousa: the study of systems of conduction of the grapevine, study and selection of the best grape varieties for different physical conditions, reorganizations... but always preserving the tradition, the aspects that make the Douro a singular region: blend of different grape varieties in new vines with systems of old plantation densities and the perpetual walls, raised by our ancestors and that will certainly follow our children and their children.

Quinta das Caldas

“Quinta” with great historical tradition, used to belong to the famous Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira (the “Ferreirinha”). Currently is under an important reorganization, where is being used a large set of innovative and specifically chosen technical means, without forgetting, however, the valuable legacy left by our ancestors. It results an amalgam of tradition and modernity that will certainly strengthen the position of Quinta das Caldas as one of the pillars to the production of the best quality wines. It is certainly one of most beautiful “Quintas” of the Douro Valley.

Quinta da Aveleira

This “Quinta” is situated in the highest points from the small village of Medrões (Santa Marta de Penaguião). Target of one recent reorganization, is assumed as the great bet in the production of white wines: the best portuguese white grape varieties, precocious and very aromatics, on which the natural conditions of the Quinta da Aveleira, such as soil, climate and altitude will allow a soft maturation and a level of acidity that will guarantee a good freshness and the best quality to the wines.

Quinta da Oliveirinha

“Quinta da Oliveirinha” (in eng. “Little Olive Tree Estate”) is a very special vineyard of the Alves de Sousa family. Located in the “heart” of the Douro Valley, on the right bank of the river, its natural and historical potential to make great Ports (its vineyards hold the the highest quality classification of the region - "Letter A") is now reinterpreted as a collection of Douro wines with the very personal touch of the Alves de Sousa family. Historical remark: Quinta da Oliveirinha originally belonged to Sebastião José de Carvalho, 1st Viscount of Chanceleiros (1833-1905), an illustrious politician but also a very important winegrower. His contribution to Portuguese viticulture was fundamental, having been at the forefront of the fight against “Phylloxera”, the plague that almost decimated all the vineyards in Portugal and Europe in the end of the 19th century. A role recognized by the distinction in 1895 as honorary president of the First National Wine Congress. An incredible legacy, that is followed with great honour and respect in Quinta da Oliveirinha since its acquisition in 2007 by the Alves de Sousa family.

It is in Douro that the Alves de Sousa family produces their wines, according to a family tradition of 5 generations.

Domingos Alves de Sousa - Producer

The quality and singularity of his wines have been widely recognised with distinctions and mentions in the most acclaimed national and international publications

Tiago Alves de Sousa - Wine Maker

With several publications about Viticulture and Oenology in international scientific magazines , conference proceedings, invited to give lectures in Portugal and abroad. Often judging in some of the most important international wine competitions (UK, China, Portugal, Germany, etc.). Today he’s responsible for the winemaking of all the Alves de Sousa family’s Douro & Port wines

Recognition

Over 100 medals (including 40 Gold medals) in international wine competitions in 7 different countries.

Abandonado
A unique wine. Homage to the also unique old vines of the Douro, that one day will disappear.

Reserva Pessoal
Released only in vintages of exceptional quality, in very limited quantities and with a minimum of 7 years of aging, recovering the true philosophy of the old “reservas” and “garrafeiras”.

Quinta da Gaivosa
Vinha de Lordelo
Lordelo – the oldest vineyard from Quinta da Gaivosa. An amazing composition of 30 indigenous grapes field-blended (including rarities such as “Malvasia Preta”)

Quinta da Gaivosa
An Alves de Sousa presented it to the world under the form of one of the most emblematic wines from Douro.