With over 300 years of tradition and once the property of the esteemed Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, Quinta do Vallado, which was founded in 1716, continues to be one of the pioneering Estates in the Douro Valley. Located near the town of Peso da Régua, on the Corgo River, the Quinta amazingly is still owned by the Ferreira family. These days the winery is being run by João Ferreira Álvares Ribeiro (CEO), Francisco Ferreira, who is on the board and is in charge of managing the agricultural, winemaking and production aspects of the Quinta and winemaker, Francisco Olazábal. Interestingly, all three are great-great-great grandsons of Antónia Adelaide Ferreira.
On this picturesque Quinta, in the heart of the Douro Valley, you will find a winery, a hotel and a restaurant. All three are beautifully designed by merging the historic features of the property with modern amenities that make you feel like you are in a utopian setting. Breaking from the region’s tradition of painting buildings white, the buildings at Quinta do Vallado are painted in a tasteful orange color helping the winery stand out among the hills of the valley. Although the grounds are breathtaking, the stars of the property are the 65 acres of vineyard of which 10 consist of old vines planted between the 1920s and 1950s.
To continue to produce some of the best wines from the region, in 2009, Quinta do Vallado built a new winery and underground cellar. Both are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and serve as the heartbeat of the Quinta’s wine-making operations. During our visit we tasted white, red and Port wines from their extensive selection. From their whites, we found the 2022 Vallado Reserva to be crisp and balanced making it a great companion to a meal on a hot day. From the reds, the 2016 Vinha da Coroa struck a balance between freshness and boldness that we really enjoyed and from the Ports, the 40-Year-Old Tawny with its concentrated flavors and smooth finish left us craving for more.
One of the highlights of our visit was a delicious wine-pairing lunch while taking in the views of the magical Douro Valley on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace. The four-course lunch was focused on using local ingredients to prepare traditional dishes. The charcuterie board with local cheese and sausages and the filet of bacalhau (cod) were our favorites but make no mistake, we would be thrilled to repeat any of the four dishes.
A great time when visiting a winery cannot be possible without first-class hospitality and Quinta do Vallado has a team that will make you feel at home. When visiting the Douro Valley if you want to transport yourself back in time while enjoying a magnificent food and wine experience then Quinta do Vallado needs to be on your itinerary.
