BEIRA INTERIOR

Surrounded by mountains (Estrela, Gardunha, Malcata and Marofa are the main ones), the vineyards of the Beira Interior are usually planted in plateau or hillside areas, between 350 and 750 meters high, making this wine region the highest in Portugal.

In a continental climate, characterized by cold and harsh winters and hot, dry summers, altitude can make all the difference in the most critical stage of ripening grapes (July and August), mitigating heat shocks. On the other hand, the lower atmospheric density favors the thermal amplitude between day and night: cool summer nights are something that wine producers love, as they allow a less hasty and more balanced ripening of the grapes, preserving their natural acidity and other important compounds.

Changes in altitude, relief, humidity and temperature, lead to different terroirs in the approximately 16,000 ha of vineyards in the Beira Interior region. The soil profile in Beira Interior also contributes to this diversity, which is not homogeneous. Although most vines are planted on a granite base, there are also areas of shale and quartz veins, which though not very fertile, naturally control the vigor and productivity of the vines.

Also interesting in Beira Interior is the quantity of old vineyards. Due to its relative distance from the country;s main hubs, the region has been left very much alone. These oldest vineyards, planted with several mixed grape varieties, are the living “historians” for the most traditional varieties in the region.

Due to the dry and harsh climate that does not favor vine diseases, the vast majority of vineyards, old and new, are farmed either according to integrated or organic production modes, thus contributing to environmental preservation and sustainability of the ecosystem (with little intervention needed in the production of wines).

PRODUCERS