Port anD the Douro 97Quinta das Murças*
covelinhas, 5050 Peso da Régua
http://www.espoao.com
Grade B
Once under the same ownership as Dona Matilde, this sizable property on the north
bank of the river claims the very first vertical plantings in the Douro undertaken in
the 1940s. Much of the quinta is now planted this way and can be viewed easily from
the Régua–Pinhão road on the opposite side of the river. The adega, situated beside the
railway line, claimed the first autovinifiers in the Douro, built in 1956. Murças now
belongs to Esporão, large producers of wine in the Alentejo.
From Ribeira de temilobos to the River torto
A diagonal line from the Ribeira de Temilobos across the River Douro to the Ribeira
de Covelinhas marks the official start of the Cima Corgo. Although just 9 kilometres
upriver from Régua, the climate is considerably warmer and drier here. The slopes are
steeper and vineyards facing east / south-east have good shelter and exposure and are
capable of producing to high quality Ports. This is an area with many different meso- and
microclimates, with the Ribeiras Ceira and Tedo and River Tavora providing shelter for
a number of quintas. Historic properties are generally close to the Douro, which was the
main axis of communication until the construction of the railway. This was superseded
by the Régua–Pinhão Road on the opposite side of the valley, one of the few fast, straight
roads in the Douro, having been largely rebuilt following the damming of the river in
the 1970s. Apart from those properties described below, a number of other significant
quintas – Quinta do Caleiro, Quinta do Espinhal, Quinta Nossa Sra. do Carmo, Quinta
das Sopas, Quinta do Espinheira – can also be seen from the main road.
Quinta dos Frades
Folgosa, 5110 armamar
Grade B
This large property (shown on the cover) with its distinctive crenellated house above the
Régua–Pinhão road used to belong to the monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas but was
sold by public auction in 1841 with the dissolution of the religious orders. The property
is now privately owned and supplies the Symington family.
Quinta de Napoles*
Vila seca, 5110 armamar
http://www.niepoort-vinhos.com
Grade a
Until they purchased Napoles in 1988, the family-owned shipping firm of Niepoort had
no presence in the Douro, preferring instead to buy in and blend wines from growers.
Niepoort found Napoles (along with its smaller sibling Quinta do Carril) in a complete
state of abandonment but quickly replanted the vineyard which they now endeavour to
cultivate using organic methods. A spectacular new adega was built into the hillside in