Vineyards
Our Vineyards
Located at an average altitude of about 500m, in schist soils with a lot of stony soil, the vines occupy an area of about 15 hectares.
The white vineyard, which gives rise to the Maritávora Nº1 Great Reserve White wine, is a small vineyard of less than one hectare that has been in production for over 100 years, although other vineyards that were close to it have already been uprooted and replanted. This little treasure was kept thanks to the perseverance and affection of several generations. Red vines are aged between 20 and 70 years.
The concept is based on typical Douro grape varieties. The vineyard is not watered and the Guyot conduction system is used. Yields are low, and weeds are used. Most operations, from pruning to harvest, are carried out manually, maintaining the respect for the environment for decades.
All Quinta de Maritávora vineyards are in Organic Farming mode.
Climate
The Maritávora farm is located in the Douro Superior. In this sub-region of the Douro, the winters are long and rigorous and the summers are very hot. The climate is extremely dry, with annual rainfall generally below 500 mm. Our vineyards are located at 500 meters of altitude, so we have cool nights even in the months of July and August where the heat is more intense. This microclimate of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, provides wines with high concentration but maintaining a marked freshness.
Ground
The soils of Quinta de Maritávora are made of shale and extremely stony. They are poor soils that do not allow high loads and help the minerality and concentration of the wines.
Freixo de Espada à Cinta
Location of Quinta de Maritávora
Freixo de Espada à Cinta is located in the Douro Demarcated Region and in the Natural Park of Douro Internacional. It is one of the most remote villages in the country, the birthplace of the poet Guerra Junqueiro. Noteworthy are the Matriz church, built in the 16th century in Manueline style, the Torre do Galo, from medieval times and the only example of a heptagonal tower in Portugal, and also the Silk Museum, a place dedicated to the tradition of silk, with artisans working alongside alive, extracting silk threads from the cocoons.
