With the end of the vineyard cycle approaching, we saw our viticulturist, Amândio Cruz, to find out how everything went and what to expect from the upcoming harvest.
1. What do you think of viticulture in the Douro?
Viticulture in the Douro is considered by GiESCO (Group of International Experts for Cooperation on Vitivinicultural Systems) to be heroic viticulture, mountain viticulture, due to the harshness of the soil and climate conditions in which it develops. In fact, due to both the terrain and the climatic conditions that prevail in this region, it is an arduous viticulture, with a high degree of difficulty. On the other hand, the type of soil, the landscape, the climate, and the vineyards unique to this region give rise to distinctive wines of great quality.
2. In your knowledge of viticulture in Portugal, what do you think sets the Douro apart from other regions?
Essentially, its orographic and climatic conditions distinguish the Douro from other Portuguese wine-growing regions. The presence of several rivers that cross it and whose ‘backbone’ is the Douro River, also contributes to this differentiation, as they create specific microclimates where the various grape varieties ripen differently. In addition, Douro viticulture develops at completely different altitudes, depending on whether the vineyards are located close to the rivers or further up the slopes. The great climatic differences observed from the Baixo Corgo to the Douro Superior contribute to obtaining wines (Douro and Port) with completely different characteristics.
3. What distinguishes the Quinta do Convento de S.Pedro das Águias?
The Convento estate is located on the banks of the River Távora. Here, the soils at higher elevations are mostly granite in origin, which, combined with the exposure of the vineyards, which predominantly face north, results in grapes that are more balanced in terms of sugars and acidity, enabling fresher wines to be produced that are different from traditional Douro Docs or Ports, which are more alcoholic and less fresh, originated in warmer parts of the region. In addition, Quinta do Convento is an estate with great water availability, which could be a competitive advantage against the backdrop of climate change.
4. Since you embraced the project, what have been the biggest challenges you've faced on the estate?
As it's mountain viticulture, a lot of the mechanisation that can be used in other regions doesn't work here, so a lot of the work is mostly done by hand.
5. How do you assess the evolution of the project?
The project has evolved positively, with the well-defined strategy of planting more white grape varieties, since the wine market ‘asks’ for more of these types of wine. In addition, red grape varieties that were planted at a higher altitude have been replaced by white grape varieties, where the climate is cooler and more favourable to these varieties. In terms of wines, their quality and diversity has increased consistently, with many of them reaching the level of excellence.
6. In general, how was the year for viticulture in Portugal?
Nationally, 2024 was and continues to be an extremely difficult year in terms of health, with persistent rain throughout the spring and early summer. These conditions of high humidity led to continuous and severe attacks of mildew, both on the foliage and on the bunches themselves. With so much water available in the soil, weed control also proved to be an arduous task this campaign.
A year like this has not been seen in Portuguese viticulture for a long time. Further south, especially in the Alentejo, some heat waves led to scald on the grapes.
7. What about the Douro?
In the Douro, in the areas with the highest rainfall, conditions were like those in the rest of the country, while further inland, the drier climatic conditions somewhat facilitated the control of this disease.
8. What about in Quinta do Convento de S.Pedro das Águias?
Fortunately, at Quinta do Convento, the control of cryptogamic diseases (mildew and oidium) was relatively effective. In fact, although there was also rain during the spring and early summer, the timeliness of the spraying and the fungicides chosen seem to have been effective in combating them. The greatest difficulty was also weed control.
9. How do you foresee the harvest? And the quality of the grapes?
The months when the grapes ripen (August and September) are expected to be dry and with relatively mild temperatures. If this turns out to be the case, especially with the lack of rain in September, I think it will be a year of excellent grape quality and great potential for producing high quality wines. As for quantity, it's promising.
