Text João Pedro de Carvalho | Translation Jani Dunne

With a 258-year long history, Real Companhia Velha has recently taken to research, innovation and experimentation. Since 1996, the year when the so-called ‘Fine Wine Division’ was created, Real Companhia Velha have been doing complex work in experimenting and innovating. This was part of a mission between the young teams that work on viticulture and oenology. One of the first wines they worked on was the Chardonnay from Quinta de Cidrô of the 1996 harvest.

In 2002, after a few visits to wine fields of the region, the technical team decided to plant a few white species, for instance Alvarelhão Branco, Alvaraça, Esgana Cão, Donzelinho Branco, Samarrinho, Touriga Branca – in Quinta Casal da Granja (Alijó) – and reds: Donzelinho Tinto, Malvasia Preta, Preto Martinho, Cornifesto, Tinta Francisca – in Quinta das Carvalhas (Ervedosa do Douro). The choice of species was based on a visual analysis of a few morphological parameters (vigour, size, sensitivity to dryness) and productive (fertility, size of the bunches, tasting of seeds), and Real Companhia Velha are responsible for collecting twigs for grafting.

This resulted in the launch of the brand Séries (Series) Real Companhia Velha, in 2012. Although it was registered as a wine brand, it really is a concept that aims to expose the company’s work in innovating and experimenting. When successful from an oenological point of view, these wines can be distributed and, when profitable, the next harvest will be approved for the company’s commercial portfolio. This happened with Rufete, the single-species wine of 2010, whose 2011 harvest was included in the portfolio for Quinta de Cidrô. Next were the Sparkling Real Companhia Velha Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Brut 2011 Series, which wore the ‘Real Companhia Velha’ seal in the following edition.

After an intensive study lead by the viticulture team, the Samarrinho species was found to have an unavoidable presence in the Vinhas Velhas (old vineyards) in Alto Douro. Pedro Silva Reis, president of RCV, believes that Samarrinho may even become a reference for white wine in the region. Therefore, the company has decided to begin a ‘clonal selection’ (a process used to select grapes), now being developed by Instituto Superior de Agronomia (Higher Institute of Agronomy). The problem, for now, is that the current genetic material – in a speedy degenerative process – is too sensitive to diseases such as millerandage and irregular seed sizes. This caused a loss of the entire 2014 harvest.

This unique wine has only produced 860 bottles. The grape it is made from was completely unknown until now, and has come to show Portugal’s full potential in the World of Wine – for its wines’ distinction and unique identity. This Samarrinho turns out unusual, with a strong character, very defined in the nose with mixtures of white-pulp fruits and drupes (stone fruits), honey, lots of freshness, flowers, some similarities to some wines of the Riesling species. In the mouth, it’s mark is freshness; medium-bodied and merged with oiliness, fruits in syrup, a mineral and dry bottom with some nerve and displaying good potential to age in the bottle.

Contacts
Real Companhia Velha
Rua Azevedo Magalhães 314
4430-022 Vila Nova de Gaia
Tel: (+351) 22 377 51 00
Fax: (+351) 22 377 51 90
Email: graca@realcompanhiavelha.pt
Website: realcompanhiavelha.pt