Text Olga Cardoso | Translation Teresa Calisto

The visit to Quinta do Sanguinhal was a real surprise for me. A rendezvous with the history of wine, with life stories from other times and in this particular case, with an impressive life dedicated to entrepreneurship.

I’m talking about Abel Pereira da Fonseca, founder of the Companhia Agrícola do Sanguinhal that administered the properties he owned in the Bombarral region.

At that time, the Abel Pereira da Fonseca Commercial Society – also his – held and explored the biggest network of sale to the public establishments in the country, with around 100 stores in Lisbon. Fernando Pessoa was “caught” in those stores several times, in flagrante, as he used to say.

The company was always dedicated to the production and commerce of wines. To this effect, they would make the wines separately for the estates Quinta da Cerejeira, Quinta do Sanguinhal and Quinta de São Francisco in their own wineries, possessing in total, a capacity of around two million liters in wooden vats and “balseiros” (huge wooden casks) made of mahogany and oak, used for fermentation, storage and ageing of table wines, liqueurs and brandies.

The Companhia Agrícola do Sanguinhal explored 3 Óbidos Designation of Origin Estates making up 95 ha of vineyards: Quinta do Sanguinhal, Quinta das Cerejeiras and Quinta de S. Francisco. The names of these estates represent the most prestigious DOC wines of this family owned company.

More recently, the company has decided to invest equally in the tourism and events areas, in order to take full advantage of all of their spaces. So, they recovered wineries, “lagares” (the stone tanks used for treading grapes), and the distillery turning them into very interesting locations for any wine tourist.

At Quinta do Sanguinhal it’s the family Pereira da Fonseca itself that welcomes guests. We were greeted by Ana Pereira da Fonseca Reis, responsible for the wine tourism area and with vast knowledge of the wines produced in the estate, who provided for a very pleasant and professional visit.

The family decided not to conduct the visits and wine tastings in a conventional manner, making known a 100 year old history in the Portuguese wine making industry and providing visitors with an alternative to traditional circuits.

Besides tasting different styles of wine, the guests will be able to walk the XIX century gardens as well as the gorgeous vineyards of the Estate. Visit the completely recovered old distillery, where in the old days they would produce wine brandy and “bagaceira” brandy. Visit the old “lagar” with rod presses, dating back to 1871 and an ageing cellar with 36 vats. An experience I strongly recommend!

The Companhia Agrícola Sanguinhal portfolio is quite vast and diversified. It’s impossible to mention all the wines here and now. For that reason, from the tasting I highlight the following wines:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quinta de São Francisco White 2013
Coming from a clay soil and made from the Vital, Fernão Pires and Arinto varieties, it is elegant in the aroma, with highlighted citrus notes. In the mouth it is fresh, harmonious and balanced. It has a delicate final and medium intensity.

Quinta das Cerejeiras White Reserva 2012
Made from Chardonnay, Arinto and Vital varieties it has a slightly golden yellow color. The aroma is austere and reveals some complexity. Mouth with good structure and emphasized orchard fruit. Ripe apples and some peach. The wood is well integrated but has shown work, by giving it light vanilla sensations. Elegant and intense finish.

Casabel Rosé 2013
From Aragonês, Castelão and Syrah varieties, this rosé shows an exuberant nose, with predominant red fruits, like strawberries and raspberries. In the mouth it is dry, fresh and with a delicate ending. It works well as an appetizer, but it has also shown good gastronomical aptitude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quinta do Sanguinhal Red 2009
In the nose it reveals forest fruit aromas and some ripe black fruit, like blackberries and plums. Some vanilla and spicy touches are also evident. In the mouth it has good structure, present but soft tannins, good acidity and elegant final.

Quinta das Cerejeiras Reserva Red 2008
This wine has the oldest label in Portugal, unchanged since 1926. It’s one of the crown jewels. From the Castelão, Aragonês and Touriga Nacional varieties, it shows a restrained but complex nose. Black, jam-like fruits are immediately clear. Some pine needles, slight smoke and spicy notes complement its olfactory pallet. The mouth is voluminous and dense, but also soft and velvety. Balanced and harmonious, has an elegant and persistent finish.

Contacts
Quinta das Cerejeiras
Apartado 5
2544-909 Bombarral
Tel: (+351) 262 609 190
Fax: (+351) 262 609 191
Email: info@vinhos-sanguinhal.pt
Site: www.vinhos-sanguinhal.pt