Quinta da Costa do Pinhão

Miguel Morais is the seventh generation of the grape growing Morais family, deep rooted in tradition and inspired by Nature. A mild mannered, humble and passionate man, he manages the estate’s biodiverse, organically farmed 24 hectares, 17 of which are planted with vineyards. After receiving degrees in Civil Engineering in Porto, Miguel returned to the vineyards in 2007 and fell heavily in love with his family’s estate, which is home to more than 25 native Portuguese ancient grape varieties – some of which are rarely heard of (or pronounced properly). In 2014 he refurbished the 19th century winery on the property, cleaned out the old cement lagars, purchased some big old barrels and got the old stone winery’s antique gravity winemaking flowing once again. It was then that he invited his winemaking friend, the famed Luis Seabra to help launch a new generational direction for the estate. Through their use of abundant natural resources, a transition to organic viticulture and a minimalistic approach to winemaking, the future is bright for this dynamic Douro Valley estate.

While to this day half of their grape growth is sold to the historic Sandeman Port house, the rest of the estate fruit is being used to make the namesake wines of Quinta da Costa do Pinhão. The winery’s first vintage was bottled under its namesake in 2014.

Quinta da Costa do Pinhão is a property located in the Pinhão River valley near Favaios - the heart of the Douro. The estate has a total area of 25 hectares dived between vineyards (17 hectares) and primitive forest. The vineyards are planted in terraces (geias) and steps (patamares) along very steep hills of yellow schist streaked with quartz veins, altitude ranges from 250 to 500 meters. They aren’t irrigated and they only have traditional and local grape varieties planted. The Quinta has been in the same family for 6 generations, we don’t know when the first vines were planted but we know that the property was inside the first demarcation of the region in 1756.