Quinta do Vale Meão

Sabrosa

About this Place

Quinta do Vale Meão is one of the most mythical addresses in the Douro Superior and, by extension, in all of Portuguese viticulture. Located in Castedo, near Vila Nova de Foz Côa, the estate has roots in the Ferreira family — the same family as the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, known as "a Ferreirinha" — and was for decades the source of grapes for Barca Velha, Portugal's most mythical wine.

The Barca Velha Legacy

Barca Velha, created by winemaker Fernando Nicolau de Almeida at Casa Ferreirinha from 1952, used grapes from Quinta do Vale Meão as the backbone of its blend for decades. Produced only in the finest years (just 18 declarations between 1952 and 2004), Barca Velha became Portugal's reference wine and a symbol of Douro Superior wine identity.

In 1979, the estate passed to Francisco Javier Olazabal of the Ferreira family and was completely reconverted. Today it produces its own benchmark wines — Quinta do Vale Meão and Meandro do Vale Meão — which regularly feature on lists of the world's finest wines. A 100-point score from Wine Spectator for the 2004 Quinta do Vale Meão was historic.

The Estate and Wine Tourism

A visit to Quinta do Vale Meão is a total immersion in the most remote and wild Douro Superior. The estate is more than 100 km east of Pinhão, in a landscape of schist and slate of austere, majestic beauty. Visits include winery and vineyard tours, guided tastings and, in premium packages, a meal among the vines. Book well in advance.

Getting There

Quinta do Vale Meão is about 35 km east of Vila Nova de Foz Côa via EN221. Road access can be challenging; 4x4 recommended in winter. Combine with Côa Museum. Find accommodation in the Douro.

FAQ

What is the relationship between Quinta do Vale Meão and Barca Velha?

Vale Meão grapes were the backbone of Barca Velha for decades. When the estate was acquired by the Olazabal family in 1979, Casa Ferreirinha began sourcing from other parcels for Barca Velha.