Kemper Julia

The winery is located in the municipality of Mangualde in the Dão DOC area in the Portuguese region of Beiras. Its origins go back to the "Quinta do Cruzeiro" founded in 1890, but the family has been growing wine with interruptions for over 400 years. Until the middle of the 20th century, the business was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt and investments were made in the modernisation of the production facilities. In 2003 the lawyer Julia Melo Kemper decided to revive the historic vineyards of the family. With the support of renowned oenologists from the company Vines & Wines (Ing. João Paulo Gouveia), these were completely re-cultivated after extensive soil analyses with regard to optimal grape varieties and rootstocks and composting of the vineyards. This process took four years until the first harvest could be made in 2007. The total estate comprises 55 hectares of land. Of these, 15 hectares are planted with the red wine varieties Alfrocheiro Preto, Jaén du Dão, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and Touriga Nacional, and with the white wine varieties Encruzado, Malvasia Fina and Verdelho. Artificial irrigation (drip irrigation) is used. The cultivation and vinification are strictly according to organic, certified guidelines. The red and white wines are produced as DOC Dão. There are friendly relations with the Port Wine House Niepoort, which assists in the marketing of the wines.