Luis and Luisa Lourenco run this family estate, often attributed with reviving the reputation of Encruzado in the region.

They produce a wide array of meticulously assembled wines, offering both traditional blends, and varietal wines. The Touriga Nacional here is widely considered to be the finest in Portugal, and their Encruzado is also considered one of the country's leading dry white wines.

Encircled by mountain ranges and rooted in very poor granite soils, the Dão region is composed of vineyards scattered among pine forests at varying altitudes, ranging from around 1,000 metres in the Serra da Estrela down to 200 metres in the lower valleys. The vineyard landscape is fragmented, with small, discontinuous plots and estates of very modest size.

The surrounding mountains heavily influence the climate, protecting the vines from both direct continental extremes and maritime influences. This results in a temperate growing season with warm days and cool nights, while the nutrient-poor granitic soils naturally restrict vigour and encourage concentration.

Among the principal white grape varieties are Bical, Cercial, Malvasia Fina, Rabo de Ovelha and Verdelho, alongside the highly regarded Encruzado. In terms of red varieties, Touriga Nacional is the leading grape, while Alfrocheiro, Jaen and Tinta Roriz also play key roles. There are also plantings of lesser-known varieties such as Baga, Bastardo and Tinta Pinheira, which, although often undervalued, can add complexity and character to blends.

Jaen—known across the border as Mencía—is an indigenous grape of northwest Iberia, long established in Portugal’s Dão (often as “Jaen do Dão”) and parts of Beira Interior and Lafões. It thrives on granitic and schistous slopes, where altitude and exposure temper heat and preserve freshness.

Viticulturally, Jaen buds and ripens relatively early, so site selection is crucial to avoid loss of acidity. It’s naturally vigorous and productive; quality hinges on yield control, good canopy management, and careful picking. Compact clusters can invite rot pressure in damp years, while older vines on poor, well-drained soils deliver smaller berries and greater concentration.

Today, Jaen is planted mainly in Portugal’s Dão and adjacent regions; as Mencía it is widespread in Spain’s Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, and Valdeorras, with tiny exploratory plantings elsewhere (notably in the New World). Styles range from bright, unoaked reds built for immediate pleasure to more structured, oak-matured wines with serious ageing potential.

The variety’s hallmark is fragrance: lifted red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry, threaded with violet, bay leaf, and peppery spice. On the palate it’s typically medium-bodied with fine, powdery tannins and a stony, graphite edge from mineral soils. In the cellar, gentle extraction and older or neutral oak emphasize purity and tension; richer interpretations show darker fruit, savory herbs, and subtle smoke while retaining elegance.

Alfrocheiro is an indigenous Portuguese red grape variety, primarily grown in the Dão and Alentejo regions, where it plays an important role in traditional blends. Thought to have its origins in the Dão, it is a relatively early-ripening variety that thrives in warm, dry conditions but also benefits from the diurnal temperature shifts provided by higher-altitude sites. It is moderately vigorous with small, thick-skinned berries, and is valued for its ability to retain acidity even in hotter climates. However, it can be susceptible to disease and requires careful vineyard management to avoid excessive yields, which can dilute flavour and structure.

Outside Portugal, Alfrocheiro remains rare, though small experimental plantings can be found in Spain (where it may be known as Baboso Negro) and in a few new world regions interested in Iberian varieties.

Alfrocheiro is typically used as a blending grape, providing deep colour, fresh acidity and soft but structured tannins. It contributes aromatic intensity, often showing vibrant notes of red and black berries, plum and blackberry, along with floral hints and subtle herbal or earthy tones. In some cases, it is vinified as a varietal wine, producing elegant, medium-bodied reds with balanced fruit and spice, and the potential to develop savoury complexity with age.

Touriga Nacional is widely regarded as Portugal’s finest red grape variety, known for its deep colour, intense aromatics, and powerful structure. Indigenous to the Dão region, it is now most famously associated with the Douro Valley, where it plays a leading role in both Port and dry red wine production. The variety has also found success in other regions, including Alentejo, Bairrada, and even internationally in countries like South Africa and Australia.

Aromatically, Touriga Nacional offers a rich bouquet of dark fruits such as blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, alongside floral notes of violet and rose. It often shows spicy, herbal undertones and, with age, can develop complex hints of liquorice, leather, and cedar. On the palate, it delivers bold tannins, vibrant acidity, and excellent ageing potential.

Despite its high quality, Touriga Nacional poses several viticultural challenges. It is naturally low yielding and has small, thick-skinned berries, which contribute to its concentration but can reduce productivity. The vine is also vigorous and requires careful canopy management to ensure balanced fruit ripening and optimal exposure.

Thanks to its resilience, depth, and distinctive character, Touriga Nacional remains a cornerstone of Portuguese winemaking and a benchmark for quality in both blended and varietal wines.

Jaen—known across the border as Mencía—is an indigenous grape of northwest Iberia, long established in Portugal’s Dão (often as “Jaen do Dão”) and parts of Beira Interior and Lafões. It thrives on granitic and schistous slopes, where altitude and exposure temper heat and preserve freshness.

Viticulturally, Jaen buds and ripens relatively early, so site selection is crucial to avoid loss of acidity. It’s naturally vigorous and productive; quality hinges on yield control, good canopy management, and careful picking. Compact clusters can invite rot pressure in damp years, while older vines on poor, well-drained soils deliver smaller berries and greater concentration.

Today, Jaen is planted mainly in Portugal’s Dão and adjacent regions; as Mencía it is widespread in Spain’s Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, and Valdeorras, with tiny exploratory plantings elsewhere (notably in the New World). Styles range from bright, unoaked reds built for immediate pleasure to more structured, oak-matured wines with serious ageing potential.

The variety’s hallmark is fragrance: lifted red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry, threaded with violet, bay leaf, and peppery spice. On the palate it’s typically medium-bodied with fine, powdery tannins and a stony, graphite edge from mineral soils. In the cellar, gentle extraction and older or neutral oak emphasize purity and tension; richer interpretations show darker fruit, savory herbs, and subtle smoke while retaining elegance.

Alfrocheiro is an indigenous Portuguese red grape variety, primarily grown in the Dão and Alentejo regions, where it plays an important role in traditional blends. Thought to have its origins in the Dão, it is a relatively early-ripening variety that thrives in warm, dry conditions but also benefits from the diurnal temperature shifts provided by higher-altitude sites. It is moderately vigorous with small, thick-skinned berries, and is valued for its ability to retain acidity even in hotter climates. However, it can be susceptible to disease and requires careful vineyard management to avoid excessive yields, which can dilute flavour and structure.

Outside Portugal, Alfrocheiro remains rare, though small experimental plantings can be found in Spain (where it may be known as Baboso Negro) and in a few new world regions interested in Iberian varieties.

Alfrocheiro is typically used as a blending grape, providing deep colour, fresh acidity and soft but structured tannins. It contributes aromatic intensity, often showing vibrant notes of red and black berries, plum and blackberry, along with floral hints and subtle herbal or earthy tones. In some cases, it is vinified as a varietal wine, producing elegant, medium-bodied reds with balanced fruit and spice, and the potential to develop savoury complexity with age.

Touriga Nacional is widely regarded as Portugal’s finest red grape variety, known for its deep colour, intense aromatics, and powerful structure. Indigenous to the Dão region, it is now most famously associated with the Douro Valley, where it plays a leading role in both Port and dry red wine production. The variety has also found success in other regions, including Alentejo, Bairrada, and even internationally in countries like South Africa and Australia.

Aromatically, Touriga Nacional offers a rich bouquet of dark fruits such as blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, alongside floral notes of violet and rose. It often shows spicy, herbal undertones and, with age, can develop complex hints of liquorice, leather, and cedar. On the palate, it delivers bold tannins, vibrant acidity, and excellent ageing potential.

Despite its high quality, Touriga Nacional poses several viticultural challenges. It is naturally low yielding and has small, thick-skinned berries, which contribute to its concentration but can reduce productivity. The vine is also vigorous and requires careful canopy management to ensure balanced fruit ripening and optimal exposure.

Thanks to its resilience, depth, and distinctive character, Touriga Nacional remains a cornerstone of Portuguese winemaking and a benchmark for quality in both blended and varietal wines.

Jaen—known across the border as Mencía—is an indigenous grape of northwest Iberia, long established in Portugal’s Dão (often as “Jaen do Dão”) and parts of Beira Interior and Lafões. It thrives on granitic and schistous slopes, where altitude and exposure temper heat and preserve freshness.

Viticulturally, Jaen buds and ripens relatively early, so site selection is crucial to avoid loss of acidity. It’s naturally vigorous and productive; quality hinges on yield control, good canopy management, and careful picking. Compact clusters can invite rot pressure in damp years, while older vines on poor, well-drained soils deliver smaller berries and greater concentration.

Today, Jaen is planted mainly in Portugal’s Dão and adjacent regions; as Mencía it is widespread in Spain’s Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, and Valdeorras, with tiny exploratory plantings elsewhere (notably in the New World). Styles range from bright, unoaked reds built for immediate pleasure to more structured, oak-matured wines with serious ageing potential.

The variety’s hallmark is fragrance: lifted red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry, threaded with violet, bay leaf, and peppery spice. On the palate it’s typically medium-bodied with fine, powdery tannins and a stony, graphite edge from mineral soils. In the cellar, gentle extraction and older or neutral oak emphasize purity and tension; richer interpretations show darker fruit, savory herbs, and subtle smoke while retaining elegance.

Alfrocheiro is an indigenous Portuguese red grape variety, primarily grown in the Dão and Alentejo regions, where it plays an important role in traditional blends. Thought to have its origins in the Dão, it is a relatively early-ripening variety that thrives in warm, dry conditions but also benefits from the diurnal temperature shifts provided by higher-altitude sites. It is moderately vigorous with small, thick-skinned berries, and is valued for its ability to retain acidity even in hotter climates. However, it can be susceptible to disease and requires careful vineyard management to avoid excessive yields, which can dilute flavour and structure.

Outside Portugal, Alfrocheiro remains rare, though small experimental plantings can be found in Spain (where it may be known as Baboso Negro) and in a few new world regions interested in Iberian varieties.

Alfrocheiro is typically used as a blending grape, providing deep colour, fresh acidity and soft but structured tannins. It contributes aromatic intensity, often showing vibrant notes of red and black berries, plum and blackberry, along with floral hints and subtle herbal or earthy tones. In some cases, it is vinified as a varietal wine, producing elegant, medium-bodied reds with balanced fruit and spice, and the potential to develop savoury complexity with age.

Touriga Nacional is widely regarded as Portugal’s finest red grape variety, known for its deep colour, intense aromatics, and powerful structure. Indigenous to the Dão region, it is now most famously associated with the Douro Valley, where it plays a leading role in both Port and dry red wine production. The variety has also found success in other regions, including Alentejo, Bairrada, and even internationally in countries like South Africa and Australia.

Aromatically, Touriga Nacional offers a rich bouquet of dark fruits such as blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, alongside floral notes of violet and rose. It often shows spicy, herbal undertones and, with age, can develop complex hints of liquorice, leather, and cedar. On the palate, it delivers bold tannins, vibrant acidity, and excellent ageing potential.

Despite its high quality, Touriga Nacional poses several viticultural challenges. It is naturally low yielding and has small, thick-skinned berries, which contribute to its concentration but can reduce productivity. The vine is also vigorous and requires careful canopy management to ensure balanced fruit ripening and optimal exposure.

Thanks to its resilience, depth, and distinctive character, Touriga Nacional remains a cornerstone of Portuguese winemaking and a benchmark for quality in both blended and varietal wines.