Familia Carvalho Martins

During the 1980s, their parents increased plantings of indigenous varieties, taking the estate up to its current standing of 25ha but it wasn’t until 2014, when the brothers returned from careers in Banking and Law, that they stopped selling their fruit in order to make their own wines. The vineyards are in the Douro Superior, close to the small city of Mêda, on the Douro border of the Beira Interior and only about 25km from Spain. Winters are long, Summer is hot and dry, and the growing season tends to run 2-3 weeks after the Cima Corgo. High diurnal temperature ranges and altitudes of 550-600m provide terrific natural acidity, while the schist/granite and quartz-rich soils give great mineral expression to the wines. Sustainable methods are used throughout the vineyard and winery. The wines are labelled as Golpe (‘coup’) which refers to the change from selling their fruit to producing their own wines. Pacto (‘pact’) is their promise to the family, the vineyard, and their region, while Famila Carvalho Martins is reserved for their limited releases. A new winery and cellar was built in the town around 2014 with plans to develop eno-tourism, and there is a marvellous large dovecote repurposed as a unique tasting room!