Medieval de Ourem, Quinta do Montalto, Lisboa, Portugal

Medieval de Ourem is a unique - previously illegal - rosé organic wine from Portugal. From white Fernão Pires and blue Trincadeiro. D ep, fresh, fine red berry fruit, some tannin, orange bitters, really complex. Totally unique and very tasty.

• Serving: 12 C (not too cold)
• Drink: Now until 2025+

Medieval de Ourem, illegal wine

This unique rosé wine has been around for 800 years. In and around the city of Ourem north of Lisbon. The 'recipe' is medieval, from Cistercian monks. They made rosé by mixing red and white wine. But that is actually only allowed with Champagne.

The grapes (white Fernão Pires and blue Trincadeira ) were harvested at the same time. First, the white and blue grapes ferment separately. The white grapes go straight into the press, after which fermentation begins in wooden barrels. The Trincadeira is destemmed and goes with the grape, skin and all, into separate barrels. This is to extract colour and tannins from the grapes (maceration or skin soaking).
After about 10 days of maceration, the two colours of must continue to ferment together. The ratio is 80% white and 20% red. This gives the wine the colour of a dark rosé. But the wine does not taste like rosé at all!

Montalto is centrally located in the Ourem region, near Fátima above Lisbon. The vineyards are farmed organically. And are - just like in the Middle Ages - densely planted with approx. 7000 vines per hectare. There are 15.5 hectares of vineyards with a clay and limestone soil, under the direct influence of the Atlantic Ocean.

The traditional grape varieties are Aragonez (Tempranillo) and Fernão Pires. There is also red Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Syrah, Baga, Alicante Bouchet, Castelão, Moreto, and white Sauvignon, Arinto, Rabo de Ovelha and Olho de Lebre.

Quinta de Montalto makes very affordable quality wines. Pure and expressive, beautiful organic wines full of Portuguese temperament.