Quinta da Boavista is located in Penalva de Castelo in Dão, just south of the Douro Valley. The Dão river carves its way south-west through the granite valley that is home to João’s winery, set on the southern slopes at 500 metres above sea level. João’s domaine encompasses 40 hectares, 13 of which are used to grow vines, and he believes that the most important part of his winemaking is that he lives in the middle of his vineyards. The vines mingle with native flowers like clover, chamomile and serradella, and at the end of each row grow lavender plants which act as a natural repellent for fungi and other diseases. From earthworms to ants, ladybirds to bees and the numerous birds that populate the surrounding forest, it’s a tranquil haven. Alongside cultivating older vines, João and his wife Luísa are replanting a diversity of indigenous varieties that were almost lost, restoring the identity of the land and its native grapes. The Rufia line came to life in the pursuit of minimal intervention and early bottling, and is a range of young, fresh and exciting wines with playful labels and plenty of character.
Rufia Tinto ’21 is 50% Rufete along with Mencía (known in Portugal as Jaen) and Touriga Nacional. The bunches are passed through a de-stemmer before resting on the skins for 7 days, followed by around 8 months on the lees and a year of ageing in stainless steel. The vines themselves are 6 ½ years old, rooted in old granitic soils and marine sediments from 500 million years ago. Hints of spices, black olives, dark red fruits and surprising tannins. Enjoy at 12-14°.