Quinta da Bacalhoa Tinto
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2033
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb chops, grilled ribeye steak, aged hard cheeses
✨ Technical Specifications
Quinta da Bacalhoa Tinto is a landmark in Portuguese viticulture, representing the country's pioneering Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, first released in 1979. The wine is born on the historic Quinta da Bacalhoa estate in Azeitão, which dates back to the 15th century and was once a royal property adorned with magnificent Renaissance palaces and exquisite 'azulejos' (traditional tiles). The estate's modern wine history was shaped by the introduction of French varieties to the clay-limestone soils of the Península de Setúbal, cooled by Atlantic breezes. This red blend is traditionally aged for approximately 11 to 12 months in French oak barrels, resulting in a structured, elegant wine that beautifully marries the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the roundness of Merlot, showcasing deep dark fruit, cedar, and balsamic notes.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1922 under the name João Pires & Filhos, Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal has grown into one of Portugal's most significant and pioneering wine enterprises. Modernized in the 1970s and subsequently acquired by arts patron Comendador José Berardo in 1998, the group encompasses historic estates such as Quinta da Bacalhôa, Quinta do Carmo, and Caves Aliança. Spanning roughly 1,200 hectares across the Setúbal Peninsula, Alentejo, Bairrada, Dão, Douro, and Vinho Verde, the group cultivates indigenous and international varieties on diverse terroirs ranging from Setúbal's clay-limestone slopes and sandy maritime soils to Alentejo's schist-strewn plains. Viticulture is practiced sustainably under certifications like the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Programme (WASP). Led enologically by Francisco Antunes, Bacalhôa balances classical heritage and cellar innovation, renowned for historic benchmark cuvées including the barrel-fermented Catarina, age-worthy Quinta da Bacalhôa Cabernet Sauvignon blends, Quinta do Carmo reds and whites, traditional-method Aliança sparkling wines, and rare, concentrated Moscatel de Setúbal.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
🍷 ABV
13.5-14.5%