Quinta de Cidro Boal
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 2–8 years from the vintage release to appreciate its evolution from fresh fruit to complex, honeyed tertiary notes.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted cod, creamy mushroom risotto, grilled poultry
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Quinta de Cidro, located in the high-altitude sub-region of São João da Pesqueira in the Douro, serves as an innovative terroir laboratory for Real Companhia Velha. Acquired in 1972, this historic estate has broken traditional boundaries by planting non-traditional varieties alongside native ones. The Quinta de Cidro Boal is crafted from the Boal variety (historically linked to Sémillon in this region), which thrives in the estate's clay-loam soils and cool breezes. The winemaking process typically involves fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel, with a portion of the blend undergoing aging in French oak casks. This technique imparts a sophisticated complexity, balancing rich, waxy textures and honeyed stone fruit notes with a vibrant, mineral-driven acidity characteristic of the high-altitude Douro terroir.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1756 by Royal Charter of King José I under the direction of the Marquis of Pombal, Real Companhia Velha is Portugal's oldest wine company, representing over two and a half centuries of uninterrupted Port and Douro wine production. Based in Vila Nova de Gaia with extensive vineyard holdings across the Douro Valley—including prestigious estates like Quinta das Carvalhas and Quinta de Cidro—the company combines deep-seated tradition with modern winemaking techniques. They are globally renowned for their exceptional Port wines, ranging from complex Aged Tawnies to structured Vintages, alongside a highly acclaimed portfolio of still Douro reds and whites that showcase the region's diverse terroir. Official website: https://realcompanhiavelha.pt. Address: Rua Azevedo Magalhães 314, 4430-022 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.