Our Philosophy
Over the last three decades and with the greatest care we have established Quinta das Marias as an exclusive winery planted solely with indigenous grape varieties. Our wines reflect the elegance, profundity and finesse, which can only be found in the Dão thanks to its outstanding climate and its extraordinary terroir. As a family business, we value uncompromising quality above all else. It is because of precisely this that we can compete for the preference of the most demanding wine lovers in the global market.
Peter and Elisabeth Eckert
The Quinta
The Story
In the 80s I managed the subsidiary of the Zurich Insurance Group in Portugal. During my frequent business trips throughout the country I grew very fond of the Dão region around Viseu. In 1991, my wife Elisabeth and I bought four hectares of abandoned land and a house, which resembled a ruin more than a habitable dwelling, in Oliveira do Conde. We called the farm «Quinta das Marias» as Elisabeth and our three daughters, Ester, Isabel and Julia, all have Maria as one of their names.
The Facts
Founded 1991
Position Quinta das Marias lies embedded between Serra de Caramulo and Serra de Estrela in the heart of the Dão – Portugal’s oldest DOC region. (DOC = Denominação de Origem Conotrolada)
District Viseu, Municipality Carregal do Sal Freguesia Oliveira do Conde
Climate Ideal for the cultivation of premium wine: cool and rainy winters, dry summers with hot days and cool nights (with up to 20° difference in temperature).
Soil Deep granite soil. No irrigation.
Average Harvest White: 4,000l/hectares , Red: 3,500l/hectares
Size
Production
White Varieties
Red Varieties
The People
Elisabeth and Peter Eckert, Owners
Elisabeth Eckert is responsible for the property of the Quinta. From the almost entirely dilapidated house she has created a rustic home for both the whole family, and the many guests and visitors. She accompanies Peter Eckert to countless fairs and tastings. During the Vindima she looks after the wellbeing of the helpers and she also lends a hand with bottling and labelling.
Peters Eckert is responsible for the production of our wines. His favourite time of the year is the Vindima – the harvest. But he also spends a lot of time in the wine cellar throughout the year. He loves manual labour such as pumping, filtering, arranging perfect blends and tasting. «This is completely different to my previous work in insurance. Back then, everything was abstract; today everything is clear and specific.»
Victor Lopes
Farm Manager
Eng. Luís Lopes
Our new Enologist
Fátima Ventura
Member of staff
Ricardo Pereira
Member of staff
Wines
Encruzado
Dão DOC
For almost 15 years we have been producing a wine made 100% out of the indigenous Encruzado grape. It was the beginning of a story for us and for all our faithful customers and friends. Every year we would like to increase the number of fans for this wine, therefore working carefully to maintain the genuine profile of this grape variety in its region, the Dão.
As a delicate variety while young, the Encruzado shows its full potential for many years in the bottle.
Fact Sheets
Barricas
Dão DOC
After the success of the last vintage, we decided to maintain the blend of grapes with the Encruzado as the main contributor. To complement our successful white “Premium” profile, we have privileged the fermentation in French oak and the ageing on thin lees but for a shorter period than in the previous year.
We are very pleased with the result, as we have achieved a good balance between fruit, acidity and volume in the palate.
Fact Sheets
Rosé
Dâo DOC
Our 2019 Rosé is a refreshingly fruity, crisp wine with precisely the right touch of summer sweetness. It’s the perfect choice for those hot days spent by the pool, and cool nights shared with friends around the dinner table. Capturing our continued passion for crafting truly memorable wines, its balanced flavour will delightfully linger in your thoughts long after summer has gone.
Fact Sheets
Lote
Dão DOC
The Lote is the traditional “Real Blend”, combining the expression of tradition with the identity of the Dão. Made from the four red grape varieties planted in our Quinta: Touriga-Nacional, Tinta-Roriz, Jaen e Alfrocheiro.
Our Lote is a gastronomic wine that well accompanies your daily meal.
Fact Sheets
Alfrocheiro
Dão DOC
Alfrocheiro is a very sought after specialty of our Quinta. We share this appreciation because it revives our fondest memories of our Dão wine region. We believe that Alfrocheiro is at the same time our salt, our aromatic herbs and pepper, recognizing a striking and unique profile with an attractive aroma and flavour, as elegant as it is intense.
Fact Sheets
Touriga Nacional Reserva
Dão DOC
This versatile variety never fails but will always surprise us! From one year to the other, we work on our 3 distinctive plots to understand their identity. In each harvest, Nature leads us to the best of the three. In 2016, the best grapes came from the “Porto” plot, due to its exposure and the availability of water in the soil that helped the maturation to be long and regular, creating a good balance between acidity, color and tannins.
Fact Sheets
Garrafeira
Dão DOC
After 2005 and 2010 we produced in 2015 our third Garrafeira. According to the Portuguese DOC-regulations, Garrafeira is the highest quality level, just after «Reserva», and has to fulfil especially strict standards. Approximately every five years we produce a Garrafeira with high quality grapes and small yields from the oldest vines of the Quinta das Marias. The wine matures to two thirds in new French 225 L barriques. The Garrafeira is a highly elegant, multifaceted wine with delicate tannins and balanced acidity – the perfect companion to a nice meal.
Fact Sheets
Just like one thinks out of the box, we are thinking
Out of the Bottle
The name itself motivates us to look beyond, question the ordinary, think laterally and create something new and exceptional. With our Out of the bottle wines we would like to showcase the Dão’s unique purity, climate, terroir, grapes and unconventional low intervention winemaking. We would like to demonstrate the possibility of creating something special within the wide spectrum of avant-garde and past.
It is important to us that our new collection is free of ideology and does not carry the stamp of fashion approval.
CRUDUS
Dão DOC
„Crudus“ is an „Out of the bottle“ wine, the first in a collection of wines that will be released with the mission of transmitting the unparalleled purity of the Dão region. Mainly, it is a wine crafted to give pleasure. But it is also an image that appeals to the vanguard and the ancestors.
Fact Sheets
Vinho do Ovo
Dão DOC
„Out of the bottle“ is a collection of wines launched with the mission to convey the unequalled purity of the Dão region. These wines are the result of trials and considerations, with a frank and detailed approach to cultivation processes, grape varieties or practices, which enhance the profile of the grape variety, the region and the producer.
In this edition we have focused our work on the texture and depth of mouth in a wine, emphasising the palate, combining it with the subtle tannins of a long maceration.
Fact Sheets
Barcelo
Dão DOC
Barcelo is one of several grape varieties present in the old vineyards of the Dão region. It’s characterised by being intriguing in that it is as discreet aromatically as it is vibrant and textured. We can say that this wine is one of the main „fruits“ of our mini „laboratory winery“. We have noticed, year after year, that this wine needs a short ageing period in barrels and later a long period on the lees, but in stainless steel. But these and other conclusions are only the beginning of our learning process and will surely delight those who seek to drink unique and exciting wines.
Fact Sheets
CONTACT
Peter Eckert – Vinhos Lda.
Oliveira do Conde
3430 – 364 Carregal do Sal
Portugal
Phone: +351 93 580 70 31
E-mail »
LOCATION
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