For many years, the Valente family - ”Protótipo” wines owners - as been living in the village of Aldeias, Armamar, located in the fusion of the Douro Valley and Távora Varosa Regions. This Classic Douro family, had always kept their character and values in order to maintain the ancestral culture of the vineyards.

Because of that, grapes have always been produced by the family, who maintained this culture and tradition along generations. It was only in the year of 2015, that the current generation decided to explore the production of natural wines, using the mission that “wine is bottled grapes”, in two parcels with a total area of approximately 4 hectares, at 700m of altitude. With this motto, the Valente family wants, not only to respect the nature and the care of the vineyards, but as well the grapes used, using the natural process of its fermentation (indigenous yeasts) and a ultra low intervention, to develop the final product.

This will naturally reflect the characteristics and the qualities of the types of grapes used, in combination with the environment conditions, which in this case are the altitude and freshness of the region. Carrying this to every wine, without manipulation, and using only what nature gives, is the ultimate goal. The process, like mentioned above, respects the nature and the environment of the vineyards, that are grown and maintained naturally, without the use of chemicals, and using only organic fertilizers.

The harvest is done manually, following the Douro region tradition, and from there the grapes come to the cellar, where, depending on the wine (sparkling or still), are processed again manually. The only added substance that is used is a small amount of sulphites, in order to avoid the natural oxidation of the wine. From there, the fermentation is done in the stainless steel vats. In the case of the sparkling wines, this fermentation will finish in the bottle, producing natural ancestral method sparklings. In the case of the still wines, some of them will finish the fermentation in oak barrels. Incidentally, it is an integral part of the grape and wine production activity, the promotion of the local economy and the well-being of the resident population, culturally characteristic and the basis of all the peculiarities that the terroir gives them.

Information

Domain Name:
Vinhos artesanais Protótipo
Winemaker's Name:
Manuel Valente
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Armamar
Grape varieties:
Pinot Noir, Touriga Nacional, Mourisco, Tinto Cão, Tinta Amarela, Touriga Francesa, Chardonnay, Arinto, Viosinho, Malvasia Fina, Malvasia Rei, Esgana Cão, Códega do Larinho, Rabigato, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Francisca, Bastardo

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<h2 class="pt-1">For many years, the Valente family - &rdquo;Prot&oacute;tipo&rdquo; wines owners - as been living in the village of Aldeias, Armamar, located in the fusion of the Douro Valley and T&aacute;vora Varosa Regions. This Classic Douro family, had always kept their character and values in order to maintain the ancestral culture of the vineyards.</h2>
<p>Because of that, grapes have always been produced by the family, who maintained this culture and tradition along generations. It was only in the year of 2015, that the current generation decided to explore the production of natural wines, using the mission that &ldquo;wine is bottled grapes&rdquo;, in two parcels with a total area of approximately 4 hectares, at 700m of altitude. With this motto, the Valente family wants, not only to respect the nature and the care of the vineyards, but as well the grapes used, using the natural process of its fermentation (indigenous yeasts) and a ultra low intervention, to develop the final product.</p>
<p>This will naturally reflect the characteristics and the qualities of the types of grapes used, in combination with the environment conditions, which in this case are the altitude and freshness of the region. Carrying this to every wine, without manipulation, and using only what nature gives, is the ultimate goal. The process, like mentioned above, respects the nature and the environment of the vineyards, that are grown and maintained naturally, without the use of chemicals, and using only organic fertilizers.</p>
<p>The harvest is done manually, following the Douro region tradition, and from there the grapes come to the cellar, where, depending on the wine (sparkling or still), are processed again manually. The only added substance that is used is a small amount of sulphites, in order to avoid the natural oxidation of the wine. From there, the fermentation is done in the stainless steel vats. In the case of the sparkling wines, this fermentation will finish in the bottle, producing natural ancestral method sparklings. In the case of the still wines, some of them will finish the fermentation in oak barrels. Incidentally, it is an integral part of the grape and wine production activity, the promotion of the local economy and the well-being of the resident population, culturally characteristic and the basis of all the peculiarities that the terroir gives them.</p>

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