Álvaro Castro is widely acknowledged to be the leading producer in Portugal’s Dão region, known as the Burgundy of Portugal because of the elegance of its wines. He makes a large array of wines from his two Quintas – Quinta da Pellada and Quinta de Saes – all of which aim at elegance and finesse, and expressing their terroirs to the full. A relatively younger project of Alvaro, Quinta de Saes was acquired in 1989 and is where Alvaro actually lives. The property has very ancient origins, with the earliest references dating back to 1258. Here vines get plenty day-to-day care and attention, giving birth to wines of extreme freshness and vitality, from a blend of native Iberian grapes - in this case 30 year-old Touriga Nacional, Tinta Pinheira, Jaen and Alfrocheiro - planted in the traditional Portuguese manner (ie. a large mixed of different varieties in the same plot of land).