2009 in review and more....

December 24, 2009 admin

With the holiday season upon us and another decade around the corner it is a good time to reflect on highlights of 2009 and of the decade that we will shortly bid “adieu” to. 2009:

- Among many international awards received for both our portos and table wines, Decanter lavished Quinta do Tedo with “International Trophy Best Blend” and “Best of Northern Portugal” for our Douro DOC 2007 red table wine, a lusciously round and mouth filling wine that sells at a very decent price.

- Aging cellar enlarged with 2 x 7500L new upright French oak tanks, for aging our Vintage, LBV, Tawny and Ruby ports.

- After a long process we have permits in hand to start the quinta’s restoration, that will include an apartment for guests. Permits to build a new wine facility are close to approval, a challenging process since the Douro Valley is a UNESCO world heritage sight and the Tedo river is an ecological reserve.

: Quinta do Tedo from Douro

For the decade:

2008 - All public places at the quinta paved in traditional granite cobblestones

2007 -1^st full-time tour guide hired

2006 - Process begins to go organic

2005 - Large tasting room finished and Tawny, Douro DOC’s Reserva and Grande Reserva added to product line

2004 - Small tasting room finished and direct shipment begins

2003 - Hugo Fonseca joins Quinta do Tedo as Assistant Winemaker and 1^st Douro DOC red table wine made

2002 - 4 traditional 5500L rotating stainless steel tanks purchased for Douro DOC red table wine program

2001 - Reconstruction and modernization of concrete tanks for Porto storage

2000 - ha/2.2 acres of Touriga Nacional planted

I already know what will be an important highlight of 2010: we will complete the 4-year process to become organic, to replace our current “protection raisonable” status. We are thrilled to start the restoration that will only improve Quinta do Tedo’s standards, not to mention enlarging to have guests!