If there's one region where the concept of Terroir fits perfectly, it's Colares!
One of the very few regions in Europe to have resisted phylloxera! Here the wines grow on sandy soil, in a region where the annual rainfall is around 750-780 mm, dominated by sea winds and frequent fogs, forcing very peculiar methods of vine cultivation, which results in very low yields, only 4-5 tonnes/ha or less.
This shortage of raw materials and difficulty in cultivation has made Colares grapes the most expensive in mainland Portugal.
Its unique identity is associated with just two grape varieties, one white and one red - Malvasia de Colares and Ramisco, respectively. There are other authorised grape varieties, but they are few and only used in small quantities.
As far as ageing is concerned, the legislation establishes a mandatory minimum ageing period of 18 months in wooden containers, followed by 6 months in the bottle for red wines and, respectively, 6 and 3 months for whites. However, all producers age red wines for much longer in order to tame Ramisco's vigorous tannins.
In the last 20 years of the last century, the region was in misery and at risk of extinction (the proximity of the capital was a major problem, due to rapid urbanisation), but in the early 2000s it began to revive, and today the wine isn't enough for the demands... Colares is for those looking for authenticity and tradition!
If this is your case, if you're looking for wines full of character, small productions, from regions and grape varieties that are unique in the world, then you can't miss our selection today. They may not be the most consensual wines, but we guarantee that they are exciting, distinctive and unmistakable.
