Tasting notes:
Quinta do Vallado, Douro, Tawny 10 Year Old Porto NV. Rich and velvety, with complex notes of dried fruit, praline, orange confit and nuances of tobacco through to a long, harmoniously balanced and complex finish.
Food Match:
Best served slightly chilled (around 12–14°C) to elevate its freshness. Because it is an aged Tawny, it is already filtered and does not require decanting.
Exceptional when paired alongside rich desserts like creme brulee, apple tarts, almond pastries, or a selection of blue cheeses. Also pairs beautifully on its own as a digestif or accompanied by dark chocolate.
Producer/Region:
Quinta do Vallado was established in 1716 and is one of the oldest and most famous estates in the Douro Valley. It is located on the banks of the River Corgo, a tributary of the River Douro, near the town of Peso da Régua. It was once the property of the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira and remains in the possession of her descendants João and Francisco to this day. For nearly 200 years, Quinta do Vallado produced fine Port marketed by the family business Casa Ferreira.
During the early 1990s, Quinta do Vallado diversified and alongside their top-quality single estate Ports, it started producing dry red, white and rosé wines under its own brand. Simultaneously, the team began restructuring the vineyards, planting single varietal plots, breaking the tradition of multiple varieties being co-planted. Today, the Quinta has 10 hectares of old, low yielding vines planted between 1920s and 1950s, 55 hectares planted during the 1990s and following the acquisition of Quinta do Orgal in Douro Superior, 35 hectares of organic vineyard. Recently, Quinta do Vallado featured in the Top 100 of The World’s Best Vineyard Awards 2025.
Vineyard:
Quinta do Vallado’s estate covers 65 hectares of vineyard. The vines are planted at altitudes ranging between 80 and 400 metres on south and west facing slopes which maximise exposure to the sun assisting the ripening potential of the grapes. The landscape is characterised by the terraces that make up the vineyards. The soils are made up of schist, a slate-like metamorphic rock which is rich in nutrients, and also offers useful water retention properties. The vines are pruned according to the Double Cordon system and
are harvested at optimal maturity into small crates to protect the quality. This wine is made from a field blend of old vines, the predominant varieties are: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Sousão, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca.
The grapes were carefully hand sorted and underwent traditional vinification. This 10 Year Tawny Port is a blend of several wines with an average stage of 10 years. The wines were aged in very old 600-litre oak casks, known as lodge pipes, during which time they underwent a steady process of controlled oxidation and esterification as the colour faded from deep, opaque ruby to orange-amber-tawny.
For more information about the producer:https://www.quintadovallado.com/en/
