The Vines

The Ramisco (red) and Malvasia (white) varieties are the result of the combination of vines on sandy soil, the proximity of the sea and the action of the sun.

These are the varieties that mark the specificity of DOC Colares wines, with a minimum representation of 80% of the total.

DOC Colares

DOC Colares corresponds to a particular geographical area located by the sea, between the Serra de Sintra and the Atlantic Ocean, covering the parishes of Colares, São Martinho and São João das Lampas.

Wines recognized as DOC Colares are made with grapes from vines planted on sandy ground, with a maximum of 20% of grapes from hard ground vines.

Vineyards require special care and include several operations throughout the wine calendar: planting, grafting, pruning, digging, scraping, empa, treatment, curing and, finally, harvesting.

Sand Floor

In Colares, vineyards have long marked the maritime landscape from spring to autumn. Its planting is done on sandy ground by the sea.

The uniqueness of the vineyards in this area comes from the conditions in which they grow, requiring specialized knowledge and special care.

A history of phylloxera resistance

In the late 1850s a major phylloxera plague affected Europe, causing substantial damage to vineyards in several countries. In Portugal, the plague spread in 1865. The Colares vines of the Ramisco and Malvasia varieties, planted on sandy soil, were the only ones that resisted phylloxera given the depth of their roots.
Among the European varieties, only another is resistant to this pest, Assyrtico, grown in Greece on the volcanic island of Santorini.
To deal with the damage caused by phylloxera, French winegrowers proposed the method of grafting the vines with rootstocks from American strains, thus finding a solution to the problem.

Plantation

The roots of the vines are placed from 1 to 10 meters deep, and it is necessary to dig the sand floor until soil is found to plant the vines (vine stick).

To plant the vines, the blankets were marked on the ground, then divided into benches/boilers, which the workers opened, removing the sand with a hoe. About 30 vines were planted on each bench.

This work was of great risk with the possibility of landslides. There are reports of very serious situations in which some men were buried in the back of the stands. As a precaution against danger, they sometimes resorted to their large baskets to protect themselves.

Today this task is carried out with the support of machines that facilitate the work of soil mobilization.

Between the rows of vines, it is a long-standing custom to plant apple trees.

Elevation of vines / bridge

Vineyards grow low. On sandy soil, lifting the vine is an important operation, carried out in June, in order to place the grapes about a hand or foot and a half off the ground.

The sticks are suspended over “Pontes” (piles/easels) in order to protect the bunches from the winds, facilitate air circulation, help their maturation and prevent the grapes from burning under the sun.

shelters

In the preparation of vineyards on sandy soil, the construction and maintenance of shelters to protect against sea breezes and winds is a fundamental operation that requires expertise and a very particular know-how.
Different types of shelters are used in the region: – in cane and stone, the oldest, and, more recently, with tight mesh netting.

cane shelters

In the past, and in some cases that last until the present, the shelters were made with reeds (palisades of reeds). To perform their function effectively, the reeds were built with a height of about 1.20 m.
A foot deep, a trench was dug, where the canes were placed vertically, tied together with wicker. Cut into three parts, the wicker became malleable to tie the canes, in order to keep the structure of the shelters straight and vertical. To hold the canes and give them more resistance, a belt was created with other canes horizontally, also connected with wicker.
The wind causes severe damage to these reed shelters, which requires constant attention and repair and, after a few years, their replacement. The high costs involved in using these shelters make many producers turn to other options.

stone shelters

The shelters were also made of stone.
Taking advantage of the cleaning of the sandy terrains, the existing stones were piled up, forming walls at a height of about one meter or a little more.

Shelters with tight mesh netting

More modern techniques have been tried in the construction of vine shelters on sandy soil. The use of tight mesh nets has been an option that fits the current demands of crop protection, facilitating work and the movement of machines.

Vinha das Pedras is an example that lasts until our time.

Its preservation has been a constant and demanding concern in order to ensure the protection of vines with many years.

Elevation of vines / bridge

Vineyards grow low. On sandy soil, lifting the vine is an important operation, carried out in June, in order to place the grapes about a hand or foot and a half off the ground.
The sticks are suspended over “Pontes” (piles/easels) in order to protect the bunches from the winds, facilitate air circulation, help their maturation and prevent the grapes from burning under the sun.

Harvest and transport

After being harvested during the harvest, the grapes were transported to the cellars in gigas (baskets) carried on donkeys or on the backs of men.
Today, the harvest continues to be carried out by a group of workers, but with other conditions, equipment and means of transport that facilitate the work, even though demanding.

Today, the harvest continues to be carried out by a group of workers, but with other conditions, equipment and means of transport that facilitate the work, even though demanding.

The distance between the lines of the vines and the type of shelter used are some of the changes that have taken place in the last decades of the 20th century, altering the configuration of the landscape.

The high costs of planting and maintaining the vineyards, together with the real estate pressure on the coast, constitute a threat of extinction of these vineyards, whose characteristics are very particular in this region by the sea.
The know-how, experience, resilience and persistence of the producers of DOC Colares wines are essential to ensure their continuity.

The Vines

The Ramisco (red) and Malvasia (white) varieties are the result of the combination of vines on sandy soil, the proximity of the sea and the action of the sun.

These are the varieties that mark the specificity of DOC Colares wines, with a minimum representation of 80% of the total.

DOC Colares

DOC Colares corresponds to a particular geographical area located by the sea, between the Serra de Sintra and the Atlantic Ocean, covering the parishes of Colares, São Martinho and São João das Lampas.

Wines recognized as DOC Colares are made with grapes from vines planted on sandy ground, with a maximum of 20% of grapes from hard ground vines.

Vineyards require special care and include several operations throughout the wine calendar: planting, grafting, pruning, digging, scraping, empa, treatment, curing and, finally, harvesting.

Sand Floor

In Colares, vineyards have long marked the maritime landscape from spring to autumn. Its planting is done on sandy ground by the sea.

The uniqueness of the vineyards in this area comes from the conditions in which they grow, requiring specialized knowledge and special care.

A history of phylloxera resistance

In the late 1850s a major phylloxera plague affected Europe, causing substantial damage to vineyards in several countries. In Portugal, the plague spread in 1865. The Colares vines of the Ramisco and Malvasia varieties, planted on sandy soil, were the only ones that resisted phylloxera given the depth of their roots.
Among the European varieties, only another is resistant to this pest, Assyrtico, grown in Greece on the volcanic island of Santorini.
To deal with the damage caused by phylloxera, French winegrowers proposed the method of grafting the vines with rootstocks from American strains, thus finding a solution to the problem.

Plantation

The roots of the vines are placed at a depth of 4/6 meters, and it is necessary to dig the sand floor until soil is found to plant the vines (vine stick).

To plant the vines, the blankets were marked on the ground, then divided into benches/boilers, which the workers opened, removing the sand with a hoe. About 30 vines were planted on each bench.

This work was of great risk with the possibility of landslides. There are reports of very serious situations in which some men were buried in the back of the stands. As a precaution against danger, they sometimes resorted to their large baskets to protect themselves.

Today this task is carried out with the support of machines that facilitate the work of soil mobilization.

Between the rows of vines, it is a long-standing custom to plant apple trees.

shelters

In the preparation of vineyards on sandy soil, the construction and maintenance of shelters to protect against sea breezes and winds is a fundamental operation that requires expertise and a very particular know-how.
Different types of shelters are used in the region: – in cane and stone, the oldest, and, more recently, with tight mesh netting.

cane shelters

In the past, and in some cases that last until the present, the shelters were made with reeds (palisades of reeds). To perform their function effectively, the reeds were built with a height of about 1.20 m.
A foot deep, a trench was dug, where the canes were placed vertically, tied together with wicker. Cut into three parts, the wicker became malleable to tie the canes, in order to keep the structure of the shelters straight and vertical. To hold the canes and give them more resistance, a belt was created with other canes horizontally, also connected with wicker.
The wind causes severe damage to these reed shelters, which requires constant attention and repair and, after a few years, their replacement. The high costs involved in using these shelters make many producers turn to other options.

stone shelters

The shelters were also made of stone.
Taking advantage of the cleaning of the sandy terrains, the existing stones were piled up, forming walls at a height of about one meter or a little more.

Shelters with tight mesh netting

More modern techniques have been tried in the construction of vine shelters on sandy soil. The use of tight mesh nets has been an option that fits the current demands of crop protection, facilitating work and the movement of machines.

Vinha das Pedras is an example that lasts until our time.

Its preservation has been a constant and demanding concern in order to ensure the protection of vines with many years.

Elevation of vines / bridge

Vineyards grow low. On sandy soil, lifting the vine is an important operation, carried out in June, in order to place the grapes about a hand or foot and a half off the ground.
The sticks are suspended over “Pontes” (piles/easels) in order to protect the bunches from the winds, facilitate air circulation, help their maturation and prevent the grapes from burning under the sun.

Harvest and transport

After being harvested during the harvest, the grapes were transported to the cellars in gigas (baskets) carried on donkeys or on the backs of men.
Today, the harvest continues to be carried out by a group of workers, but with other conditions, equipment and means of transport that facilitate the work, even though demanding.

Today, the harvest continues to be carried out by a group of workers, but with other conditions, equipment and means of transport that facilitate the work, even though demanding.

The distance between the lines of the vines and the type of shelter used are some of the changes that have taken place in the last decades of the 20th century, altering the configuration of the landscape.

The high costs of planting and maintaining the vineyards, together with the real estate pressure on the coast, constitute a threat of extinction of these vineyards, whose characteristics are very particular in this region by the sea.
The know-how, experience, resilience and persistence of the producers of DOC Colares wines are essential to ensure their continuity.

Vats No. 7, 8, 9 and 10

These chestnut and mahogany wooden barrels had belonged to the Casa de Ludgero Gomes, in Almoçageme, and had later been delivered to Tirol. They came to Adega Beira Mar in exchange for wine.

Vats No. 11 and 12

These barrels belonged to the winery of António Bernardino da Silva Chitas, grandfather of Paulo da Silva. They were received by their father through shares between the heirs and the Society.