The picking of the red grapes was stopped for a few days after the picking of the white grapes was completed due to a bit of rain that fell over this wine region on the 6th and 7th of September. The first red grapes to have come into our lagars, arrived on the 10th and 11th of September. One of the parcels was Tinta Roriz from our 25 year old vineyards, the other was a part of the Old Vineyards of São Nicolau. The New Vines (with Touriga Nacional, Rufete, Sousão etc…) at the Quinta were picked on Tuesday 15th, and yesterday the lower part of the Old Vineyards saw its grapes being brought into the winery.
Our team’s spirits keep livening up with the whites. They are slowly fermenting in 
temperature controlled stainless steel vats for our Van Zellers Douro White and in new French oak barrels for our VZ Douro White. The cool room with the VZ Douro White is filled with a sweet toasted honey smell… just the beginning of what will certainly be another great year!
Meanwhile, the valley’s schist swollen grounds starts lightening up. The gold and bright copper colours of the stone are shining again in the Rio Torto region. The thick green leaves on the vine shade the hanging red juicy grapes that wait for nature to dictate our next step. Our team is eager for more work, so let’s hope the rain doesn’t return and that the harvest can keep running smoothly.
And true to what has become a “custom” at Quinta Vale D. Maria, Maria, our adopted stray dog, has had two puppies. Out in the bright sunshine, it’s good to take a break and just sit outside watching them rolling around and playing with what seems a pretty quiet Douro in the background.
Quinta Vale D. Maria 