The two women behind Conceito Vinhos are Carla Costa Ferreira and her daughter, winemaker, Rita Marques Ferreira. They work and farm the family's centuries old estate and vineyards. Their three properties throughout the Douro Superior... Read More

The two women behind Conceito Vinhos are Carla Costa Ferreira and her daughter, winemaker, Rita Marques Ferreira. They work and farm the family's centuries old estate and vineyards. Their three properties throughout the Douro Superior total almost 200 acres.

Rita studied enology at the University of Bordeaux with Denis Dubourdieu, and has worked a harvest at Niepoort in the Douro; and also at Flagstone with Bruce Jack in Stellenbosch, South Africa and at Villa Maria in Marlborough, New Zealand. She has moved the property toward organic viticulture having learned along the way that this is the key to exceptional grapes. The vineyard has been certified since 2006.

The oldest vines on the estate are 80 years old and there is a small plot of pre-phylloxera (white) vines up at 1800 ft next to famous Bastardo at Quinta da Veiga (where the fruit for the Conceito Bastardo comes from). All the red grape varieties are planted on schist soils and all the white varieties on granitic sand soils.

In the vineyard there is manual harvesting and an initial fruit selection followed by a second sorting at the cellar prior to de-stemming of the grapes (not for the Conceito Bastardo though). The winery is a combination of modern stainless steel, temperature-controlled vats and traditional, old granite lagares in which the grapes are foot trodden. Elevage is done in either neutral oak or a combination so fastinless and neutral oak.

The wines of Conceito Vinhos are simply a pleasure to drink. Expertly produced with the utmost care, they showcase the unique varieties and styles of wines from the land of tin fish.