Quinta da Boeira was built by an emigrant named Manuel da Rocha Romariz, who returned from Brazil in the early 19th century. Knowing the Brazilian market, he registered as an exporter of Port Wine in 1850, using two trade names for the labels: ROMARIZ and BOEIRA.
These brands quickly won the consideration and confidence of consumers and distributors due to their quality, expanding to several markets, among which Portuguese, English, French and Brazilian stood out, among others.
In 1966, the property was acquired by an English family, the warehouses by a textile company and the wines were sold to a Port Wine exporting company.
In 1999 the property was put up for sale with the main interest of a contractor who intended to build luxury homes in a closed condominium.
Father João de Freitas Ferreira, director of a school in Vila Nova de Gaia, warned of the situation of the eminent possibility that the 3 hectares of the property could be transformed into massive construction, with the consequent destruction of its centennial grove.
Concerned and sensitized to the cause, Father João de Freitas Ferreira, integrating a group of ten friends, decided to acquire the property, thus protecting the centenary trees and the palace of the early 19th century.
For the acquisition of the property, a financial study was carried out with the division of investments into five phases:
FIRST PHASE
The transformation of stables and greenhouses into a multi-purpose hall with auditorium and the restoration of all paths in the gardens represented the initial phase of the project which, from the beginning, intended to transform Quinta da Boeira into a visiting room in the north of the country and, more specifically , in Vila Nova de Gaia.
SECOND PHASE
The recovery of the mansion, which was in an advanced state of deterioration, began, transforming it into offices and a luxury restaurant with a capacity for about 80 people seated.
THIRD PHASE
In order to attract tourists to the high elevation of the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, the largest bottle in the world was built, measuring 32 meters in length and 10 in diameter, thus allowing the creation of a tasting room and exhibition room to promote Portuguese wines, culture and gastronomy. It was also possible to adapt the room for the transmission of films in 3D, letting tourists know the different wine regions of Portugal.
FOURTH PHASE
With the objective of financially consolidating the entire project, Quinta da Boeira registered at the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP) in 2017, thus returning to the genesis of Quinta da Boeira in 1850, as an exporter of Vinhos do Porto, under the BOEIRA brand.
FIFTH PHASE
The project, in its fifth and final phase, concluded with the construction of a 5-star hotel, with 119 rooms and 5 suites, whose construction was based on the green system. The most up-to-date environmental techniques were implemented, such as the use of groundwater to supply sanitary tanks and automatic irrigation of about 3 hectares of the property, with photovoltaic and solar energy also being used, which allowed for remarkable savings and drastic reduction in carbon emissions, transforming it into an ECO hotel.
The most recent challenge was the acquisition of the C. da Silva family home, a name also linked to the export of Port Wines, designed in the 19th century by the architect Teixeira Lopes. Quinta da Boeira is a reference in wines of superior quality, namely in Port Wine, duly certified by the Institute of Douro and Port Wines and proudly marked with the knight seal on the neck, according to the guidelines that the Observatório do Port wine advocates for the defense of the Porto Denomination of Origin.
Each Quinta da Boeira wine is a unique experience, in which Wine and Art are intimately linked, having their maximum exponent in unique bottles and which are distinguished by their shape and aesthetics, such as Diamond or Decanter.
Boeira Douro Reserve Red is made from 35% Touriga Nacional, 35% Tinta Roriz and 30% Touriga Franca.
Smooth attack with good structure and excellent mouth feel. Fresh, with well integrated tannins bringing elegance and a gastronomic profile to the wine. Very well balanced.
No Oak.Boeira Douro Doc Red Reserve from the Douro Valley is the result of a careful blend of different varieties from the Douro. After fermentation the wine was left in contact with its lees until bottling in order to develop complexity and richness.
Ideal for red meat dishes, such as beef or roast beef with strong spices, thus associating with some traditional Portuguese dishes such as roasted lamb or veal steak. The wine should be served between 16º and 18ºC.
Boeira Douro White 40% Malvasia Fina, 30% Rabigato, 20% Gouveio and 10% Fernão Pires.
Good volume in mouth revealing its fruity character, now enhanced with a citrus component. Slight mineral touch that gives it personality. It is a complex and deep wine with a persistent finish.
Good accompaniment to fish dishes, salads, and can also be drunk as appetizers. Should be consumed at a temperature between 8º and 10ºC.
Boeira Tawny 20 Year Port is made from 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Francesa and 30% Tinta Roriz.
A Good Complexity of Natural Flavors of Cassis, Blackberries and Caramel.
Fermentation in steel tank and stopped by adding spirit and aged in oak barrels for 20 years. Wine was slightly filtered before bottling.
Boeira White Diamond Port is made from Malvasia Fin, Viosinho, Gouveio, and Côdega de Larinho.
Clear amber color, on the nose aromas of citrus, tangerine peel, peaches and honey. In the mouth it is full but elegant, well integrated and persistent finish
Boeira White Diamond Port is the perfect companion for a number of foods including appetizers, lean fish, salads, pasta or desert like apple pie or crème brulée.
Domaine Meo-Camuzet Corton Les Perrieres Grand Cru 2020
Your first impression of Les Perrieres is that of a typical Corton, as it is so frequently described: austere, slow to mature, tannic. But that impression should be moderated because the wine is apparently multifaceted: frankness, certainly, but also an underlying structure that lines the palate and a finish marked by minerality. There's no heaviness, which facilitates the expression of this complexity. A long ageing period is certainly beneficial.
Review:
One of the highlights of the range this year is the 2020 Corton Grand Cru Les Perrières, a vibrant, mineral wine evocative of wild berries, forest floor, rich spices and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and vibrant, with beautifully refined tannins and a long, penetrating finish, it's well worth seeking out.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 93-95+ Points
In 1992 the Hill-Smith family counted themselves amongst those fortunate enough to own a vineyard upon the famous Coonawarra terra rossa soil over limestone. Experimentation, innovation, minimalist intervention and small batch winemaking has resulted in The Menzies’ reputation as a wine of longevity, elegance and structure.
Situated in the heart of Coonawarra’s terra rossa strip, The Menzies Estate vineyard lies on a flat plain, approximately 70km from the coast. Given the terrain and influence of the cooling Bonney upwelling, Coonawarra is an ideal location to grow premium Cabernet Sauvignon. Our soil is red sandy loam over limestone, which is classic Cabernet Sauvignon country. The grapes for The Menzies 2017 are from vines planted in 1994 and 1996. Bunches are usually small with small berries, giving concentration via an ideal skin to juice ratio favouring the making of fullbodied reds.
Experimentation, innovation, minimalist intervention, and small batch winemaking has resulted in The Menzies' reputation as a wine of longevity, elegance, and structure.
Aromas of fresh rosemary, mulberry, violets and exotic spices. Take a sip and you will feel the poise and tension for which great Cabernet is renowned. A wine of great complexity with flavors of blackcurrant, bitter chocolate, and mulberries, wrapped in divine tannins and a lovely sweet, dark fruit finish. With decanting in its youth, it is enjoyable as an elegant full-bodied red wine.
Review:
The 2017 The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon is looking good next to the 2016 tasted beside it. It is fresh and vibrant, with layers of complexing dark earth characters, with cigar box, black olive brine, cassis, bramble, milk chocolate and cracked black pepper. This is very good, and it has what I am coming to recognize as a "Yalumba red character": dried herbs, particularly oregano. The juicy splay of fruit through the finish is a highlight.
-Wine Advocate 95 Points