Winery of the Week: Quinta de Ventozelo

Ventozelo is one of the places that can make the world stop. Located in Ervedosa do the Douro, it is a characteristic place. Extending over 400 hectares, of which vineyards occupy 200, it is one of the oldest and most prominent properties in the region! Here get ready to enjoy the best views of the Douro with glass in hand, of course, and with the best delicacies at the table.

Portugal is a dream wine destination full of possibilities. Today we bring you the continuation of the series of articles to help you learn all the details about some of the best wineries in the country and some of the most publicized and unmissable local experiences on offer. Here is today's location: Quinta de Ventozelo. 

Adding to the natural beauty of Quinta de Ventozelo, the arrival of wine tourism is an invitation to enjoy the best of the upper Douro wine region without leaving the site. Built from a wide amphitheater that stretches from the river to an altitude of 600 meters, Quinta de Ventozelo is located in São João da Pesqueira, between Pinhão and Ervedosa do the Douro, and extends over 400 hectares, 200 of which are planted with vines, 20 with olive groves and the rest with scrubland. The vineyards, situated among valleys and terraces in a very particular terroir, assume skewed contours that not only favor the landscape but are also a golden attribute in shaping the character of the wines.

Copyright: Luis Ferraz / QT Ventozelo

A place that was once a place of passage, Quinta de Ventozelo preserves the hospitality of other times by adapting it to the needs of today's travelers, who seek to stay overnight, eat in a good restaurant, do wine tastings, perhaps learn about the history of this place in an interpretive center, do one of the seven hiking trails, and do nature tourism activities in general. If you are lucky, you will overlook the birds, wild boars, foxes, and other animals that surround the farm. In covid-19 times, the ex-libris are the delicious picnics prepared by the hotel restaurant, ideal for families or more romantic stays.

Copyright: Luis Ferraz / QT Ventozelo

Copyright: Luis Ferraz / QT Ventozelo

The wine tourism, with an almost unique conception of a small village, with 29 rooms distributed among seven different houses and farm buildings, from an old barn and a warehouse for tools to the original cement balloons that stored large volumes of wine and now house two spacious suites.

When to visit Quinta de Ventozelo?

There is no specific time to visit the Quinta, however, if you choose a month, in September – called the harvest season. This is where the grapes are harvested and there are several activities that you can participate in the region, from helping with the treading of the grapes.

Experiences and Tours to enjoy at Quinta de Ventozelo

Cantina of Ventozelo

Copyright: Luis Ferraz / QT Ventozelo

In the Cantina de Ventozelo, the restaurant installed in the space where the workers used to take their meals, dishes loaded with memories of what was once eaten in the Douro farms arrive at the table. To accompany meals nothing better than choosing one of the wines produced in Quinta de Ventozelo| (All complemented with sophisticated simplicity and the beauty of the Douro).

Guided Tour and Wine Tasting

Sítio dos Prazeres Tour

Enjoy a guided tour to the center of the Quinta. Includes a visit to the interpretive center, winery, chapel, alembic, cereal warehouse, and fruit, and vegetable garden. In the end, delight yourself with a tasting of 3 wines: Azul de Ventozelo DOC Douro White, Azul de Ventozelo DOC Douro Red, and Quinta de Ventozelo Porto LBV.

Vineyards Path

Visitors will be able to see different landforms, historical and contemporary, as well as native planting practices and the contemporary reinterpretation of ancestral vine planting practices. On the Chorão vineyard path, through the "field mix" planted here, you will have the opportunity to see different varieties in the same field. In the end, a tasting of 3 wines is included: Azul de Ventozelo DOC Douro White, Azul de Ventozelo DOC Douro Red, and Quinta de Ventozelo LBV Port.

Wild Boar Path

Densely populated by shrub species and crossed by waterways, it is the ideal route to observe the local fauna at different times of the day- wild boars, and foxes. Another attraction is bird watching since this place is used for nesting residents and migratory birds. 1940 meters route with medium/demanding difficulty. In the end, it included 3 wine tastings: Azul de Ventozelo DOC Douro Branco, Azul de Ventozelo DOC Douro Tinto, and Quinta de Ventozelo Porto LBV.

Regional Products Tasting 

Quinta de Ventozelo has at your disposal a series of experiences that will introduce you to the true taste of the Douro.

Private Online Wine Tasting

Wine specialists will guide you in this complete sensorial experience through the wine region, the winery's history, the winemaking process, and all the wine-tasting techniques and materials to fully indulge in their wines. In the heart of the Douro Region, Quinta de Ventozelo is one of the oldest in the Douro Demarcated Region and also one of the largest. Through our wine-tasting flights, you can try and experience the terroir of Ventozelo. The personality of our wines will show you the quality and richness of the most typical Douro varieties.

5-Day Tour in the Douro with a Sailing Cruise in the Douro River

Copyright: Luis Ferraz / QT Ventozelo

A 5-day Wine Tour with full access to the best wineries in the Douro Valley, the oldest Demarcated Wine Region in the World.

3-Day Tour in the Douro with a Cruise in the Douro River

Copyright: Luis Ferraz / QT Ventozelo

A 3-day stay in a Wine Hotel at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A private sailboat cruise. A guided visit through some of the most famous wineries and wine estates of the iconic region.