The history of Quinta do Infantado is long, since its creation in 1816. Established for Infante D. Pedro, future King D. Pedro IV of Portugal and D. Pedro I of Brazil, it has been in the possession of the Roseira family for over a century. It is located about 4km from Pinhão, in the unique terroir of Vale de Gontelho, a micro region that has long been famous for the quality of its wines.
For six generations the “Roseira” from Covas do Douro live with passion and enthusiasm a life of vineyards and wines.
The first two generations only cultivated vines. With the purchase of Quinta do Infantado, João Lopes Roseira started the production of fortified wine.
In 1979, his sons Luís and António, based on the concepts of terroir and vigneron, started estate bottling their Porto Wines, making the family’s dream come true. With this innovation, Quinta do Infantado became the estate grown and bottled Porto Wine, thus breaking the monopoly of Vila Nova de Gaia’s négociants.
After the death of Luís and António, their heirs continue in search of the highest quality and maintain the path of innovation in tradition.
Timeline
Timeline
1977: First Colheita Porto
Three years, hot and effervescent, after the 25th of April revolution that ended fascism in Portugal, and with the first constitutional government headed by Mário Soares in office, the Douro lives one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century: 1997. At Quinta do Infantado a quantity far inferior to the usual is sold in bulk, keeping in its centenary cellars a good part of what would constitute the first Colheita Porto ever estate bottled and the oldest wine from a single vintage of the winery: Quinta do Infantado Colheita 1977 Reserva da Família.
1978: First Vintage Porto
In July of 1978, Luis Roseira travels through Bordeaux, Valée de la Loire, Languedoc and Toscana, visiting small vignerons to prepare the launch of the first wines from Quinta do Infantado. Everything precipitates in the 1978 harvest when Luís and Bruce Guimaraens have a violent discussion at Quinta do Infantado. Consequently, the Roseira family stopped selling its production to the Fonseca Guimaraens house (Taylor group). It is the big bang of Quinta do Infantado and the first estate bottled Vintage of a Douro farmer was born: Quinta do Infantado Porto Vintage 1978!
1979: start of estate bottling
During the first half of 1979 the bustle is high: registration of the Quinta do Infantado brand, registration at IVP, preparation of the first blends with António Dias Teixeira, creation of the image with master Amândio Silva, first texts with António Barreto. In July, the first three Quinta do Infantado Portos are estate bottled: Ruby, Tawny and 20 years old. Until 1986, only commercialization in Portugal was possible.
1991: commemoration of 175 years
In the 1991 vintage, a special Porto Wine, 100% Touriga Nacional, was made, to be the commemorative wine for the 175 years of Quinta do Infantado. Two years later, in 1993, Quinta do Infantado Porto Vintage 1991 TN (Touriga Nacional) was presented at Solar do Vinho do Porto.
1996: Luis Soares Duarte
In the summer of 1996 Luis Soares Duarte started the collaboration, as consultant winemaker, with Quinta do Infantado. It was another step in Luis' career that started at Casa do Douro with Eduardo Abade and Luis Sampaio. Porto Vintage 1995, launched the following year, marks the first stage of a long marathon of excellent Ports and Douros with his signature over more than 20 years.
2001: first Douro DOC red wine from Quinta do Infantado
After the experiences in 1994, 1997 and 1999, 2001 is the year of the first Douro DOC red wine from Quinta do Infantado. Fermented in lagar with foot treading, native yeasts and aging in French oak barrels, it was well received by critics and customers.
2008: Roseira and Quinta do Infantado organic red
In this unusually cool year at Quinta do Infantado (and in all Douro), two new Douro DOC reds were launched. Roseira, a wine made from Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, has floral notes, the Douro sun and is very easy to drink. Quinta do Infantado organic red comes exclusively from the Pousado vineyard with northern exposure, much less schist and deeper soil, shows remarkable freshness and greater natural acidity.
2015: Álvaro Roseira
Born and raised in Covas do Douro, Álvaro Roseira, grandson of Luís Roseira, has a long experience in viticulture and oenology. For the first member of the sixth generation to work in the family business, the vine and wine bug started, of course, growing at Quinta do Infantado. After an initial internship at Niepoort, he worked for several Douro producers, and harvested in South Africa. In July 2015 Álvaro returned home, integrating the Quinta do Infantado team in the Douro.
2016: 200 years of Infantado
A celebration of two hundred years since the creation of Quinta do Intando: from 1816 to 2016. It is not for everyone! A toast to the Douro, the Douro people and the Roseira family with Quinta do Infantado Porto Vintage 2016.
2017: Vintage Porto: exceptional!
The exceptionally dry year of 2017 produced grapes of enormous quality in Vale de Gontelho. In the old vineyards they were harvested with perfect maturation, giving rise to Quinta do Infantado Porto Vintage 2017. “The 2017 Vintage Porto is a field blend from old vines coming in at just 52 grams of residual sugar, meaning that it is very dry—in fact, well out of the norm and about as low as I've seen. A step up on the 2016, this shows more intensity, more depth and more flavor. It is still lighter styled in the context of the vintage, but it has serious structure.” (91-93/100) in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
Timeline
1977: First Colheita Porto
Three years, hot and effervescent, after the 25th of April revolution that ended fascism in Portugal, and with the first constitutional government headed by Mário Soares in office, the Douro lives one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century: 1997. At Quinta do Infantado a quantity far inferior to the usual is sold in bulk, keeping in its centenary cellars a good part of what would constitute the first Colheita Porto ever estate bottled and the oldest wine from a single vintage of the winery: Quinta do Infantado Colheita 1977 Reserva da Família.
1978: First Vintage Porto
In July of 1978, Luis Roseira travels through Bordeaux, Valée de la Loire, Languedoc and Toscana, visiting small vignerons to prepare the launch of the first wines from Quinta do Infantado. Everything precipitates in the 1978 harvest when Luís and Bruce Guimaraens have a violent discussion at Quinta do Infantado. Consequently, the Roseira family stopped selling its production to the Fonseca Guimaraens house (Taylor group). It is the big bang of Quinta do Infantado and the first estate bottled Vintage of a Douro farmer was born: Quinta do Infantado Porto Vintage 1978!
1979: start of estate bottling
During the first half of 1979 the bustle is high: registration of the Quinta do Infantado brand, registration at IVP, preparation of the first blends with António Dias Teixeira, creation of the image with master Amândio Silva, first texts with António Barreto. In July, the first three Quinta do Infantado Portos are estate bottled: Ruby, Tawny and 20 years old. Until 1986, only commercialization in Portugal was possible.
1991: commemoration of 175 years
In the 1991 vintage, a special Porto Wine, 100% Touriga Nacional, was made, to be the commemorative wine for the 175 years of Quinta do Infantado. Two years later, in 1993, Quinta do Infantado Porto Vintage 1991 TN (Touriga Nacional) was presented at Solar do Vinho do Porto.
1996: Luis Soares Duarte
In the summer of 1996 Luis Soares Duarte started the collaboration, as consultant winemaker, with Quinta do Infantado. It was another step in Luis' career that started at Casa do Douro with Eduardo Abade and Luis Sampaio. Porto Vintage 1995, launched the following year, marks the first stage of a long marathon of excellent Ports and Douros with his signature over more than 20 years.
2001: first Douro DOC red wine from Quinta do Infantado
After the experiences in 1994, 1997 and 1999, 2001 is the year of the first Douro DOC red wine from Quinta do Infantado. Fermented in lagar with foot treading, native yeasts and aging in French oak barrels, it was well received by critics and customers.
2008: Roseira and Quinta do Infantado organic red
In this unusually cool year at Quinta do Infantado (and in all Douro), two new Douro DOC reds were launched. Roseira, a wine made from Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, has floral notes, the Douro sun and is very easy to drink. Quinta do Infantado organic red comes exclusively from the Pousado vineyard with northern exposure, much less schist and deeper soil, shows remarkable freshness and greater natural acidity.
2015: Álvaro Roseira
Born and raised in Covas do Douro, Álvaro Roseira, grandson of Luís Roseira, has a long experience in viticulture and oenology. For the first member of the sixth generation to work in the family business, the vine and wine bug started, of course, growing at Quinta do Infantado. After an initial internship at Niepoort, he worked for several Douro producers, and harvested in South Africa. In July 2015 Álvaro returned home, integrating the Quinta do Infantado team in the Douro.
2016: 200 years of Infantado
A celebration of two hundred years since the creation of Quinta do Intando: from 1816 to 2016. It is not for everyone! A toast to the Douro, the Douro people and the Roseira family with Quinta do Infantado Porto Vintage 2016.
2017: Vintage Porto: exceptional!
The exceptionally dry year of 2017 produced grapes of enormous quality in Vale de Gontelho. In the old vineyards they were harvested with perfect maturation, giving rise to Quinta do Infantado Porto Vintage 2017. “The 2017 Vintage Porto is a field blend from old vines coming in at just 52 grams of residual sugar, meaning that it is very dry—in fact, well out of the norm and about as low as I've seen. A step up on the 2016, this shows more intensity, more depth and more flavor. It is still lighter styled in the context of the vintage, but it has serious structure.” (91-93/100) in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
TEAM
Who’s who at Quinta do Infantado
ROSEIRA FAMILY
The Generations of the Roseiras from Covas do Douro
7th generation: Alice!