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Surrounded by ancient mountain ranges, the Dão Wine Region is a rugged plateau defined by sharp, angular landscapes. Yet, the wines born of this land are anything but rugged or angular.

On the contrary, Dão is the birthplace of wines marked by grace and perfect balance. Much like in music, these wines are crafted for those who prefer the refined elegance of Bach’s famous Cello Prelude to the maximalist pomp of Lully’s Te Deum.

Here in Dão, just as Bach softened the austere sound of the cello, winemaking transforms the region’s harshest elements, distilling an essence of finesse and freshness. Ultimately, this land’s imprint endures in the wines’ vibrant acidity, telluric minerality, and subtle aromatic complexity.

Given the elegance of its wines, it’s no surprise that Parisians, 120 years ago, dubbed Dão the “Burgundy of the South.” This epithet, coined in the Belle Époque, marked the peak of Dão’s international renown. Yet, the region’s fortunes over the following decades were far from glamorous.

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Dão’s Transformations: Glory and Hardship

A region of undeniable merit, Dão today is a place where wines embody a seamless dialogue between the natural and cultural elements infused in each bottle. But it hasn’t always been this way.

In fact, as quantity was prioritized over quality, Dão's reputation experienced a steep decline during the second half of the 20th century.

Beginning in the 1940s, Salazar’s dictatorship centralized Portugal’s wine production and designated Dão as the nation’s main supplier.

Under this policy, growers and independent wineries were forbidden to make or market their own wines. Instead, they were required to hand over their grapes to cooperatives, which held exclusive production rights.

This policy abruptly interrupted the region’s independent winemaking culture. The emphasis on low-cost, high-volume production led, inevitably, to a sharp drop in Dão’s standing.

After the wines had gained widespread renown in the 19th century - even reaching highly selective markets like France - this decision proved costly.

And so, for a long time, coherence was lost. By severing the wine from its tradition and natural foundations, those misguided policies disconnected it from its soul and authenticity. It is precisely these qualities that Quinta da Alameda’s wines seek to revive. Our wines are pure Dão.

Fortunately, the region began charting a new path in the 1990s. Driven by small producers, this revival combined modern winemaking techniques with time-honoured traditions refined over millennia.

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Dão Through History: A Turbulent but Illustrious Past

Home to noble, ancient wines, Dão holds traces of winemaking that predate the formation of Portugal itself.

Indeed, between battles with the Roman legions, one can imagine the fierce Lusitanian warriors savouring the elegant reds crafted in their tribal heartland: the Dão, of course. The Romans certainly did.

Later, during the Middle Ages, Dão’s winemaking gained new momentum as Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries refined cultivation and production techniques. It was the Cistercian monks who first coined the term “terroir” in medieval Burgundy.

The end of the medieval period was hastened by the European expansion across the world, which began in the 15th century. And the very first step of this expansion was taken with the conquest of Ceuta in 1415, in North Africa.

Well, according to legend, just before the Portuguese set out to conquer Ceuta in 1415, Dão wines were served at lavish festivities hosted by Prince Henry the Navigator in Viseu. If so, one of history’s most transformative periods - the European Age of Discovery - was launched with a toast of Dão.

Though regarded as a royal drink, Dão wines were likely confined to the local market during the Renaissance and following periods. Unlike the Douro, the region’s lack of major navigable waterways made transportation difficult.

Despite this, the 19th century finally brought prosperity to Dão’s wine industry. Its wines were exported across Europe, where they were praised for their distinct quality and gastronomic versatility.

However, Dão was only recognized as a demarcated wine region in 1908, making it the first non-fortified wine region to receive this distinction in Portugal.

This achievement was driven by a strong movement led by winemakers like António Augusto de Aguiar, who, along with others, keenly understood the distinctive qualities of Dão wines. But what lies behind these unique qualities?

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The Alchemy of Dão Wines

These qualities stem from the alchemy of terroir, grape varieties, and know-how. Situated in Beira Alta, the Dão Wine Region is bordered by mountain ranges that shield the vineyards from Atlantic winds blowing in from the west.

This natural shield is evident to anyone arriving through the heights of Caramulo: in every direction, the distant horizon is broken by a procession of rocky walls. These ranges also temper the continental influences originating from the eastern Iberian interior.

From the region’s summits to its lower reaches, the rivers Alva, Mondego, and Dão carve paths through a hard substrate, where water quickly infiltrates but retention is minimal.

These natural features create a setting unlike any other in Portugal. Indeed, the influence of terroir may be more pronounced in Dão than in any other region in the country.

Here, most vineyards thrive at altitudes between 400 and 800 meters. As a consequence, the wide temperature swings help shape the wines’ structure, complexity, and delicate tannins.

Meanwhile, Dão’s acidic, granite-rich, organic matter-poor soils, force the vines to dig deep for water and nutrients. The result is smaller, more concentrated grapes with rich sensory profiles.

Defined by the contrast between hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters, the region’s varied microclimates also support a slow, steady ripening of the grapes.

This ideal balance of conditions gives Dão wines a unique identity that deserves to be celebrated now and into the future: after all, these are collectible wines with enviable aging potential.

Here, among other native varieties, Encruzado and Touriga Nacional reach heights of elegance that arouse the senses and enliven the palate. These two rank among Portugal’s most prized white and red grape varieties, respectively.

Yet they are not Dão’s only celebrities. Called a veritable “Noah’s Ark of Vitis vinifera varieties” by Paul White, the region is home to about 70 grape varieties that have either originated here or settled over countless generations. Baga, Barcelo, Uva Cão, Alvarelhão, Tinta Pinheira, and Alfrocheiro Preto are just a few examples of this diversity and abundance.

This rich diversity and these traditional grape varieties call for a rigorous adherence to Dão’s principles of distinction. At Quinta da Alameda, for example, we work with timeless methods grounded in sustainable practices that preserve and honour the terroir. Only grapes of the highest quality are used here, creating wines known for their harmony, authenticity, and supreme elegance - much like a Bach cello suite.

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