Quinta da Lagoalva

Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima is located in Alpiarca, about 50 km northeast of Lisbon. The successful breeding of Lusitano horses, started in 1909 by the Duke of Palmela, is continued by his direct descendants, the Manoel Holstein Campilho family, which owns the estate of 5000 ha along the Tagus River. Besides vegetable plantations, cork oak plantations, flocks of sheep, its own lake (Lagoalva = port. white lake), there is also a bullring, which also dates back to the time of the Duke.

Today, 60 hectares are planted with vines on sandy and clayey soils. In addition to the white grapes Alvarinho, Arinto, Fernão Pires, Verdelho and Chardonnay, many red grapes are planted: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Aragonez, Alfrocheiro, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouchet, Syrah and Tannat. Lagolava was the first winery in the region to vinify Syrah in 1995. But Alfrocheiro, used in other regions as a simple blended wine, also reaches its absolute peak here with low yields. Both varieties are bottled varietally only in the best years.

While in the 90s still P. Ramos and R. Reguingo worked as consultants for the Quinta, the responsible winemaker today is Diogo de Braganca Campilho, the son of the family, who after his oenological training worked for several years in Australia.