Description

What am I: Humus Balbúrdia Tinto

Encosta da Quinta is a family property, home to Rodrigo Filipe and his Humus wines. Rodrigo is one of the pioneering and most experimental and exciting natural wine producers in Portugal. A self-taught viticulturist, and former civil engineer, he left that career behind to dedicate himself to the vineyards acquired by his grandfather in 1960.

The winery is located in the demarcated region of Óbidos, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Serra dos Candeeiros mountains, north of Lisbon. In this place, the focus is on natural winemaking with local varieties.

The grapevines are planted in clay soils and the growing season is influenced by Atlantic breezes. With organic agriculture practices, no chemicals that could affect the natural balance of the terroir are used. When the grapes are ready, they are carefully harvested by hand.

Humus Balbúrdia Tinto red wine is made from Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Syrah and Castelão grapes. This is a special wine, composed of wines from 2011 to 2016 that were kept in barrels (70%) and wine from 2017 that was not in barrels. The mix of vintages and varietals is what has led to the name balbúrdia which is Portuguese for chaos. Unfined and unfiltered with no added sulfites. 

Humus Balbúrdia is a light, fresh, and juicy wine with balanced acidity. There are notes of black fruit, herbaceous flavors, and a bit of wood.