Description

What am I: Humus Palheto red wine

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 Palheto is a uniquely made red wine – a blanc de noir with more blanc added. The juice of Touriga Nacional (a red grape) is macerated on its own skins for just two hours. But then it macerates for an additional month with the skins of Arinto. and Fernão Pires. It is then transferred to used barrels of oak and chestnut for an additional 10 months.

Humus Palheto red wine has a light and floral nose with hints of strawberry. Expressive tannins stand out on the palate. This wine pairs well with food.