Quinta da Ribeira da Pêga

Quinta da Ribeira da Pêga is a project of Casa Agrícola Metello de Nápoles, located in Pinhel, in the Beira Interior sub-region. The vineyards, planted at an altitude of approximately 600 meters, grow in poor granitic soils with some quartz, under a climate of very hot summers, large temperature variations, and cold, dry winters. This harsh and austere terroir is precisely the secret to wines of great freshness, structure, and authenticity.

The harvest is manual, in small boxes, with rigorous selection of the bunches. All wines undergo total destemming and fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks; some are then aged in used French oak barrels, always with the aim of integrating the wood without hiding the expression of the grape varieties and the place. Winemaker José Ribeiro Brandão leads the project focusing on clean, precise wines faithful to the terroir.

In the Quinta da Ribeira da Pêga range, we find typical grape varieties from the Beira Interior region, some of which are endangered, such as Marufo (Mourisco) and Rufete. Marufo Tinto and Marufo Rosé showcase a lighter and more original side of the region, with open ruby or salmon colors, great freshness, and notes of raspberry, slightly unripe blueberry, and fresh grapes. Rufete stands out for its elegance, with red fruit, balsamic herbs, and enormous gastronomic versatility, capable of playing the role of a white or red wine without being excessive.

In the white wines, the Síria variety is worked with a delicate and demanding approach, resulting in a crisp wine with notes of lime, lemon balm, bay leaf, stone fruits, and a markedly mineral finish, reminiscent of "wet granite stone". Among the age-worthy red wines, the TNA Reserva (Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro) combines an intense ruby color, balsamic aromas, ripe black fruit, firm tannins, and a finish with hints of dark chocolate and spices. Tinta Roriz Grande Reserva, on the other hand, has a deep profile, with plum, cherry, and ripe blackberry notes, freshness, and elegant tannins. It ages for a long time in barrels and bottles to gain complexity and longevity.

Together, these wines showcase a less obvious Beira Interior: high-altitude, granitic, full of freshness, and with distinctive grape varieties. They are ideal labels for those who enjoy discovering producers outside the well-known circuit, with wines that tell the story of a place and a way of working the vineyard with respect and patience.