Quinta do Vesúvio Pombal do Vesúvio 2023 is a carefully crafted Portuguese red wine from the Douro Superior, combining ripe fruit, freshness and the structure associated with the Douro Valley's traditional grape varieties. Made from Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Alicante Bouschet and Tinta Amarela, this estate-grown blend is matured for ten months in French oak barrels, producing a balanced red designed to be approachable in its youth while retaining the potential to develop with further ageing.
 
Pombal do Vesúvio takes its name from the ancient dovecote, or pombal in Portuguese, situated among the estate's terraced vineyards. Some of the principal Touriga Nacional vines surrounding this historic structure were planted in 2000 and contribute an important part of the wine's character. The name reflects the close connection between the wine and its vineyard origins, with individual parcels selected to bring together fruit concentration, structure and freshness.
 
Quinta do Vesúvio is one of the Douro's historic wine estates, with its house, chapel and winery dating back to 1827. The property has 137 hectares of vineyards and is particularly well known for its Vintage Ports, although its Douro DOC red wines have become an important expression of the estate's winemaking. Situated in the Douro Superior, the vineyards provide the traditional Portuguese grape varieties used in this blend.
 
The 2023 wine is made from 55% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 10% Alicante Bouschet and 5% Tinta Amarela. Touriga Nacional comes in significant part from the terraced vineyards around the estate's dovecote, while Touriga Franca is sourced from the Vale da Teja and Minas vineyards. Tinta Amarela comes from the Quinta Nova vineyard, adding another element to the blend.
The 2023 growing season followed the severe drought of 2022. Abundant rainfall during the first half of winter helped restore soil moisture, while further rain in May and June supported the vines through ripening. Although July and August were almost completely dry, temperatures remained relatively moderate for the Douro, encouraging balanced ripeness, good acidity and the development of tannins and colour.
 
Rainfall in early September provided favourable conditions ahead of harvest, and many of the estate's best vineyard parcels were picked during the first half of the month. Heavier rain later in September affected some later-ripening grapes, making careful vineyard selection particularly important.
 
The grapes for Pombal do Vesúvio are harvested by hand into small 20kg boxes. On arrival at the winery, the bunches undergo manual sorting before gentle destemming and a further selection of individual berries. The fruit is then transferred by gravity into small fermentation tanks, reducing unnecessary handling.
 
Under the direction of Charles Symington, Pedro Correia and Hugo Almeida, fermentation is carefully managed to bring out the individual characteristics of each grape variety. Following vinification, the wine matures for ten months in French oak barrels of 225 and 400 litres, adding depth and structure while preserving the fruit character of the blend.
 
Pombal do Vesúvio 2023 is intended to offer the concentration and structure of a Douro red in a balanced, accessible style. Its combination of ripe fruit, refreshing acidity and French oak maturation makes it a versatile choice for roast meats, hearty Portuguese dishes and richly flavoured food.
 
Tasting Notes
 
Appearance: A red wine made from traditional Douro varieties, including the deeply coloured Alicante Bouschet.
Nose: A fruit-led aromatic style, with the blend and French oak maturation contributing to its overall complexity.
Palate: Designed to be balanced and approachable, with ripe fruit character, refreshing acidity and the structure associated with traditional Douro red varieties.
Finish: A balanced, structured impression, with the potential for further development through bottle ageing.