A property with illustrious scrolls, which belonged for decades to the family of the Count of Palma and the Countess of Santar, Quinta do Paral was handed in 2017 to the capable hands of the German businessman Dieter Morszeck, who uses all the attributes of his extraordinary terroir to produce wines of distinct quality.
There are 102 hectares of vineyards, olive trees and cork oaks throughout the Alentejo plain. An irresistible dream, that only a few imagine to achieve. That honor went to Dieter Morszeck, who, having sold the famous Rimowa luggage brand, found himself available and able to pursue a project of excellence in the field of winemaking in the land and country that he loves: Portugal.
With a passion for ancient varieties, many in rather old vineyards such as Arinto, Antão Vaz, Perrum and Aragonês, Tinta Grossa, Touriga Nacional and Verdelho, he added to this lot internationally renowned ones, such as Syrah and Petite Syrah, Vermentino and Viognier, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc, among others. This would complete the blends that originated so many remarkable wines.
The meticulous work of cultivating the soil, using traditional and sustainable processes, the rigorous selection of the vines and the manual harvesting, contrast with the exuberance of the technology that assists the winemaking.
Luís Leão, the winemaker in charge, extracts from his fruits wines that are full of character, internationally applauded by critics and specialty fairs, that have already shown recognition towards the project. These are wines of unusual freshness in this region, with acidity that favors the guard, with the famous fruit of Vidigueira, genuine as everything that is born out of passion.
Despite its youth, the small portfolio of Quinta do Paral has won trophies at the Mundus Vini, the International Wine Challenge and the Berlin Wine Trophy. The range starts with Colheitas (Harvest), white and red, both harmonious and expressive. Ascends to Selected Harvest - stark and polished the white of Arinto and Fermentino, soft and harmonious the red of four varieties. The Reservas take their time, with great gastronomic qualities, to which critics as João Paulo Martins attributed great scores. Finally, the range ends with the Old Vines: remarkable wines, the white of Antão Vaz and Perrum, very green, with well-integrated barrel, complex and rich, according to the critics which already praised it. The red, which puts together Aragonez and Tinta Grossa from un-watered vineyards, has liveliness, ripe fruit, body and persistence. Great for drinking or guard.
The positive results obtained are the best demonstration of the recognition of this team's work, the excellence of Vidigueira and the elegance of Quinta do Paral wines. A testimony that Dieter is very proud of, and that the Counts of Santar themselves would not be indifferent.
