Two brothers that life has united have refurbished an old estate with 26 hectares that belonged to the family for four generations. The effects of this decision still echo in the landscape of the Óbidos region, with a growing portfolio of fresh, aromatic, fruity, with excellent acidity and storage capability wines that have been very well welcomed in festivals.
The family Emídio has been producing excellent rocha pear and wine in their estate, in the outskirts of Bombarral very close to Óbidos, since 1910. However, it was not before the will of the two brothers Alberto and Tomás met that a profound requalification of the land started to bear fruit in 2015: new vineyards were planted mainly with Fernão Pires and Arinto, the cellar was reformed to meet the demands of quality winemaking and the place where ordinary wine was produced in the old days produces now a small, yet remarkable, portfolio of high quality white wines, and a red recently released, all commercialized with their own brand justified by their excellence.
The vineyards, under the influence of the mesoclimate originated between the Atlantic breeze and the Montejunto Mountain, produce very fresh and mineral wines hence their natural integration in the Óbidos Registered Designation of Origin.
In the cellar the wines go through a traditional winemaking process complemented with modern technologies, aging, according to the desired profile, in cement tanks, stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels. The ultimate criterion is the truth of the wine in a perfect expression of the terroir and the designation of origin.
The intense aroma, the freshness, the minerality and pronounced acidity get together in a very gastronomic profile, delighting the demanding wine lovers. The skilled work of oenologist Rodrigo Martins gives them strong identity features that make them unique in the region – and the many awards already conquered are a living proof of that fact.
The portfolio integrates four white wines, elaborated with two predominant vine varieties of the estate: The Colheita Quinta da Várzea da Pedra (blend of Fernão Pires and Arinto), a Reserva with the same composition and two varietals of each of the vine varieties. By the time this text reaches the public, a brand new Tinto Reserva, blend of Syrah and Touriga Nacional, should already have been released.
Despite their youth they were welcomed in 2017 with an impressive set of awards in the wine festivals. The Branco Reserva, the Fernão Pires and the Colheita have been awarded with two Second and one First Prizes, respectively, in the 34º Festival do Vinho Português. The Branco Reserva was Gold Medal in Concurso de Vinhos de Lisboa.
The 2017 International wine Challenge has compensated the début of this producer with a Silver Medal (Fernão Pires), a Bronze Medal (Colheita) and a Honorable Commendation (Branco Reserva).
For the Emídio brothers, no other news could have been more pleasurable. And for those who know the enormous personality of the wines from Óbidos, it is a privilege to witness this honorable confirmation of our affinities, that Quinta da Várzea da Pedra entirely deserves.
