Country - Portugal

Region - Lisboa

Grape Varieties - 55% Tinta Roriz , 45% Touriga Nacional

Alcohol by volume - 13%

Bottle - 75cl

In 2003, José Ribeiro Vieira purchased a four-hectare vineyard in the foothills of Serra de Aire of Cortes, in the Alta Estremadura, near Lisbon. Vale da Mata is the name of a small, old vineyard in these foothills. It pays tribute to Vieira’s winemaker father, Manuel, who claimed that Vale de Mata was the site where he succeeded in producing his best wines. The Vale de Mata project respects the expression of its terroir, cultivating the vines sustainably and using minimal intervention in the winery. Vale de Mata is a member of the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability programme. Manuel gave this wine its name and his granddaughter Catarina Viera has followed in his footsteps, continuing his winemaking legacy. In 2018, Vale de Mata was awarded Best Wine Producer by Revista de Vinhos.

The wine was made following a philosophy of minimal intervention. The field blend grapes were carefully sorted and then co-fermented using only indigenous yeasts. The blend was then aged in French oak barrels for 10 months, imparting subtle complexity, followed by a further six months in bottle. Floral notes combine with lively red fruits and well integrated oak. Smooth and round on the palate, with a bright acidity that leaves a vibrant, lifted finish.