Quinta do Vesúvio

Quinta do Vesúvio: the timeless queen of the Douro Valley

Deep in the wild and rugged beauty of the Douro Valley, in the Douro Superior subregion, lies a wine estate that is not only iconic for the region, but for the wine world as a whole: Quinta do Vesúvio. This is no ordinary winery. It is a place of character, where nature, craftsmanship and two centuries of winemaking come together. Anyone who has ever visited understands why this quinta is often called the queen of the Douro.

The drive from the city of Porto to Quinta do Vesúvio is an experience in itself. What seems relatively close on the map turns into a long and winding journey, full of hairpin turns, steep vineyard slopes and unforgettable views. The Douro winds between dramatic terraces, and with every bend in the road, you leave the bustle of the city further behind. We visited the estate to get to know it better and were already speechless from the landscapes along the way – but what awaited us on that final hilltop was something truly special.

A story that began in 1823

Vesúvio’s story begins in 1823, when the visionary António Bernardo Ferreira purchased the estate. At the time, it was mostly covered in wild vegetation and fig trees. Over the following years, it was ambitiously transformed into a grand vineyard estate. More than 150 hectares of vines were planted, and in 1827, the now-iconic winery was built. The granite lagares where grapes are still foot-trodden today were already in place back then.

Later, his niece Dona Antónia Ferreira took over. She became one of the most influential figures in Portuguese wine history. She expanded the estate, built a school and chapel for the families living on the property, and ensured Vesúvio became one of the first quintas to bottle its own ports. During the phylloxera crisis, instead of laying off her workers, she commissioned the construction of a 16-kilometre stone wall around the entire property. That impressive structure still stands today.

The rebirth of a classic

In 1989, the Symington family took over the estate. With generations of experience in the Douro, they had admired Vesúvio for years from across the river. When the opportunity came to acquire it, they didn’t hesitate. They reinvested in the vineyards, replanted old plots, and brought Vesúvio’s legendary Vintage Ports back to top form.

In 2009, the estate also began producing still wines under the Douro DOC name. Today, three expressive cuvées are made: Quinta do Vesúvio, Pombal do Vesúvio and Comboio do Vesúvio – each with its own style, but all rooted in the same commitment to quality and terroir.

7 hills and 31 valleys

The estate spans 326 hectares, of which 133 hectares are planted with vines. The remaining land is intentionally left in its natural state. The terrain is impressive and varied, ranging from 130 metres near the river to 530 metres at the hilltops. This results in a diversity of microclimates and sun exposures that contribute to the complexity of the wines.

The soils are mainly schist, with some granite outcrops typical of the Douro Superior. The climate is extremely dry, with hot summers and cold winters. Annual rainfall averages just 400 millimetres. In these challenging conditions, the classic Douro grape varieties thrive: touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta roriz, tinta barroca, tinta amarela and sousão. These grapes are the soul of Vesúvio’s wines and express the full character of this remote, powerful landscape.

A place with character

Vesúvio is more than just a winery. It’s a living legacy, where tradition, precision and vision come together. The old schoolhouse still looks out over one of the estate’s finest plots of touriga nacional. The 1827 winery is still in use. And the house of Dona Antónia, with its modest entrance and oversized wrought-iron key, has remained nearly untouched.

Every bottle carries the weight of history, but Vesúvio is anything but stuck in the past. Under the care of the Symington family and team, it continues to grow, evolve and inspire. Always with respect for the past, but with its eyes firmly on the future.