The Farm
Quinta de San Michel, is a property located in the village of Janas, belonging to the municipality of Sintra, integrated in the historic wine region of Colares. Situated just 20 minutes west of Lisbon and five minutes from the beach. The vineyard was planted with an initial 0.5 hectares in 2013 with two Portuguese grape varieties - Arinto and Malvasia de Colares. In 2014 and 2015, another 1.5 hectares were planted with the same varieties.
Want to know something historical?
Malvasia de Colares is one of the only grape varieties in the world to have survived the insidious, tiny sap-sucking Phyloxera insect that devastated Europe's vineyards in the 1800s. The only reason this unique variety survived is because of the sandy soils in which it is typically grown. Quinta San Michel does not have sandy soils, but it is not afraid! It was selected as a test site for clones that were grafted for phylloxera resistant roots. Quinta San Michel is reviving one of the stars of the wine world!
The Family
We focus on having a positive impact on the region's economy and this is exactly the direction we like to move in, through change and irreverence.
Commitment, making elegant wines, with beautiful acidity and lots of nerve, everything that gives personality to the wines. Going the easy way may be more profitable, but it doesn't bring us anything new, there is only one alternative to do "seriously" even though it may be complicated.
Our vineyards grow between the Atlantic Ocean and the Sintra Mountains
The Team
Understanding and studying the traditional grape varieties of the Carcavelos, Colares and Bucelas wine route is a challenge for passionate professionals.
The team includes, in viticulture, the combination of the scientific and the empirical, Agronomist Jorge Rafael and Mr. João Franco, in oenology, the knowledge of two generations of reference winemaker, Joachim Roque and his team from 'Vinivista', and the resident, Alexandre Guedes who embraced this project as his personal project.
During the harvest we bring together local workers, customers, suppliers, friends and family, all with the same passion, dedication and will to make unique wines of great quality.
