Croft Port

Douro Valley, Portugal

Founded in 1588, Croft is one of the original founding Port Houses and occupies a place of great distinction in history as the oldest firm still active today as a Port wine producer.

In a nutshell: The story of the House of Croft enjoys a rich heritage and history spanning over four centuries. It remains a family-managed company, dedicated to the production of the finest Ports of all styles. Quinta da Roêda, the jewel of Douro Valley vineyards acquired by Croft in 1889, is integral to the House’s vintage wines and contains some of the oldest vineyards in the Douro Valley. Winemaker David Guimaraens is constantly striving for innovation in the vineyards and the winery, through the use of a wider number of grape varieties to maintain complexity and individuality, as well as improving the way the vines are planted in the vineyards.

Maintaining its ever pioneering spirit, the House created the first Pink Port, made from the traditional red Port grapes and designed to be served chilled over ice, or as part of a refreshing summer cocktail. Croft has fully embraced wine tourism in the area, with a visitor centre to welcome guests, providing one of the most comprehensive, genuine and traditional visits in the region.

The terroir: The 109 ha property has some 332,000 vines planted overlooking the Douro River, and produces characteristically plump, full and focused fruity wines with a hallmark ‘gum cistus’ aroma of the native aromatic bush. The vines are planted on schist soils. Schist has useful water retention properties, which allows the vines to prevail in the arid summer conditions.

The Croft ‘personality’: Croft’s time-honoured styles refined by skill and experience have been passed down through generations.

Croft Quinta da Roeda 2004