Wines as an expression of the Terroir

Mafalda Magalhães is passionate about the identity of regions and works with grape varieties and wines as pure expressions of that identity

The Douro is where it all begins

The iconic Douro terraces have seen the birth of a dream. And they are Mafalda Magalhães' first field of experimentation, with the Nascente and Poente wines

A childhood dream

The vineyard is a family affair, always present, always natural. Since she was a child that Mafalda Magalhães has become used to accompanying her father, one of the Douro's most renowned viticulture experts, on countless trips around the region with her siblings. These adventures turned into the dream of one day tending his vineyards and making his wines. To make this happen, she completed her academic training in oenology and spent eight years in wineries in Mendoza, Argentina, learning and making the most of her experience there.

Respecting the terroir

Having returned to Portugal, Mafalda Magalhães focused on making her childhood dream come true, settling on a small farm in the Douro, where she restored a pre-phylloxera vineyard using traditional methods.

She is passionate about the identity of the regions and works with grape varieties and wines as pure expressions of that identity. She always seeks to explore the paths of sustainability, in particular organic and regenerative agriculture.

The Khepri as inspiration

This is why Mafalda Magalhães continues to walk through the vineyards with respect for where it all begins, day after day.

She sees herself in the imagery of the Kephri, the Egyptian deity inspired by the power of the scarab beetle, which renews itself in the cycle of life thanks to the way it moves and works the land, returning to peace with the sun that rises every day.

This cycle of life is reflected in the cycle of the vineyard, always challenging and always unrepeatable. And it is similar to the ideas of Nascente and Poente - which can also be seen on the main labels of the wines signed by Mafalda Magalhães.

The Douro is where it all begins

It is also on a property with family ties, Quinta da Roga, in the heart of the Douro (Baixo Corgo), where Mafalda Magalhães has had her first experiences. This is where terroir wines are born, the Nascente whites and the Poente reds, the result of plots with different exposures, where vineyards recovered in the traditional way evolve on the iconic Douro terraces. In this cooler, more fertile Douro, the vines are planted at a density of 7,000 plants per hectare and are challenged with greater competition for their life cycle, offering scarce fruit of superior quality. Minimal intervention, marked by the heroic viticulture of the Douro, is exclusive to human hand and experience.

Nascente

A sua exposição a Nascente, permite que as videiras recebam os primeiros raios de Sol ao nascer do dia. O seu microclima, mais fresco, potencializa a mineralidade e complexidade dos vinhos.