Quinta do Tedo

Quinta do Tedo has a Single Quinta classification, the Portuguese equivalent of a Single Estate. Its 100% estate-grown organic grapes come from 37 acres of class "A" vineyards, the highest rating of the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto, comparable to France's Grand Cru. Less than 2% of the Douro appellation's roughly 100,000 acres are class "A", a rating based on 24 criteria such as soil, exposure, grape variety, vine spacing and altitude.

The Quinta sits where the Douro and Tedo rivers meet, in a landscape marked by the carved granite feitoria stones placed by the Marquis de Pombal in the 1756 demarcation. Only wine from the feitoria area was considered the finest and authorised for export. Its "A" classification and location within these limits prove its potential as a Single Quinta label.

The legend of Tedo

In the 11th century, with the Douro under the Moorish King Alboacem, brothers Don Tedo and Rausendo, illegitimate sons of King Ramiro II of León, were among the first Christians in the region. Don Tedo went unarmed to Lamego seeking a truce and was imprisoned. The king's daughter Ardinia fell in love with him and helped him escape. Baptised by the monk Gelasio, she met Don Tedo on the banks of the Távora, where the king, learning of her betrayal, killed her with a lance.

Don Tedo buried her in the monastery of São Pedro das Águias, which he built, and lived as a recluse until Alboacem killed him in battle. His blood flowed into a small stream later called the Tedo River. Legend has it that its water has unique medicinal value and gives life to Quinta do Tedo's natural ecosystem.

*This story was translated years ago and may not be 100% credible.