Quinta do Casal Monteiro

Quinta do Casal Monteiro (80 hectares) has been a true family business for 150 years. Today the company is run by Miguel de Jesus. The soil in which the vines are planted consists of sand and clay and is ideally suited to making quality wines of a consistently high standard.

Quinta do Casal Monteiro lies north-east of Lisbon in the Tejo wine region. The region is named after the river Tagus (Tejo), which reaches the sea at Lisbon. The vineyards lie on alluvial sandy clay and loam soils along the banks of the Tagus, which allows the grapes to cool down during the night. As a result the grapes develop acidity, so there is no need to acidify the wines of Casal Monteiro.

The terroir

No good wine without good terroir! The soil consists of sand and clay/loam. Ideal for the grape varieties Arinto, Fernão Pires, Chardonnay, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir. The warmth of the day lets these grapes ripen perfectly. The combination of this terroir and the microclimate produces grapes of optimal quality: an excellent basis for making quality wines, year after year!

Pruning technique

The Casal Monteiro team invests a great deal of time in pruning the vines. From the careful pruning of the vineyards in winter to the continuous pruning during ripening and harvest, every possible precaution is taken to let each bunch develop to the full.

Harvesting

From the beginning of August, the condition of the various grape varieties is measured every day. The grapes are harvested at the optimal moment. This is spread over several days, because not every plot reaches its peak at the same time. On the often hot days of the harvest period, the grapes are picked at night or in the early morning, after which they go straight into vinification, to preserve the carefully achieved quality of the grapes. From there, the highly talented and renowned winemaker Luis Santos continues his work in the winery.

Caring for nature

The estate has been certified sustainable since 2026. Quinta do Casal Monteiro is a family business with a long-term focus. The aim is for the business to carry on forever. How it treats nature is one of the most important parts of that. No products are used to enrich or deplete the soil. The composition of the soil (which is naturally poor) is such that no fertiliser is needed. The composition of the soil and the location of the vineyards on the river Tagus mean that irrigation is not always necessary.

In the winery itself, winemaking is done by hand. By choosing the moment of harvest carefully, and because many bunches are pruned away throughout the year, only the best grapes remain, so no additives are needed to achieve the balance between acidity and sugar. Nature has already taken care of that! It takes an investment in time and manpower, but the result is a very natural and pure wine.

Speaking of manpower: the staff are exceptionally well paid and working conditions are very good. So it is no surprise that most people are highly committed, have developed a love for the craft and for the company and… have worked at Casal Monteiro for years and years.