Quinta Da Carolina - Xis Branco 2021
Quinta da Carolina is located in the Douro Valley, Portugal . Owned by the Cândido da Silva family , Quinta da Carolina has old vineyards in the Cima Corgo region, with the typical varieties of the Douro Valley. The soil is composed of shale ; a rock very rich in nutrients with good permeability, allowing good penetration of the vine roots. In addition, shale has a great capacity to retain heat during the day and to release it later during the night, which helps reduce daily temperature variation in this region characterized by very cold winters and hot, dry summers.
Xis is made from Malvasia Fina, Gouveio, Rabigato, Dona Branca and Viosinho . The vines are over 90 years old and are exposed to the north between 500 and 550 meters above sea level. The grapes are vinified oxidatively by vertical pressing in used barrels , where spontaneous fermentation takes place. Partial malolactic fermentation is natural. After a year of aging on lees in these barrels, the wine is transferred with the same lees to a stainless steel tank, where it remains in static decantation during the winter, to be bottled the following spring.
Grape varieties: Malvasia Fina, Gouveio, Rabigato, Dona Branca, Viosinho