Description

PRODUCER:
Santo Isidro de Pegões was founded in 1958 and has subsequently seen significant investment in the winery and vineyards. Today, the cooperative is made up of 100 winegrowers and has access to over 1,200 hectares of vineyard located in the Terras do Sado area of the Setúbal Peninsula. This coastal area benefits from mineral-rich sandy soils and cooling Atlantic winds, in which indigenous varieties thrive. Santo Isidro de Pegões is one of the most forward-thinking cooperatives in Portugal, and their chief winemaker, Jaime Quendera one of Portugal’s most respected winemakers. In 2018, Santo Isidro de Pegões was awarded the Portuguese Wine Producer of the Year Trophy from the IWSC.

VINEYARD:
This wine is made from mostly the native Portuguese variety of Arinto, combined with a touch of Fernão Pires. Arinto produces refreshing and vibrant wines with lively acidity, a distinct mineral character, and a high ageing potential. Arinto has medium-sized, compact bunches with small berries, and the variety thrives in the Setúbal Peninsula terroir. Fernão Pires offers a touch of aromatic complexity to the blend. The vineyards are located on the Setúbal Peninsula between two Nature Reserves: the Tagus Estuary to the northwest and the River Sado to the southwest. To the east are the Arrabida Hills, and to the west the Alentejo Province. The unique soil here is named ‘Pliocenico de Pegões’, which is a sandy soil formed over millions of years by sand transported by the rivers Tagus and Sado. Located close to the sea, the cooling maritime influence tempers the warm Mediterranean climate, producing grapes with good flavour concentration, beautifully balanced by natural acidity. The combination of the microclimate and distinctive soil creates this unique Pegões terroir.

WINEMAKING:
The grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness and vinified immediately to retain freshness. Each variety was fermented separately in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats, before being blended and undergoing brief maturation in a tank to retain vibrancy, purity of fruit and varietal characteristics.

VINTAGE:
The 2024 vintage on the Setúbal Peninsula was challenging, with cool and wet spring conditions followed by an intense heatwave in August, which stressed younger vines and led to slightly lower acidity levels in some areas. Despite the challenges, older vineyards with established root systems performed well, yielding good quantities and quality of wines with complex aromatics and good ageing potential.

TASTING NOTE:
An aromatic blend with delicate floral aromas layered with vibrant citrus and luscious white peach. Crisp and refreshing, with a lovely texture and a touch of spice on the long, balanced finish.

GRAPES:
Arinto 90%, Fernão Pires 10%.