Santo Isidro de Pegoes – ‘Fontanario de Pegoes’ White, Palmela – 2023

ABOUT THE 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.

THE VINTAGE:
In 2023, good weather conditions allowed all the phenological states to occur within the normal ranges and the grapes reached good maturity levels with balanced acidity and sugar. The harvest took place at the end of August and into September and the resulting wines are beautifully balanced and express good varietal character.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The Pegões vineyard is located between two Nature Reserves: the Tagus estuary to the Northwest and the Sado on the Southwest. To the east are the Arrabida hills and to the west the Alentejo province’s clays. The unique soil here is named “Pliocenico de Pegões”. It is a sandy soil formed over millions of years by sand transported by the rivers Tagus and Sado. It is this Mediterranean climate and soil combination that creates this unique Pegões terroir.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
A light maceration was followed by alcoholic fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, in order to preserve the aromatics of this variety.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
A refreshing wine showing the typical herbal and peachy aromatics and flavours of Fernão Pires. Balanced with a touch of spice on the finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Fernão Pires 90%, Arinto 10%.