Douro - Senhora do Convento

Senhora do Convento was originally a monastery that was managed by Cistercian monks. Olive trees, fig trees and grape vines grew on the steep slopes. Senhora do Convento was recently purchased by the Canadian company Colt Resources. Colt will continue the production of port in view of the tradition in the past.

Senhora Do Convento sits above a beautiful vineyard in the heart of the Douro Valley, 100 km east of the UNESCO world heritage city of Porto, Portugal. Nestled into this harsh but striking region stands a Cistercian monastery whose thick stone walls have witnessed events of legend. Tales of ghosts living on the property are alive and well in the area, lending an air of intrigue to this hauntingly beautiful property.

In the heart of the Douro, on the banks of the Távora (a tributary of the Douro), lies the beautiful Mosteiro Novo De São Pedro Das Aguias monastery in the middle of the vineyards. This beautiful monastery built by Cistercienzer monks has been restored to its full glory and splendor by the current owner of the Quinta do Convento as the wine domain is officially called. It concerns the couple Landanger (he is Frenchman, she Portuguese) from Burgundy, and also the owners of the famous Domaine de La Pousse d'Or from Volnay.

Patrick Landanger, an engineer from Chaumont, who owned a factory of titanium hips and knees, bought La Pousse d'Or in 1997 and Quinta do Convento in 2005. In 2009, the restoration of the monastery was completed and the whole new cuverie ready.

Patrick Landanger is no longer the owner of the domain. It is now in the hands of a Candees company.

In addition to almost 100 hectares of forest, including olive trees for the production of olive oil, the estate covers forty-seven hectares of vineyards, planted with grape varieties commonly used in the port area (Touriga Nacional, Francesca, Tinta Roriz and Barroca for red wine and port and Malvasia Fina, Gouveio and Viosinho for the white postage).

The production of port wine is extremely labor intensive because everything has to be done manually on the steep slopes in the Douro. Vintage port is only made in the best years and this is on average 3 times in 10 years. At Senhora do Convento this was 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2009.