Quinta Vale Dona Maria - Discover Award-Winning Douro Wines

Fine Port wines and characterful red wines have long been hallmarks of Quinta Vale D. Maria in the Douro Valley, consistently receiving awards. Recently, the Quinta Vale D. Maria Vinha da Francisca Red 2018 was honored as Best Wine of the Year, also winning Best Red Wine (Blend). At the International Wine Challenge, this red wine was awarded silver. The creators of Quinta Vale D. Maria also received 96 points from Parker for their Quinta Vale D. Maria Douro 2009 Tinto, and their Quinta Vale D. Maria Douro Red 2013 made it onto the TOP 100 Wine Spectator List of 2016.

A Historic Family Estate with Exceptional Wines

The list of successful wines from this historic family estate in the heart of the Douro Valley, dedicated for centuries to producing fine Ports and top-tier Douro wines, continues to grow. The award-winning Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vinha da Francisca is named after the youngest wine expert in the van Zeller family, Francisca, who manages the estate alongside her family in the 15th generation.

The Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vinha da Francisca: A Taste Sensation

This red Douro wine, named after the youngest winemaker in the clan, is created using traditional foot stomping methods and features concentrated flavors of dark chocolate-dipped, deep red cherries. The craftsmanship comes from both Francisca van Zeller and her father Christiano, who have cultivated indigenous grape varieties such as Tinta Francisca, Touriga Franca, Sousão, Rufete, and Touriga Nacional in the family vineyard, laying the foundation for a successful wine known for its distinct freshness, incredible concentration, and slate minerality.

28 Regional Varieties Across Over 30 Hectares of Vineyards

Quinta Vale D. Maria has been in the possession of the van Zeller family for over 250 years, having been lovingly restored by Christiano, one of Portugal's leading wine experts. He planted previously neglected mixed plots in the historic vineyards mainly with red varieties, but also with white grapes like Côdega de Larinho and Rabigato. Overall, there are over 28 regional varieties cultivated on about 30 hectares atop a sunny hill in the Alto Douro.

A Passion for Wine

As a member of one of Portugal's renowned winemaking dynasties in the Douro Valley, tracing back to the 18th century, Francisca van Zeller now serves as brand manager of Quinta Vale D. Maria, sharing her passion for wine with her father, Cristiano van Zeller, who helped found the famous Douro Boys.

A Young Winemaker with an Educational Background

However, the young winemaker Francisca van Zeller did not immediately follow in her father’s illustrious footsteps. She first studied History in London and later earned a degree in Journalism at Universidad San Pablo-CEU. She worked in various roles outside of her famous family for four years before returning to her roots. In 2015, she completed a graduate program at Universidad Católica Portuguesa in Viticulture and Oenology and has since worked as Export Manager and Marketing Specialist at Quinta Vale D. Maria.

Visionary, Creator, and Ambassador

As a visionary, creator, and ambassador, Francisca van Zeller is not only responsible for developing and implementing marketing and sales strategies for Quinta but is also involved in the winemaking process, especially in defining the final products. She benefits from her rich heritage. The picturesque Quinta Vale D. Maria has stood since 1868 high above the Douro, surrounded by vineyards in a highly regarded terroir in the famed wine region of northeastern Portugal, where grapes for the family’s selected red wines have been grown at altitudes up to 600 meters for generations.

Only the Best Grapes Made into Wine

The team at Quinta Vale D. Maria under Francisca van Zeller emphasizes excellent vineyard management. The grapes displaying mineral notes are meticulously selected for quality; only the ripest and finest grapes are processed in the cellar. Here, the grapes are traditionally processed. After harvesting, all grapes are foot-stomped in traditional “Lagares” for one to three days. The must is then fermented in various barrels at temperatures between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius for seven to ten days. After fermentation, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels of 225 and 300 liters. The result is refined, concentrated, simultaneously fresh and dry red wines known for their intense fruit aromas and mineral eccentricity, for which Quinta Vale D. Maria is famous. The house specialty also includes beautifully blended cuvées made from vines over 80 years old from different vineyard plots.

Promoting Portuguese Wines Worldwide

Following in her father Cristiano van Zeller's footsteps, who not only continued the family’s centuries-old winemaking tradition but also founded the "Douro Boys" association of successful winemakers for better marketing, Francisca van Zeller has now established an organization called "D'Uva - Portugal Wine Girls". Members of D'Uva are leading female winemakers, vineyard owners, and marketing and sales managers dedicated to making Portuguese wines known around the world.

Generations of Passion for Viticulture

Quinta Vale D. Maria now belongs to the Aveleda group, a leading Vinho Verde producer owned by Francisca van Zeller's cousins Martim and António Guedes. Aveleda has also been in the hands of the Guedes family for five generations since its inception in 1870, committed to sustainable practices and biodiversity.

The group also includes renowned brands such as Aveleda, Adega Velha, Quinta D'Aguieira Follies, and Casal Garcia. They are active in the Douro, Vinho Verde, and Bairrada wine regions, recognized as the largest producer and exporter of Vinho Verde in Portugal, with exports to over 80 countries worldwide.

A Success Team with Coveted Awards

As part of a larger whole, wine expert Cristiano van Zeller continues to be General Manager of Quinta Vale D. Maria, with Francisca van Zeller overseeing brand management and Head Winemaker Joana Pinhão adding unique expression to the wines of Quinta Vale D. Maria. A success team that surely will continue to win the coveted awards of the "Portugal Wine Trophy".