Quinta dos Murcas Assobio Branco Esporao Portugal

Bottle notes

Quinta dos Murcas Assobio Branco made by Esporao in Portugal has intense lemon fresh aromas and flavours and a lingering taste.

Tasting notes

Quinta dos Murcas Assobio Branco – has intense fresh aromas dominated by citrus fruits, tropical fruits and white pulp fruits. In the mouth its acidity stands out, which together with its volume and texture give it a long and refreshing finish.  Respecting the wine tradition of the oldest demarcated region in the world, these wines are produced based on their native varieties. Versatile and gastronomic, they embody the cooler side of the Douro.

Near one of the boundaries of Quinta dos Murças, we find steep slopes forming a valley. In this spot, mostly facing north, more protected from the sun, when the wind passes it is heard to whistle (or “assobiar” in Portuguese.) The Assobio range comes from vineyards such as those found there, from plots with unique characteristics, at higher altitudes. Respecting the wine tradition of the oldest demarcated region in the world, these wines are produced based on their native varieties. Versatile and gastronomic, they embody the cooler side of the Douro, the average vine age is 15 to 20 years.

Assobio comes from vineyards such as these, from plots boasting unique characteristics and planted at higher altitudes. The product of the region’s most traditional grape varieties, our fresh and versatile red, white and rosé Assobios are distinctly gastronomic wines. It is made from  Verdelho, Gouveio, Viosinho, Rabigato, Códega do Larinho which are picked by hand, sorted then pressed followed by alcoholic fermentation with controlled temperatures (12º to 14ºC) and aging in stainless steel vats on its lees

The producer

Dating back to 1714, Quinta dos Murças is located in northern Portugal, in the Cima-Corgo sub-region of the Douro Valley, the oldest DOC region in the world.

The Quinta dos Murças estate is situated on the right bank of the river, between the towns of Régua and Pinhão, nearly 2 hours due east of Porto. Stretching over 3.2km along the riverfront, mainly with southern exposure, the estate encompasses a total of 155ha, of which 48ha are covered by vineyards planted with indigenous grape varieties.

Quinta dos Murças’s unique estate is characterised by its 8 diverse terroirs, which are distinguished by different altitudes, exposures, variations of schist soils and vertical vineyards. In addition to the vineyards, the olive, orange and almond trees and the surrounding forest support biodiversity and promote the balance of the local ecosystem.

In 1947, the estate pioneered the first vertical vineyard planting in the Douro region and today, 82% of the estate vineyards are positioned vertically, on steep slopes.

The Quinta dos Murças team believe that vertical vineyards produce wines that better express terroir due to a number of reasons: Planting density (the number of plants per ha) is higher with more competition between plants, which means that the roots burrow deeper, leading to greater expression of soil types. Moreover, sun exposure is more uniform, as there is no shadow from the slope, nor the vine itself. There is also greater aeration, which helps prevent disease and less erosion, increasing the preservation of terroir.

Quinta dos Murças wines benefit from their unique location bordering 2 of the Douro’s sub-regions: Baixo Corgo’s cooler, rainier climate imparts freshness and acidity to the grapes, while they obtain concentration and structure from Cima Corgo’s warmer temperatures, in combination with 3.2km river bank and 5 water springs, resulting in elegant, terroir-driven wines.

As of 2021, all Quinta dos Murças wines are certified organic.

Food pairing

This wine is delicious as an aperitif.