| Region of production: | Douro |
| Winery Location: | Vila Nova de Gaia |
| Year Established: | 1715 |
Vineyard Holdings
- Quinta do Noval (145 ha): Grade A vineyard located in Cima Corgo, ranging in altitude from 100 to 500 meters.
- Nacional (2 ha): A small plot within Quinta do Noval planted with ungrafted vines. Average of 40-year-old vines.
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Silval Vintage Ruby: Inaugural vintage 1931.
- Nacional Vintage Ruby: About 200 to 300 cases produced. Inaugural vintage 1931.
Summary
Located just north of the town of Pinhão, Quinta do Noval is the only house to share the name of its vineyard. The Vintage Ruby Nacional is highly sought after worldwide, with miniscule production commanding extraordinary prices. Under previous ownership, the Nacional was released frequently, but the estate returned to production only in outstanding vintages following the purchase by AXA in 1993. The estate is noted for maintaining its plot of ungrafted vines but is primarily known for pioneering late-bottled Vintage Port and blended Tawny Port. Noval claims to be the first house in many categories, including the first LBV Port in 1958. Noval began experimenting with table wines in 2004.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Vineyards are still terraced and replanted based on variety. The house has pioneered this type of replanting, moving away from more traditional field blend planting methods. Fruit is entirely hand-harvested and then crushed by foot and robotic treaders (the Nacional is entirely foot trodden) in granite lagares before fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Noval ages its Port at the estate in Douro.
Producer Website: Quinta do Noval