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Our Legacy
The Quinta do Vale Meão estate lies on a sharp bend of the Douro River in the Vila Nova de Foz Côa region of Douro Superior. The 740-acre property was acquired in 1877 by Doña Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, and has been farmed by her descendants ever since.
Doña Antónia fell in love with the beauty of Quinta do Vale Meão (QVM) and was the first of her family to foresee the potential to make great wines. Future generations would uncover an extraordinary secret: An ancient fault line divides the estate into three distinct soil types — schist, gravel and alluvial. Each impart different characteristics; blended together, this singular terroir accounts for the distinctive character that makes QVM wines some of the most coveted in the Douro Valley.
In the 1970s, Doña Antónia’s descendant, Francisco Javier de Olazabal, assumed management of the estate. Son Francisco “Xito” Olazabal was one of the original “Douro Boys,” a new guard of young winemakers who have brought enormous recognition to the Douro Valley and Portuguese table wines in general.
In 1998, Francisco and his children Francisco (known as “Xito”), Luísa and Jaime became the sole owners of the Quinta do Vale Meão estate. The younger Francisco manages all winemaking and production and shares his family’s enthusiasm and vision of excellence in every harvest.
Quinta do Vale Meão wines balance tradition with innovation, infused with a pioneering spirit that has been handed down for generations. Doña Antónia’s legacy is a continuing source of inspiration and has shaped Quinta do Vale Meão as one of Portugal’s premier wine estates.
