Wines & Winemakers - Newsletter

OPEN NOTE

This newsletter is dedicated to the wine region located in the very heart of Portugal - Tejo!

Viticulture has deep roots in Tejo and it is heralded as one of the oldest wine producing regions in the country.
Learn more about the Tejo region and discover our Tejo wines, produced by Companhia das Lezírias!

Also take a look at the awards achieved on IWC 2017 - Tranche 2!

SPOTLIGHT

TEJO

A short drive from Lisbon, you will find Tejo region. Pulsing with a rich heritage, Tejo claims a bounty of historical treasures scanning the pages of time. Tejo is known as the land of vineyards, olive groves, cork forests, Mertolenga cattle, and the famous Lusitano horses.

Formerly known as Ribatejo, since 2009 the wine region has now simply been called Tejo, a tribute to the river Tejo (Tagus in English) that has defined its landscape and climate for centuries.

Approximately 30 miles north of Lisbon, the wine region is located in central Portugal and nestled between the Alentejo region to the south and the Lisboa region to the north.

Vineyards have graced the banks of the Tejo River since Roman times, and the influence of past grape-growing cultures is evident in the many architectural relics dotting the landscape.

And the terroir of the region is deeply defined by the very nature of the Tejo River.

The river's breadth and strength elementally impacts the soil and climate of the region, producing three distinct wine-producing zones:

Bairro - north of the river - comprised of rolling hills and sweeping plains rich with limestone and clay soils
Charneca - south of the river - dry, flat area marked by poor, sandy soils that force the vines to struggle and in turn produce more complex fruit. In this zone, higher temperatures compel the grapes to mature faster than in the rest of the Tejo region
Campo - lies along the very edges of the Tejo riverbanks - more maritime climate, moderating the temperatures and helping to contribute to the fruitiness, acidity and freshness in the wines

Tejo’s native red grapes include Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Castelão and Aragonês. The aromatic Fernão Pires and the lively Arinto produce some of the region’s most refreshing white wines.

These indigenous grapes thrive in the Tejo region’s warm climate and complex soils, while retaining high natural acidity, to produce balanced wines with bright fruit characteristics.

Companhia das Lezírias, founded in 1836, has been producing its own exceptional wines for over 100 years, respecting both tradition and advanced winemaking technologies.

From the selection and preparation of the sandy soils in the vicinity of the beautiful and rich Tejo basin to the selection and planting of the best varieties for the region, this winery is dedicated to producing the best blends of wines for the most demanding palates.

Take a look at our Tejo wines produced by Companhia das Lezírias:

Discover Tejo!

OTHER NEWS

IWC 2017 RESULTS ARE NOW LIVE!

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) owned by William Reed Business Media is now in its 34th year. The IWC is accepted as the world's finest and most meticulously judged wine competition which assesses every wine blind and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Throughout the rigorous judging processes, each medal-winning wine is tasted on three separate occasions by at least 10 different judges and awards include medals (Trophy, Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Commended and Great Value awards.

The results of the IWC 2017 Tranche 2 are now live.

SILVER MEDAL