Fonseca

Producer Directory

History

In 1978 Fonseca acquired Quinta do Panascal, a substantial grade A property located in the spectacularly beautiful Tavora Valley. Only 71 of its 240 acres are planted, supporting 100,000 vines which produce 1.562 hectolitres of wine annually.

Adjacent vineyards produce another 196 hectolitres. Panascal undertook an ambitious planting programme from 1987 to 1995, and is now one of the largest Quinta's in the Douro Valley. The majority of Bin Number 27, Fonseca's leading brand, is produced from Panascal.

A Qunita de Panascal Vintage port is produced only when a general Fonseca declaration is not made, as this wine forms the backbone of a Fonseca Vintage port blend. The decision to bottle a Quinta de Panascal vintage is taken when the wine is judged to be of exceptional quality. Like a Fonseca vintage port the wine spends two years ageing in wooden casks before being bottled. However, the wine is not released immediately after it is bottled, but left to mature in Fonseca's cellar in Villa Nova de Gaia until it is ready for drinking normally after 10 years.

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