Quinta de Marrocos, unique Portuguese wines from the Douro Valley
The vineyards of Quinta de Marrocos stretch up to 180 m above sea level on terraces supported by stone walls. The location in the north is one of the key points for smooth ripening of the grapes: if the altitude gives rise to high temperatures, the river breeze cools the vineyards at night. All work is done by hand, this is a centuries-old heritage that has been preserved taking into account the age of the varieties and the quality of the grapes. This type of vineyard is characterized by low yields without irrigation on shale soils with low fertility and slightly acidic pH. Over the years, the vineyards have acquired a natural balance: "they produce what they can, not what they want." With a vines age of over 100 years and a density of over 8000 plants per hectare. More than 50 noble and ancient Douro grape varieties coexist here. Guarded by its emblematic twin trees, the Quinta de Marrocos is one of the oldest Quintas in the Douro. It is located on the left bank of the Douro River, in Baishu Korgo, from where the demarcated port wine region entered
Interview on the Yellow Road with the co-owner of the winery Quinta de Marrocos (Marketing and Sales Director) Catarina Sequeira
1 - Why does your winery have such an unusual name “Quinta de Marrocos"?
In fact, a completely unusual name! The Quinta de Marrocos, one of the oldest in the Demarcated Region of the Douro, provides excellent views over the River Douro and contact with the marcos de feitoria, the solid granite pillars that were set up in 1757 to demarcate the region and which still stand there. The name comes from a Franciscan monastery called Marrocos, from the 17th century. At that time they used to say, cross the river, from North to the South in order to find some shelter amongst the Franciscan’s, food, work, and new opportunities were available in the place of Marrocos. As soon as it became a farm and due to the all history behind, the name was kept. In very old maps you can find “Lugar de Marrocos” which means “Place of Marrocos”.
2 - Please tell us a little about yourself..
My name is Catarina Galante Correia de Sequeira, I am graduated in Economics, at the Catolica Lisbon School of Business & Economics. As I have always enjoyed sales after I have done executive training in Marketing and Sales. I am the youngest daughter of the Correia de Sequeira's, lively and passionate about the Douro such as my mother Maria Elisa Galante. Soon after graduating, I´ve started working for one of the main Portuguese telecommunication companies, in the Mass Business Department for the team management and development of services to clients. But when my mother fell ill the Douro call became stronger. An enthusiastic advocate of the Golddrink project, I have decided to leave my Lisbon career to devote full time to the family business in the Douro. Here you can find me on the busy schedules of managing the Quintas on the wine and tourism sector and on free time, taking care of horses and training my horse riding skills.
Me and Rita (Rita Sequeira), are leading this project of Golddrink… running the properties of the Family and our wines, Quinta de Marrocos, Sequeirinha and Quinta de Vale de Sapos.
3 - A very simple question: what is your favorite wine?
All my wines, as my mother, Maria Elisa dos Santos Galante, an entrepreneur, used to say about the love to each of her children! We are 4, two boys and 2 girls, and she used to say, ``each of you are as my hand fingers, all different but all mine”. So I see the wines in the same perspective! All different, all mine, all favorite for each own personality, for their aromas, flavor's, colors! Each wine allows us different experiences, feelings, moments. Of course there is sometimes one or other that surprises more, but in the end….the feeling is all different, all part of me!
4 - How to learn to understand fortified wines, like Porto? Are there any rules?
Nowadays the institute of Douro and Port Wines, is developing this part, in other words, the Port wine was a closed sector but nowadays there is a lot of information available for the more curious about Ports. Rules…we would have many lines to write about it! Yes, of course there are many rules, which concerns the production, the vineyards, the aging, the labels…a infinity of rules we must obey, but which I agree so we continue to be a Region with such an important recognition.
5 - Quinta de Marrocos is a family winery. Very interesting (just curious) - how much does your family (César Augusto Correia de Sequeira, Rita Sequeira and Catarina Sequeira) drink in good weather per week? Is it difficult to make wine and taste it all the time?
Good or bad weather doesn’t influence the quantity of wine we drink! Cold weather asks for one style, warm weather for another one! Actually due to the number of tasks, we daily have we can't drink too much on lunch time. But me and Rita, we do many tastings mainly in the morning, every month. Rita is the winemaker, she would be the best person to speak about it, but my feeling is that making wine is not the most difficult part! What is really hard is to make the wine as you need, as you wish, with the characteristics that are necessary. When you make wine, you cannot do it, thinking about your preferences only, but thinking to the countries you sell too, to the public who you want to be your buyers! There are many things to have in mind, and sometimes joining all those details is what makes the wine process so difficult and I would risk to apply it to art! Transforming the grapes in such a nectar!
6 - Do you have any awards that you are proud of?
All of them, make us proud! It’s a way of feeling that our work is recognized. Sometimes we regret that the budget doesn’t allow us to participate even in more competitions! But all must be balanced!
7 - If it's not a secret, share your plans for the future
We all have our secrets and strategies and should not all be revealed…but at the same time we have no fear to share our plans, because the success is not on only on the strategy, but on the people who carry on with those goals! And we are not modest, we believe in our capacities, so we plan to grow, to maintain the essence of our wines and see them being sold overseas and the essence of our tourism concept, which lead us to what we are today, how people know us!
8 - List, if possible, a set (gift box) of three or four of your own wines(red and white), which, in your opinion, can decorate the "poster" of your farm.
Not a easy question! QMarrocos Red Reserve, Colheita Red Port from 2000; White Tears Port; Vintage Port 2018; Tawny Port 30 years old;
10 - You can offer the most beautiful view of the vineyards or the surrounding landscape. May I ask you to take one or two photos of your favorite places?
In fact, one of our properties, Quinta de Marrocos, is placed in one of most unique places in the Douro Valley. 100% turned to the Douro River.
11- What is your choice for "Yellow Road"?
What comes to my mind…is our White Port…This golden White Port takes us to the estate’s orchards. Patiently aged in ancient barrels, it reveals exquisite aromas of plums and notes of honey, quince and saffron. Its velvety sweetness makes it perfect either to start or end the family meals.
12 - The westernmost point of the European part of the Yellow Road will naturally be in Portugal, where there will be a symbolic line (finish) of the European part. Is participation in this micro-project interesting for you (installation of a sign, sculpture, etс.)
I'll write in more detail at the end of this letter .It would be an honor for us to have your sculpture to be admired by all the guests from all over the world and share the story behind.
Sergey Evtuhov,
author of the "Yellow Road" project
