Quinta do Sobral: A Legacy of Passion and Tradition

The estate is located in the most famous land of the Dão Wine region, Santar, the history of Quinta do Sobral would make for a good book, maybe two ... and it is still being written by the three generations that it crosses.

Any one who today knows the geographical limits of Quinta do Sobral, does not imagine that everything began by a small parcel denominated by the present owners as "The Old Sobral".

Now it is in the old Sobral that Cristina Simões, daughter of the owner and currently dedicated exclusively to the Quinta, grew up with her grandparents, where she learn´t how to look after the land, where she plaid and especially where she discovered love. with lovepride of his mouth but also of his heart, the love for Santar.

It is for the sake of his daughter that Nelson Simões, the son of shepherds and a man who rises upward in life, emigrating still young to Germany, sees in Old Sobral what we now call Quinta do Sobral, and what we can now call but in that time of madness, he began to invest in the acquisition of land surrounding his Old Sobral with a single purpose, to plant, to treat and to frutify vineyards, so that he could have Santar Wine in sufficient quantity to surround himself with his family in your beloved country.

He begins his dream with sacrifice in 1997, a sacrifice that is palpable only by hearing the stories that Old Nelson has to offer us in an afternoon at his side, stories of vision, risk, love and reward.

Beginning the annexation of land to his Velho Sobral, he also started the reconstitution of old vineyards with new plantations and builds his cellar already in the year 2002, constantly evolving the technology and space at his service, and the investment in it allows him to cover a single complex wine-making area, stage cellars, laboratories, bottling line, visiting space, restaurant for events, test rooms, offices and of course, shop with all the products of the House.

All this in a space where the granite walls, the ancient tunnels and the iron gates, together with a stunning landscape, give it the character, tradition and due eloquence.

Quinta do Sobral currently has 16 hectares of vineyard in production and more than 20 hectares of forest, fundamental for the Dão Wine terroir.

Returning to the sacrifices and betting on this project, Cristina Simões, professor of profession, and Jorge Loureiro, hotel manager of a 5 star complex in England, form a passionate couple with common ideas. They embrace the project of Nelson Simões and fulfill their dream, leave behind their perfectly sedimented careers, for the family, for the love and for the belief of their father and father-in-law respectively

This entry into the project gives a new direction and encouragement, aiming to position Quinta do Sobral as a benchmark in the national wine panorama, with the insertion of know-how, new agricultural management methods and a close attention to the commercial area.

So we came to the turning point at Quinta do Sobral, and do not think that it was Cristina and Jorge's arrival to the project, no, it was precisely the arrival in the world of its most precious fruit, Mary, daughter, granddaughter and the soul of Quinta do Sobral.

Exuberant words and too felt we can think, but once again the proof that his arrival is not only the enormous love that he enjoys, was the fact that the project ceased to be thought to 20 years and to be thought to 50 years , is therefore a paradigm shift.

Change is fundamental for all the current decision-making that bear weight in the future, knowing today the Simões family that their work of yesterday and today, will continue in his Maria, the granddaughter, who at 4 years prohibited the grandfather from starting a small old vines to plant new vines, taking possession of them, which today are the stage of production of the most awarded and prestigious Quinta do Sobral wine, Vinha da Neta of course.

This family is proof that undertaking requires much personal sacrifice for the common benefit, is proof that love breaks de facto barriers, is proof that it is possible to live today with thought in tomorrow, even knowing that we will not be present, is the proof that believing gives work, but also unbridled pride, is proof that it is worthwhile to evolve, to learn and to share, deep down, this family is proof that success and humility can go hand in hand.

And last but not least, we will continue to undertake, and new projects are coming, but these, of course, will be Maria Simões, Neta, to divulge.