Terroir
Resende belongs to the Baião sub-region, recognized in 1999, and differs from the other sub-regions of the Vinho Verde Demarcated Region in that it is more closely linked to the mountainous regions.
This sub-region has a drier, more continental climate, which produces wines with greater structure, complexity, and body, but which retain the typical freshness of Vinho Verde wines.
Vale Mercê is located on the south bank of the Douro River, in Resende, which in turn stands out from the rest of the Baião sub-region, as it forms the bridge between the Vinho Verde Demarcated Region and the Douro Demarcated Region.
The region
This region has altitudes ranging from 40 to 650 meters above sea level, and therefore has some continental influence, which is normally characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, rainy winters.
In Resende, the soils are predominantly granitic with a distinguishing feature that at low altitudes, we have some schist influence, which makes this area excellent for grapes with greater structure, body, complexity, and excellent phenolic ripeness, while still maintaining the freshness that so characterizes Vinho Verde wines.
Here we like to preserve the richest aspects of this region, which is why we use our native white grape varieties such as Loureiro, Fernão Pires, Alvarinho, Trajadura, Arinto, and Avesso, but with greater emphasis on Arinto and Avesso, which are the leading grape varieties in the Resende region, without forgetting our red grape varieties Touriga Nacional and Vinhão.
Vineyards
The Vale Mercê vineyards located in Resende are planted on the south bank of the Douro River in granitic soil with a slight schist influence, on terraces. These vineyards are trained in a unilateral cordon system and are recent, being three years old. Here we have Fernão Pires and Arinto grape varieties.
These vineyards are grassed over to provide greater protection for the soil, but also for sustainability, which is very much in vogue today. We have a policy that is very focused on sustainability and therefore on minimal intervention, sometimes trying to use more ecological practices.
In the vineyards of our local producers, we find a huge variety of grape varieties at different altitudes, which is important for biodiversity, helping to resist pests and diseases. In addition, this allows us to produce wines with much more structure.
It is common in Resende to find old vineyards, in small plots, which is a characteristic that sets us apart from the rest of the Vinho Verde region.
