We are committed to organic farming very seriously, which means not using chemically synthesised products, while employing careful crop management methods. It means that we do not use products of chemical synthesis and instead, we adhere to subtle cultivation practices.
Here, at Tapada de Coelheiros, we use natural-based products such as milk, seaweed extracts, and plant extracts to enhance the resilience of the flora, promoting its growth rather than depleting it.
We focus on restoring and enhancing soil fertility so that its microbial life (bacteria and fungi that compose it) can maintain their natural processes, truly acting as healers of the land. We are merely facilitators of these processes.
We monitor water via water meters, irrigation managed with soil probes, and our own weather station.
Our solar park supplies us with clean energy. For example, the different drinking fountains throughout the estate function autonomously via photovoltaic solar panels. Throughout the property, various water troughs, for instance, operate autonomously through photovoltaic solar panels.
Nature collaborates with us if we let it. To that end, we have animal shelters that complement our agricultural work. Throughout the estate, there are perches for birds of prey and several nests for small birds and bats. This is done to protect and monitor them, as they help us control pests.
Our flock consists of more than 1300 lambs, which graze in the cork oak forests, fertilize the soil, and maintain the right balance of plant cover.
Our coper cover consists of different floral components, both spontaneous and seeded. It enhances soil fertility through the diversity of microorganisms associated with the root complex of the vegetation cover, while also increasing natural drainage and aeration capacity, preventing erosion.
They allow the free movement of biodiversity throughout all areas of Tapada de Coelheiros, among different crops. With riparian galleries (vegetation along watercourses), we protect the water lines and enhance existing biodiversity.
We believe that conventional tillage damages the richness of the soil. Therefore, we choose to use direct seeding, thereby contributing to the improvement of soil fertility and health in our meadows.
We could call them homemade remedies that have stood the test of time. We prepare biodynamic solutions, plant extracts, and fern tea that are applied in the vineyard to introduce crucial microorganisms and enhance its health.
Our soils are of granitic origin with various textures, and feature gentle slopes. The montado surrounds us, making up 650 of the almost estate’s 800 hectares. The mosaic of crops is nourished by a network of small streams and watercourses. It is the source of freshness, maintaining moderate temperatures and creating ideal conditions for the parallel ecosystems (forests and groves) that exist here.
The “less is more” maxim is taken very seriously in the winery. The main focus is on manual labour, the quality of the oak and respect for how long different things take. Employing small-scale production, there are single-plot wines and others bottle-aged for years. The grapes are treated with the utmost respect and care, then processed with minimal use of technology. Ageing wine in oak takes time and patience – and this dedication can be felt in the wines.
There are nine vineyards, divided into 38 plots: Leonilde, Choupal, Monte, Alto, Taco, Cabido, Sobreira de Cima, Sobreira de Baixo and Ribeira. Apart from all being certified as organic, they’re all unique. We have vineyards that were planted four decades ago, while others are just months old. All soils are granite origin, others quartz based. There are 53 disperse hectares, 60% of which are non-irrigated. We prioritise indigenous grape varieties, the best acidity levels or the lowest alcohol content.
There are several groves in Tapada de Coelheiros, the oldest being in its thirties. Different walnut varieties are produced in different groves.
Planted in two hectares of fertile soil, the olive grove is around 60 years old. Traditionally spaced close, so that canopies touch one another, while protecting the soil with their extensive shade.
There are three clusters of stone pines. Pinhal do Alto stands out and its name derives from is localization on the hill across the Alto vineyards.
The oak forest (called ‘Montado’) inspires all the estate’s crops and maybe, for that reason, the most important of all. There are 650 hectares of cork oaks (70%) and holm oaks (30%) in this multi-faceted system. The montado, which is a unique type of agroforestry, plays a vital role in carbon sequestration and creates a virtually perfect system.
Tapada de Coelheiros
7040–202 Igrejinha x Portugal
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