2017 · Dona Maria Red

Dona Maria is a family-owned Alentejo estate based at Quinta do Carmo in Estremoz, where wine has been produced for more than 150 years. Julio Bastos reclaimed the project after a former partnership with Domaines Barons de Rothschild and continues to lead the estate, with oenologist Sandra Gonçalves overseeing winemaking and oak ageing. Its vineyards are dry-farmed on clay-limestone soils with good water retention, at approximately 450 metres, where warm days and cool nights support gradual maturation. The approach is low-input and terroir-focused, with no irrigation. Modern winery equipment works alongside traditional marble lagares, where some wines are still made by foot treading. The Bastos family’s wines combine this historic setting and traditional practice with contemporary cellar technology.