Casa da Passarella Villa Oliveira Encruzado 2019 White

The first brand by Casa da Passarella, Villa Oliveira was originally born more than 100 ago. To pay a faithful homage to our history, we have decided to produce these extremely limited editions. It originates from hand-picked 100% Encruzado grapes. The beginning of the fermentation process is made in grape skin contact with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks. The pressing of the grapes is made in the middle of the fermentation process, when the grape must is kept in East oak barrels (1/3 new barrels, 2/3 used barrels), where the fermentation process finishes and the ageing occurs for nine months (with three months battonage). With a rigorously limited edition of 2000 bottles from Encruzado grapes originated from a 40-year-old vineyard, we decided to revisit the traditional white wine making process in Casa da Passarella, which led us to discover that in the past white wines were fermented in grape skin contact – as it happens with the red ones. A thorough historical research has reinforced our belief and commitment to this method, whose result is now quite clear.