Casa Ferreirinha was the first Douro producer dedicated entirely to making fine Douro table wines rather than Port. Its origins date back to 1952 when, after much experimentation and against the wishes of the Ferreira board at the time, Fernando Nicolau de Almeida produced the first vintage of Barca Velha. Then technical director of Ferreira Port, he believed in the huge potential of the Douro Superior to produce still wines with the ageing potential of Vintage Port. Restraining the Douro’s natural exuberance and preserving freshness to endow the wine with ageability was crucial. Nicolau de Almeida achieved this by blending fruit sourced from the highest vineyards in the Douro Superior, something which remains the cornerstone of the Barca Velha winemaking philosophy. Today, winemaker Luís Sottomayor continues to make Barca Velha as a blend of different sites in the Douro Superior, each bringing a different component - intensity, perfume, acidity, tannin structure etc. - to the blend. Think of it as Portugal’s version of Penfolds Grange.

Quinta da Leda is Casa Ferreirinha’s flagship estate and is the main source of grapes for Barca-Velha, when it is made. Located in the far eastern reaches of the Douro Superior, just 12 kilometres from the Spanish border, the estate lies on the south bank of the Douro River and covers over 200 hectares, 170 of which are under vine. Rolling hills at altitudes of between 120 to 280 metres above sea level result in many different aspects and microclimates, providing Luís Sottomayor with a myriad of blending options. First planted in 1979, the key to Barca Velha’s quality is the precision viticulture practiced at Quinta da Leda and the surrounding vineyards to ensure that each grape variety that forms part of the blend - Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão - is matched to the plot best suited to ensuring it achieves optimum ripeness.

With only 21 vintages now declared since it was first produced in 1952, Barca Velha is Portugal’s most illustrious wine.
 
Head Winemaker Luís Sottomayor has only declared 5 Barca Velha vintages in his 20-year tenure.