La Rosa was among the first estates in the Douro Valley to welcome guests. Over thirty years ago, several rustic houses were converted into accommodations, allowing visitors to stay amidst some of the region’s finest vines. The lodgings are simple, but the views are magnificent. Across the river, olive groves and vineyards ascend a steep hill. Below, the river flows without a care, its green waters sparkling in the sunlight like diamonds set in green turquoise. 

In the morning, the sun casts a golden glow over the vines, gently evaporating the dew and steadily raising the temperature. This process helps maintain the freshness of the grapes, which contributes to the wine’s unique character.

We wake up to the sounds of boats gliding on the river and roosters singing, accompanied by a choir of birds. It’s wonderful to sit in the shade and enjoy the stunning landscape. The terrace of the breakfast room offers one of the best views in the Douro Valley.

At the turn of the 20^th century, the estate was known as Quinta das Bateiras and belonged to António Reis, a local doctor. The Feuerheards, a family of German port shippers, bought the quinta as a christening present for their granddaughter Claire. Her father renamed it La Rosa after a successful brand of sherry his company had launched. He used the estate’s grapes to make port under the Feuerheard label.

In 1935, the Feuerheard shipping company went bankrupt, but Claire kept the estate because it was her personal property. When Claire divorced in 1946, she moved to La Rosa and lived there until she died in 1972. The beauty of the place compensated for the challenges of running an estate that was always in need of maintenance and repairs. To make up for the remote location, Claire hosted lively house parties for visitors and neighbors.

When, in 1988, Sophie Bergqvist, Claire’s granddaughter, took over the business with her father, the estate was in disrepair. Sophie started making port under the La Rosa name. In 1991, she enlisted David Baverstock, a famous enologist, to make one of the first Douro table wines. Since then, the fame of the wines has continued to grow. In 2002, another renowned enologist, Jorge Moreira, took over wine-making at La Rosa. Prizes and accolades continue to accumulate. If Claire were alive today, she would undoubtedly throw a grand party to celebrate the success of La Rosa.

Quinta de La Rosa, situated near Pinhão, is easily recognizable by its main entrance adorned with wooden statues of the eagles featured on the family crest. Click here for their website.