Casa de Mouraz is a project created by António Ribeiro and Sara Dionísio, who left their jobs in Lisbon and immersed themselves in what has become a family adventure. Sustainable viticulture and authentic winemaking located in Dão, a region settled up against de Serra de Estrela mountains on one side, and the Atlantic ocean on the other. The region is known for its moderate climate, receiving cool air from the mountains and the ocean, often with thermal winds during the summer. Mouraz, situated in the heart of Dão region, is António’s birth place, where his family has farmed vineyards in a holistic and ecological way for many generations.
The farm is spread out over several plots surrounding the village of Mouraz and consist of granite and clay soils and altitudes ranging from 140 to 400 meters. All the vineyards that are part of Casa de Mouraz have received Organic certification in 1997. In 2006 Casa de Mouraz began working with Biodynamic preparations and practices and are now converting to the ‘Demeter’ certification. In the cellar, the vinification is done separately for each plot, usually planted with many different varieties, seeking for the essence of each terroir.
Experimenting outside of Dão
Casa de Mouraz is split up into a couple different labels. Using the ‘Casa de Mouraz’ name for the wines the made in Dão, ‘Planet Mouraz’ for their experimental wines and in 2009 António and Sara established the ‘António Lopes Ribeiro’ project, cultivating vineyards and making wines outside of Dão. Currently consisting of wines from the Douro and Vinho Verde Regions.
In 2017 they created their ‘Planet Mouraz’ project. The idea was to make wines that are out of the box, experimental wines from very old and abandoned vineyards and grapes, without added sulfites and with minimal intervention. With ‘Planet Mouraz’ António and Sara pioneered the idea of using dried chestnut flower or herbal chestnut flower tea, as a natural alternative to sulfite to stabilize the wine.
Among the vines
The landscape and terroir is a mix of old and new vineyards coexisting with the pine, oak, chestnut and cork trees in a wild forest. Unfortunately in 2017 big wildfires plagued the region and destroyed much of Dão’s forest, vineyards and peoples homes. Some of the vineyards from Casa de Mouraz, a part of the winery and even the house António was born in were destroyed as well. Luckily some of the old vines planted by António’s father survived and among them new vines are now being planted. The most important indigenous grape varieties are Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro, Jaen, Baga and Água-Santa for the red wines. For white wines Malvasia-Fina, Bical, Cerceal, Encruzado and Alvarinho are cultivated.
Taking care of biodiversity
Sara and António are not ones to sit a weep, but rather see opportunity in the empty fields the fires left behind. Out with traditional straight lines and started planting wine inspired by botanical gardens. Moving, flowing and following the landscape the vines are on. Being spread out over a bunch of different plots, the thing all of the vineyards have in common is that they are cultivated with respect and with the principles of ecological agriculture. The vineyards are buzzing with life and biodiversity. Several types of flowers and grasses are used as cover crops to hold nutrients in the soil and fertilizing is only done with biodynamic preparations. The work done by Casa de Mouraz was quickly recognized internationally, becoming a member of the prestigious Biodynamic wine group “Renaissance des Appellations” since 2009. We are super excited to be able to share these wines with you!
Has all of this made you curious to try a bottle?
Our selection of wines from Casa de Mouraz will be arriving very soon!
