Freire Lobo

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Country of Origin: Portugal
Location: Oliveira do Hospital, Dão
People: Elisa Lobo, Owner & Winemaker
Viticulture: Practicing Organic

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Elisa Lobo began her winemaking career in 1996, working and studying in the Bairrada region at Caves São João and the following year in the Douro with Anselmo Mendes. In 1999, Elisa decided to return to her birthplace—the Dão region. In the ensuing years, she went on to work with many of the most respected producers of the region, including Casimiro Gomes, Carlos Rodrigues, Carlos Lucas, Alvaro Castro and the late Magalhães Coelho.

In 2010, Elisa felt the need to build her own project with her family’s vineyards. Her family has been growing grapes in the Dão for decades. The vineyards are in Oliveira do Hospital, near Serra da Estrela, at 560 to 600 meters above sea level. Immediately, Elisa began converting the vineyards to organic farming and restoring the biodiversity. She introduced Bordaleiras sheep (typical of Serra da Estrela) to the land during the winter months. They graze in the vineyards to control herb growth and add essential fertilizer. All the fertilization is organic with manure, and no herbicides are used. She planted cover crops of grasses and legumes to improve the soil structure and fertility. The cover crops also help to manage the nutrients and limited water available in the poor, granitic soil.

The traditional methods of the vineyards flow directly into the winery where all fermentations are spontaneous using only indigenous yeasts. 2014 was her first bottled vintage.

The altitude and health of the vineyards along with the granite soils produce wines with great freshness, minerality, and unique elegance. They are ready to drink young but will age beautifully.