GUARDIAN OF PALMELA S TRADITION Quinta do Piloto is heir to four generations of expert winemaking in Palmela. Its wines are the result of selected lots from Cardoso s family 741 acres of vineyards in the best local terroirs. Made by ancient methods to be the apex of each grape variety they represent. MAIN FACTS Quinta do Piloto estate and winery is located in Serra do Louro in Palmela and covers 741 acres of vineyards. Cardoso s family retain their original cellars and estates for over four generations, including 321 acres of old vines, 40 to 70 years old. Founded by Humberto Cardoso in the early twentieth century, it was once one of the largest producers of Portugal, with about 1235 acres of vineyards. Quinta do Piloto wines represent only the exceptional lots of the extensive family s vineyards. The first wine branded Quinta do Piloto was Piloto Collection Roxo, launched in 2013 and awarded that same year by the Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge.
Roman Danylych HISTORY 1900 1935 1950 2008 Humberto Cardoso was born in Palmela, were he marries the daughter of a famous local winemaker becoming a successful businessman. Still young, the founder handed the management of his three estates and two cellars to his sons Rui and Álvaro. Under the direction of Álvaro Cardoso, Casa Agricola Humberto Cardoso became the second largest winemaker in the region, producing about 4 million liters of wine for bulk sale. Filipe Cardoso, fourth generation in Cardoso s family, launches Quinta do Piloto brand to showcase the best wines from the family estates. PEOPLE FILIPE CARDOSO Born in 1974 in Palmela, Filipe Cardoso studied at the School of Agriculture in Santarém and graduated in oenology at the University Montpellier. In 1998 he joined Sivipa, which he still runs today. In 2008 along with his father they decided to realize the dream of bottling the best wines of the family estates: thus was born Quinta do Piloto brand. What attracts him most is to create each wine from scratch, and recovering ancient traditions.
PALMELA Palmela is a sub-region of Península de Setubal Portuguese wine region, with an ancient winemaking tradition dating back to the eighth century b. C. The mild climate influenced by the proximity of the sea, the rivers Tagus and Sado and Arrábida hills provide for elegant red wines and aromatic whites, including famous muscat wines. In 1147 Palmela was conquered by D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal and the charter then granted mentions the local wines. TERROIR SANDY SOILS Serra do Louro, with its clay-limestone soil facing north gives Quinta do Piloto s muscat wines an incomparable freshness. The vineyard estates in Lau, Fernando Pó and Agualva, with the local characteristic sandy soils are the ideal "terroir" for traditional grape varieties such as Castelão and Fernão Pires. VINES 321 ACRES OF OLD VINES In over 741 acres of Cardoso s family vineyards stand out 321 acres of old vines, in Fonte da Barreira Estate, one of the most extensive areas in Portugal. In this vineyards aged from 40 to 70 years, stand out traditional grape varieties Castelão, Fernão Pires, Moscatel and rare Moscatel Roxo. Recent vineyards in Lau and Agualva are planted with Portuguese grape varieties Aragones, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Antão Vaz and Arinto, and international Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
WINES Produced in small quantities, just from the most exceptional lots of the family estates, Quinta do Piloto wines of are elegant showcases of the grape varieties they represent. QUINTA DO PILOTO DOC PALMELA BRANCO, TINTO, MOSCATEL Palmela DOC wines made from traditional local varieties Castelão, Fernão Pires and Moscatel. They realize Quinta do Piloto s commitment of being a showcase of the best in Palmela s wine region. PILOTO COLLECTION VARIETAIS DE EDIÇÃO LIMITADA Limited edition varietal wines, made from grapes chosen for their extraordinary qualities, such as the unique "blanc de noir" made from of rare Moscatel Roxo, the first wine of the range, launched in 2013. Piloto Collection Roxo 2012: Commended in Decanter World Wine Awards 2013 Bronze medal, International Wine Challenge 2013 QUINTA DO PILOTO RESERVA DA FAMÍLIA MOSCATEL A blend of the best estate muscats since its founding. For generations it was reserved for Cardoso s family and kept in Quinta do Piloto s cellars, replenished annually in a ritual that was repeated until the year 2002.
CONTACTOS FILIPE CARDOSO Oenologist and Estate Director T: +351 212 350 095 M: +351 918 721188 EMAIL info@quintadopiloto.pt WEBSITE www.quintadopiloto.pt
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