Bancroft

Modern interpretations of still and fortified wines from the Douro Valley

“We are delighted at the addition of Quinta da Pedra Alta to the Bancroft portfolio” says Nick Mason, Senior Buyer at Bancroft Wines. These are refreshingly individualistic wines, sure to impress Bancroft’s on and off trade customers. This is a modern style of Portuguese still and fortified wines, yet not at the expense of tradition or terroir.”
 
“We are incredibly excited to be working with Bancroft Wines to build our presence in the UK market,” says Andy Brown, Commercial Director of Quinta da Pedra Alta. He adds: “We now have a fully formed offering of ten wines spanning Branco and Tinto at Pedra a Pedra and Reserva levels, as well as three newly released single site reds, and an exciting trio of Ports – a Ten-Year-Old Tawny, a White Port, and a 2018 Vintage Port. Bancroft is a great fit for Pedra Alta in terms of portfolio, approach, and customer base, and we are proud to have them as our new partner for the UK market. The team supports our ambitions to grow our distribution across independent merchants and on-trade and will help us launch some exciting new projects.”

About Quinta da Pedra Alta
Located in Soutelinho-Favaios near Alijó in the highest part of the Cima Corgo subregion of the Douro above the Pinhão River, sits Quinta da Pedra Alta winery. Two of the real strengths of the site are the variety of vineyard altitudes (from 230m to 550m) and breadth of  indigenous varieties planted across the 35-hectare estate. This allows the Pedra Alta team to produce a broad range of styles from fresh elegant whites to richer Douro reds, as well as Ports, including an exciting modern interpretation of White Port and a 10-year-old Tawny.
 
The vineyards history dates back to at least the late 18th-century and, although the area has always produced high quality fruit for ports, it was only when it was purchased in 2018 that the future of the estate began to strengthen. The intention now is of helping the esteemed winemaker, João Pires, realise the full potential of this incredible piece of land. Significant investment in the vineyard and in the winery has been instrumental to his craft. It has driven a number of positive changes including grafting and re-planting with an increased focus on quality over yield; barrel investment allowing the team to work with smaller, more selected fruit parcels and blending components; and the addition of temperature control in winery and storage. João manages the estate with a sustainable approach, using minimal fertilisers and sprays and thinning when required. His depth of knowledge in the land and qualities of the different parcels has created wines with focus and approachability, whilst ensuring they retain their individuality and provenance.

For more information, contact:
Hannah Van Susteren
Head of Marketing
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7714 850 130