Niepoort Vertente

Learn More About This Wine

“Vertente” means “aspect” or “hillside” and this wine represents an overview of the Douro Valley: it is made up of a little bit of all the Douro terroirs that Niepoort cultivates. The Vertente is produced from vineyards which are more than 35 years old, growing in the Quinta de Nápoles, and from old vines planted on the slopes of the Pinhão River where Touriga Franca, Tinta Amarela and Rufete are the predominant varieties. The old vines contribute to the wine’s elegance, while the younger fruit lend it a youthful freshness. In this excellent 2015 red, concentration, fruit, complexity and elegance create a unique harmony. In line with the Niepoort style, the Vertente is finer, more elegant and more linear with every vintage.

The 2021 vintage produced larger yields than expected. At Quinta de Nápoles, this meant an increase of 50% as compared to the previous year. The 2021 harvest began on 11 August, with ideal indicators: musts with high acidity levels, low alcohol as well as beautifully firm skin on the berries made for well-balanced red and white wines. Some instability in the weather during the month of September led to our cellars receiving an exceptionally large number of bunches, with various levels of ripeness according to their geographical origins. After a meticulous bunch selection in the vineyards, the grapes were sorted a second time in the cellar. The Vertente 2021 was fermented in conical stainless steel tanks before being left to mature for 22 months in french oak barrels.