Reserva Branco Rabigato 2022 DOC (white)
A luxurious, creamy white wine from the exclusive Rabigato variety. Twelve months of oak aging and slate soils give it a beautifully velvety texture, enlivened by pronounced minerality and fresh apple notes.
| Category: | White |
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He began growing Reserva Branco Rabigato on the principle of highlighting the character of the Rabigato variety, which thrives in the Douro but is somewhat unknown in terms of oenological value. It is one of the best Portuguese white varieties.
VARIETY
100% Rabigato
WINERY
An environmentally conscious and sustainable approach (Dona Berta follows a traditional, terroir-respectful approach to environmental and ecological practices in the Douro, although it is not explicitly stated to hold certified organic status.)
HARVEST
Hand harvest. Vineyards at higher altitudes (around 500 m) in Douro Superior.
VINIFICATION AND AGING
Aged 12 months in new French oak barrels sur lie with regular batonnage.
BOTTLING
13,000 bottles.
ANALYSIS
Alcohol: 13.5%; Acidity: 5 g/l; pH: 3.28.
TASTE AND CHARACTER
Discover a luxurious white wine that changes the rules! The bright lemon color hides an impressive mineral charge from schist soils and complex aromas of honeysuckle and white fruit. Twelve months in oak gave this Rabigato a heavenly velvety, creamy texture unparalleled in the Douro. The wine retained a sharp acidity despite the oak, making the taste of green apples and pears dance on the palate.
SOMMELIER'S TIP
Serve at 10–12 °C. Ideal with baked fish, creamy sauces, risotto or mature cheeses. Suitable for cellaring.
Discussion
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Dona Berta is more than a winery—it is a tribute to deep family roots and the distinctive terroir of the Douro Superior region. Named after the founder’s mother, the winery represents a dream shared by several generations. The project began in the 1980s, when engineer Hernâni Verdelho returned from travelling the world in pursuit of business opportunities to his family estate, Quinta do Carrenho in Freixo de Numão. He returned with a clear purpose: to continue the winemaking tradition of his father and great-uncle. His great-uncle had once told him: “One day, these lands will be yours, and you will turn them into a great winery.”
Driven by fresh energy and memories of his youth, Hernâni Verdelho carefully restored old and rare grape varieties and planted new vineyards on sunny, mid-elevation slopes with the sheltered schist soils known locally as xisto, typical of the Douro. His aim was to transform this remarkable heritage into complex wines with a timeless character.
Today, the winery manages approximately 15 hectares of vineyards and focuses on native Douro varieties such as Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Rabigato and Verdelho. It is particularly proud of two hectares of vineyards that are more than 100 years old, including some pre-phylloxera varieties that no longer appear in official registers.
Around 30 years ago, after travelling the world in pursuit of business opportunities, Hernâni Verdelho returned to his family estate on a sunny slope in the Douro to continue its distinctive winemaking tradition.
Filled with energy and fond memories of his youth, he restored the old vines and planted new ones on mid-elevation slopes with sheltered schist soils and excellent exposure to sunlight.