ASA ERMELINDA FREITAS

THE FAMILY
Ermelinda Freitas was born and raised in the rich lands of Sado (Terras do Sado) and is a producer and bottler in Fernando Pó, Palmela. With her husband, she has dedicated her whole life to the production of wine. However, since her husband’s death, their only daughter (Leonor Freitas) continues their work. In 1997 they began their own production and brand, investing in a new winery and bottling line, fully equipped to produce the best red wine in Palmela.

THE VINEYARDS
The vineyards belonging to Casa Ermelinda Freitas are located in Fernando Pó, a privileged area in Palmela. Already in its fourth generation of winemakers, Casa Ermelinda Freitas owns 130 ha of vineyard, of which 100 ha are of the grape variety Castelão. The other 30 ha have been recently planted with other varieties, such as Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Syrah and Aragonês. Due to the vineyards’ privileged location, Casa Ermelinda Freitas has been producing some of the best red wines in the region.

QUALITY AND INNOVATION
Casa Ermelinda Freitas is constantly seeking to provide high quality from a family that has a long tradition related to vineyards and wine production. They are currently preparing for an even greater expansion by investing in new infrastructures and equipment in order to adapt their facilities to be part of an important tourist route in the “Rota dos Vinhos” circuit. Leonor Freitas aspires that Casa de Ermelinda Freitas will be a valuable asset for the tourism and economy of the Palmela Region; a pedagogic symbol of the region, providing schools with the secular wine culture and history. The winery, equipped with the latest technology, presents a symbol between the modern and the traditional, integrating a wide variety of structural areas such as a production area, a cellar (where the wine ages in French or American oak barrels) and a bottling line. There is also a wine shop, a tasting-room and a large salon with capacity up to 400 people. To verify the quality of their wines, they rely on the experience of their oenologist, Jaime Quendera. He graduated with a degree in Oenological and Agricultural Engineering from Évora University, where he developed several studies with Professor Colaço do Rosário. Quality has always been a driving force for the company: “We do not invest merely to increase production; we invest in quality – that is our main goal”, Leonor Freitas often points out. Testifying to this statement is the fact that this wine producer has won several awards in international contests with the main brands: Terras do Pó, Dona Ermelinda and Quinta da Mimosa.