1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

Somefamous Qidntas on the JDouro and the Bio Too-to. 75

ravages liad been limited, and we were informed tbat tbe yield would be nearly a hundred pipes of wine. Eastward of Enmaneira, and within the limits of the famous Costa do Eoncao, are several quintas adjoining each other, all of which yield high-class growths, purchased for many years past by Messrs. W. and J. Graham, of Oporto. Among these may be mentioned the quintas of Sen-ao and Liceiras, together with that of Malheiros, or, as it is some times called, Carrapata, from the "galeira" or rapid of tbat name which here obstructs the navigation of the Douro, on whose margin the buildings of the quinta stand, screened, hke those of Eomaneira,by a row of cypresses. The Liceiras quinta is somewhat small; still the three vineyards com bined yield in good years from 150 to 200 pipes of wine. Messrs. W. and J. Graham are also the purchasers of the produce of the neighbouring quintas of Bairral and Barca,as well as of the quinta of Sivio, higher up the river, all noted for tbeir fine wines. Many ofthe best quintas in the Upper Douro are concentrated hereabouts, while only a few of those situated above this point enjoy any special repute. Among the latter are tbe Quinta do Merin90,in which the touriga species of grape .is principally cultivated,and which yields in good years as many as 100 pipes of fine wine ; also the Quinta de Malvedos,re markable for the solidity of the terraces along which its vines are planted. Near this latter quinta are the ancient storehouses built by the famous Wine Company of the Alto Douro wherein to lodge the wines collected by their agents,as well as those con fiscated by their bailiffs for being fraudulentlyintroduced within tbe privileged district throughout which the Company exercised an arbitrary rule. Still higher up the Douro—some distance beyond the village of Tua,situated at the point where the river of the same name flows foaming into the Douro,and bounded by the valley of Elba Longa,where the wine district on the right bank of the Douro temporarily ceases is the Quinta do Zimbro, producing a limited quantity of high-class wine. From the terrace of Eomaneira the eye looks over the