Sustainable Winegrowing is based on the balance of the natural heritage

At Taboadella, wines are born in the vineyard and in the landscape.

In order to preserve natural biodiversity, we assume environmental responsibility - based on minimum disturbance of the soils in our ecological mosaic. We respect traditional integrated winegrowing techniques and practices, that combine biological and biodynamic processes. We maintain the profile of our wines, through efficient management of resources and tireless concern for quality, upholding the high standards that we have set for ourselves.

All these elements are fundamental to ensure validation of a project that guarantees a future for future generations.

The ecological mosaic

Taboadella, that has a total of 50 hectares, is one of the most important elements of the local agricultural system, guaranteeing ecological value over the years, through the preservation of biodiversity, integrating the rural and urban community with sustainable consumption patterns and production systems.

The location and size of this agroforestry estate, nestled in an open valley, gives it added relevance in the definition of the territorial planning and ecology model of the local landscape, marked by zones of olive groves, scrub and forest of maritime pine, cork oak and other trees and shrubs of the beech family. The biophysical conditions of a true ecological mosaic, strongly marked by the granite formations originating from the soils, including areas with less aptitude for farming activities, and woodlands with stone pine, cork oak, oaks, cedars, linden trees and eucalyptus, in a garden system of Mediterranean mature trees and shrubs, in sub-cover, complemented by a clay bog that is used by a community of nesting royal ducks. In the main garden of the house there is a centuries-old strawberry tree, of rare size and diameter, a truly majestic relic.

The wild fauna

The diversified mosaic of land use has engendered enormous biodiversity. The numerous habitats are home to many species of very interesting wild fauna, associated with different forest ecosystems or inland water bodies.

The fauna is varied and numerous: in the forest, there are birds such as the titmouse, thrushes and pigeons and also many birds of prey - such as the round-winged eagle and spectacular herons. Mammals take refuge in the local shrubs, such as the earthmover, better known as mole, the squirrel, partridge and rabbit. Several reptiles and amphibians such as the Algerian sand racer, the common toad and the midwife toad appear during good weather. At twilight we can hear the sounds and movements of creatures of the night, such as wild owls, barn owls, eagle owls, bats, wild boars and foxes.

In the gardens of the main house and in the small lake a couple of herons can often be seen, as well as a community of royal ducks that nest here.

Nature is our greatest inspiration for creating great wines in the Dão region with small gestures that make all the difference

We strictly follow the best practices of integrated and biological winegrowing, using organic fertilizers and minerals of natural origin and traditional techniques based on yield control, manual harvests and numerous tasks that are carried out by hand, while respecting the rhythm of nature.
We sometimes use ancestral cultivation techniques, such as rolling the vine instead of removing the tips, thereby reducing the use of herbicides; control of temperatures / rainfall / wind speed, in the correct weather station, in order to carry out phytosanitary treatment only when this is strictly necessary. We respect the genetic heritage of indigenous species, which are more resistant and perfectly adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the region and the estate.
We have planted 3,500 plants per hectare, preserving the original concept, divided into each of the 26 plots, depending on their micro-terroir. We perform surgical defoliation of the vines, guaranteeing a higher quality of the grapes and reducing the scalding effect and we compost the plant material and crush 100% of the wood from pruning of the vines, returning organic matter to the soil. We conserve the existing forests in the surroundings of the Quinta, providing a beneficial refuge for all the auxiliary fauna close to the vineyard, avoiding the use of pesticides and, preventively, we install boxes with pheromones, in order to be able to decide the best strategy to fight pests.
The winery promotes a strong connection with nature, using natural materials such as cork and wood, integrating imperative assumptions such as energy saving, wastewater management and solid waste sorting, as well as ensuring the acoustic comfort and well-being of the workers. We maintain several historic sites such as the wine press in the monolithic boulder, which record the antiquity of the wine growing processes in Roman times, the main gardens of the house and the preservation of ancient trees, we preserve the ecology of the local landscape, marked by scrubland and wild pine forest, cork oak, linden trees and other beech trees and we mark pedestrian paths for visitors, who want to discover a little more about the culture of our place.
We encourage a proactive attitude in relation to the increased environmental pressures, such as the placement of organic waste bins in various locations in the estate, enhancing the optimisation of waste separation for recycling. In the day-to-day activities of our company, we respect our employees and offer a great deal of training, promoting a culture of equality and inclusion, in which women and men have the same professional opportunities.
We integrate suppliers and farmers in the company's culture, collaborating in true partnerships, aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the business and the preservation of the region's traditions. We uphold transparency rules throughout the value chain, and do not collaborate with illegal and fraudulent situations in the management of human resources and business partnerships.