Casa Santa Eulália was founded in the 17th century in Atei – Portugal, right at the heart of the Vinho Verde region, in the Basto sub-region. Vinho Verde is the largest DOP in Portugal, covering some 7,000 square km’s. Its borders are defined by the Minho River in the north, the Douro River and Montemuro mountain ranges in the south, east by the Peneda Gerês and Marão mountain ranges and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. Casa Santa Eulália’s natural geographical location, gives it extraordinary conditions for vine growing and wine production. The harsh climate; cold and rainy winter and hot and dry summer, the local granitic soil; giving a unique minerality and salinity to the wines, the relatively high average altitude; 350-500m ASL, and of course the family tradition, all contribute to Casa Santa Eulália’s special Terroir and make their wines unique among the regions many producers of Vinho Verde.
Since 1997 the farm is owned by producer Maria Teresa Gil Pereira Cunha Marques Leandro, who inherited it from her father, Joaquim Machado Pereira e Cunha and her uncle Manuel Mario Barbosa Machado. Maria Teresa manages the estate together with her husband, João and son/winemaker Francisco Marques Leandro. The family practices sustainable farming in the vineyards, using only natural spring water found on the estate, when irrigation is needed. The vineyards are surrounded by oak, pine and eucalyptus forests, which protects them from the harsh winter weather, and some may find traces of their aromatics in the resulting wines.
Casa Santa Eulalia still holds some area of ancient vines, but most of the production comes from the 45 hectares that were reconstructed between 1997 and 2021, and were replanted with traditional grape varieties; Avesso, Alvarinho, Arinto, Trajadura, Loureiro, Azal, Sauvignon Blanc, Touriga Nacional, Vinhão and Espadeiro.