Friere Lobo
The daughter of a grape-growing family with deep roots in the Dão, Elisa Freire Lobo started her career in 1996, studying in the Bairrada region at Caves São João and working the following year in the Douro with Anselmo Mendes. Following her studies, she set up in the Dão, becoming the first woman winemaker to do so. After working with many of the region’s highly regarded winemakers, including Casimiro Gomes, Carlos Rodrigues, Carlos Lucas, Alvaro Castro and the late Magalhães Coelho, she took over the family vineyards in 2010, and converted to organic viticulture. Today, Elisa’s 15 hectare estate is grazed and fertilized by Bordaleiras sheep. Grasses and legumes are planted and encouraged the rest of the year as cover crops that improve the soil structure, increase fertility and help better manage the nutrients and water available in the granitic soils. The cover crops stimulate biodiversity in the soil and vineyards, an essential part of long-term vineyard management. The estate only produces wines from traditional Portuguese varietals, including Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz, Jaen, Encruzado, Cerceal, Bical, Fernão Pires, Malvasia and Barcelo.
