Wine: One of the best-known and respected producers in the Douro, the winery is in a spectacular setting. The drive (approaching from the north or also from Pinhao to the east) through villages and vineyards perched along the mountain valleys is stunning. The tasting includes 5 wines: White blend, red blend, superior red blend, Roquette & Cazes red blend (partnership with a French winemaker) and a ruby port. Tastings occur in the living room of the main house, which adds a very comfortable, homey feeling that is rare especially at a winery of this size. Blending is very common in Douro although many producers make single varietals now too. Crasto white: gouveio, viosinho and rabigato. Crasto red: Tinta roriz (tempranillo), touriga franca, touriga nacional, tinta barroca. Superior blend: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Souzão, plus some field blend! R & C blend: 60% Touriga Nacional, 15% Touriga Franca and 25% Tinta Roriz. Ruby Port: (60+yr-vines) 60% Touriga Nacional, 15% Touriga Franca and 25% Tinta Roriz.
My take: It's near several other great producers so you can make a wonderful day of visiting and tasting. The oldest vineyards (75 to more than 100 years) at this estate have vines that are undergoing DNA testing to determine what the grapes are. They use these vineyards for "field blend" wines. I love that they are making fab wines without knowing for sure what the grapes are! More on Quinta do Crasto
