History
Dirk Niepoort's passion for Bairrada and Baga dates back to the nineties, when not only did he make wines at Casa de Saima and Bageiras, but also distributed wines from Casa Dores Simões and Gonçalves Faria.
We want to learn more about the borders of our country with Quinta de Baixo. Bairrada has always been a difficult region, but we believe it has the potential to be the birthplace of elegant and fine wines, full of character and personality.
The cool and humid climate of the Bairrada zone, influenced by the Atlantic, yields high-acidity grapes with a low alcohol content. The soils are sandy or clay and limestone and the white grape varieties such as Maria Gomes, Arinto, Bical and Cercial have amazing potential. The red grape varieties are dominated by Baga, on which most of the wines of this region are primarily based.
We didn’t look for the traditional Bairrada, we were aiming something else: to interpret the fantastic limestone soils and the traditional grape varieties, in our own special way, such as with the irreverent Baga.
In 2010, under the pretext of an experience with Filipa Pato to produce a fortified wine, and on which Dirk became enthusiastically involved, it was necessary to explore the potential of the vineyards of Bairrada. It was love at first sight. Not only was the referred fortified wine made but also a red Baga wine, such was the passion. The result encouraged us and in 2011 we made about 2.000 litres at Quinta de Baixo, with the kind permission of Jorge and Sérgio.
There was no turning back, and from January 2012 Niepoort took control of the vineyards and winery, in a partnership with Jorge and Sérgio.
The idea was to get to know better the personality of Bairrada because we fully believe in the potential of this region. Niepoort ended up purchasing Quinta de Baixo on the 28th December 2012.
It was a big challenge, but a great motivation to create something special, something typical from Bairrada but with the NIEPOORT soul.