Casal Branco

The Casal Branco estate is located on the left bank of the Tagus river in the Almeirim - Potrtugal, and has been owned by the same family for more than two centuries. It has an area of 1100 ha of wich 140 are under vines.

Falcoaria is the Portuguese word fro Falconry, and this was indeed the favorite sport of the Portuguese royal family three centuries ago. The vineyards that nowadays produce the grapes used in the making of Casal Bramco wines were planted in what was until the seventeenth century one of the largest royal falcon hunting grounds i Portugal.

The existing vineyards are predominantly out of Portuguese varieties such as the white " Fernão Pires". The red wines are produced basically out of "Trincadeira", "Castelão", "Touriga Nacional"; and more recently Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdoot, Alicante and Syrah.

The vinification is carefully done at the old winery, wich is a building dating from the XVIII century, adapted to the new techniques, essential to respect and take the best out of the potential quality of the grapes. All this added to the long traditional of wine productin is nowadays reflected on the public regocnition of the wines produced at Casal Branco.

The history of our Stud tkes us back to the 2nd Earl of Sobral, D.Luis de Mello Breyner (18o7-1876), whose devotion to horses had as result several prizes in Portugal and abroad. It was however the 3rd Earl of Sobral, D.Hermano José Amalric Braamcamp de Mello Breyner (1840-1905), one of the founders of the Turf Club, who generated excellent conditions to breed and training the Pure Lusitano including the construction of a school and housing for the trainers.

In the beginning of the twentieth century, D. Manuel Braamcamp Sobral, later on his daughter Sophia, and after her sons continued this family tradition. The Casal Branco stud has today a privileged role in the selection and improvement of the breed. Its horses have revelant play in the dréssage, bullfight and sports.

Great names of the equestrian art have acquired some of our animals such as Pablo Hermozo de Mendonza, Á lvaro Domecq and João Ribeiro Telles (Bullfight), Luis Valença Rodrigues and Nuno Oliveira ( Training Masters). George Bowman ( English Dréssage Champion), Catherine Durand (Dréssage) with our horse " Gafanhoto", among others.