Susana Esteban - Alentejo
Susana Esteban at Musica del Vi in 2020
Susana Esteban hails from Tui in northern Spain. She holds a degree in Chemistry from Santiago de Compostela University and a master's degree in Enology from La Rioja University. Her winemaking journey began in 1999 at Quinta do Côtto in the Douro, followed by a stint at Quinta do Crasto until 2007. Since then, she's been lending her expertise as a consultant to various wineries in Alentejo.
Over the years, Susana has garnered several awards, including the prestigious "Best Winemaker of the Year" by Revista dos Vinhos in 2012—the only female winemaker to achieve this recognition.
In 2009, Susana Esteban took the leap to become a wine producer, embarking on a personal project. Her goal was to craft wines with unique character, deviating slightly from the traditional Alentejo style. It took her two years of exploration to find the perfect vineyards, ultimately discovering two in 2011. One, an old mixed planting in Portalegre, provided complexity and freshness, becoming the foundation for her wine "Procura."
A notable collaboration emerged in Susana's career when she joined forces with her friend and fellow winemaker, Sandra Tavares. Their partnership yielded the red wine "Crochet" from the Douro region. In 2014, they introduced another collaborative creation, "Tricot," produced at Susana Esteban's Alentejo winery.
Susana Esteban is a winemaker from Galicia who, after working in various wineries in the Douro and Alentejo regions, decided in 2009 to settle in the latter area to start her own project based on native grape varieties from old vineyards.
Foudre 2020 is her most prestigious white wine. It comes from an exceptional 80-year-old vineyard in the Sierra de São Mamede at 700 meters above sea level. After fermentation and aging for 16 months in an old Alsatian foudre, only 1,647 units were bottled.
A fresh perspective on Alentejo wines from one of Portugal's most prominent winemakers. #wineday https://bit.ly/4aNHGTv
One notable terroir in the Alentejo region of Portugal is Portalegre. This sub-region is situated in the northeastern part of Alentejo and is known for its unique characteristics that influence the grapes grown there.
Portalegre stands out due to its elevation, as it is located in the Serra de São Mamede mountain range. The higher altitude contributes to cooler temperatures, providing a more moderate climate compared to the hotter plains of Alentejo. The region's vineyards benefit from this cooler climate, allowing for slower grape ripening and the preservation of acidity in the grapes.
The soils in Portalegre are diverse, with a mix of granite, schist, and clay. This soil diversity adds complexity to the wines produced in the region. The combination of altitude, cooler climate, and varied soils creates a distinctive terroir that influences the flavor profile and character of the wines produced in Portalegre. Winemakers in this area often take advantage of these unique conditions to produce wines with freshness, complexity, and a sense of place