Overview

History At the end of the 19th century, technical and economic resources were reduced, there was a great determination on the part of some men from Bairrada, among whom was Justino de Sampaio Alegre, an intelligent and dynamic man, merchant and industrial of the most considered in the whole region of Bairrada, who founded Caves Monte Crasto in Anadia. The vineyards of this region were attacked by the terrible “phylloxera” and the main activity in this region was seriously compromised. It was necessary to recover the vineyards by replanting new strains and renovating existing ones. Justino de Sampaio Alegre did not hesitate and moved by his bold temperament, went to France, with the aim of studying and having contact with the most modern processes for curing the terrible disease. Upon his return, he began to work on restoring and replanting the vineyards, implementing all the knowledge acquired in France, and also passing on his enthusiasm and knowledge to friends and defenders of the region, managing to save in large part the vineyards of Bairrada. Quinta do Ortigão as been in the Alegre family since then until 2021, when a new cycle begins with the dynamic families of Paulo Pereira and Maria do Céu Gonçalves who took the ownership of the project with a clear focus of enhancing the quality of wines and invigorate the wine tourism.