Churchill’s offices are in the ancient trading post of Vila Nova da Gaia, but our home is the majestic Quinta da Gricha, a 50 hectare Grade-A vineyard, located on the south bank of the Douro river in the famous “Cima Corgo” sub-region of the Douro Valley.
Quinta da Gricha is a special piece of Earth, even by the astounding standards of Douro terroir. Named for the natural spring (gricha) that feeds the north-facing vineyards, the quinta sits in a microclimate at 150 to 400 meters above sea level, with a wind exposure that naturally regulates humidity. Once the site of ancient tin mines, the Gricha soil retains a graphite and mineral quality. Our oldest vines are more than 80 years old and yield diverse grape varieties which in turn produce wines of structure and complexity.
The douro
The Douro Valley is the world's oldest demarcated wine region and one of the most dynamic, with more than 100 natural grape varieties and unique climatic conditions.
While it became famous as a region for port wine, today a passionate new generation of winemakers are making Douro D.O.C. wines a force to be reckoned with globally.
We are proud to be part of the New Douro, the organisation of leading Douro Wine producers.
Exclusively aged
We specialise in vintage port made to mature for a century and wood-aged ports that retain freshness over the decades.
PORT WINE
HUMAN-CENTRED PRODUCTION
All Churchill's ports are hand picked, twice sorted, and crushed by foot in the ancient treading tanks at Quinta da Gricha. Foot-treading achieves a gentle but thorough maceration of the grapes and skins without damaging the pips and thereby extracts the necessary colour and tannins whilst still preserving the fresh, natural grape aromas and flavours.
SIGNATURE STYLE
Johnny founded Churchill’s because he had a clear vision for the style of port he likes to make and drink.
Our ports are distinct for their drier style and firm grip. This comes from sourcing exclusively Grade A grapes of native grape varietals from the best vineyards in the Douro. And from using only native yeast during fermentation, slowing the process down and allowing an additional 12-24 hours vs. industry-standard to convert higher amounts of sugar into alcohol. The result is more natural wine alcohol, lower levels of brandy, and our signature dry style.
BLENDING
At Churchill's, every grape has a future. We treat all grapes that come through our winery as if they are going to be vintage port - foot treading and extending fermentation for all. It's not until the grapes make the trip to Porto from the Douro six months after the harvest that initial blending begins. We continue to blend by taste, driven by the expert palates of Johnny Graham and our head winemaker Ricardo Pinto Nunes.
Exclusively aged
We specialise in vintage port made to mature for a century and wood-aged ports that retain freshness over the decades.
We believe that a home or restaurant is only as good as its house wine. And we want Meio Queijo to be that wine for everyone. These wines have freshness, natural acidity and a "bom adeus" (good finish) that says "go ahead and have another glass." The name given by the Churchill's team for the shape of the vines, along with the half moon label, is immediately recognisable in Portugal and beyond.
MEIO QUEIJO WHITE
MEIO QUEIJO RED
MEIO QUEIJO RESERVA
GRAFITE
A story of the elements of the Douro. Our Grafite range of wines are sourced from choice grade A vineyards and blended into elegant, fresh portrayals of what head winemaker Ricardo Pinto Nunes believes to be the Douro at its best. We champion native grape varietals and let these shine. No fancy techniques -- minimal intervention from vine to bottling line to capture the Douro essence.
Quinta da Gricha is a truly magic piece of earth, perched on a north facing slope in the Cima Corgo, overlooking the Douro river. With vines dating back 80+ years and granite lagares from 1852, this Grade-A quinta vineyard produces wines where power and structure merge with the wildness and beauty of the terroir. A signature of Gricha wines is the vibrant combination of freshness, minerality and natural acidity.
