Address:Quinta do Panascal, 5120-496 Valença do Douro-Portugal
Phone: +351 254 732 321
Website: www.fonsecaport.com
Open all year from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm (Saturday and Sunday by reservation only)
April to October: open seven days a week, from 10 am to 6 pm

In no Port house is the inherited tradition of winemaking skill and knowledge more evident than at Fonseca Guimaraens, where the wines have been made by the same family since its foundation in 1822. The Fonseca Guimaraens house style is one of richness and warmth, with a lush fruit intensity and a structure of both dimension and finesse. More voluptuous than massive, Fonseca Ports are coveted for their sumptuous yet refined body and great longevity.

Situated in the Douro Valley Region (a World Heritage site), Quinta do Panascal is open to everyone wishing to visit one of the most famous quintas in the region. The majestic property is located on the banks of the river Távora. It has the only audio tour available in the region and it has been produced in 9 languages. The tour guides visitors through the vineyards and talks about the history of the company, the estate, the Douro Region and, the famous wines produced by Fonseca Port. In the visitor’s room, which has a dazzling view of the Távora valley, guests are offered a free wine tasting that includes Siroco and BIN nº27 while watching the company’s video.
 
Tourism Room: Also available is a small wine shop where the full range of Fonseca’s ports may be purchased. During the grape-harvesting season, visitors can enjoy the unique experience of watching the men and women treading the grapes in the “lagares”. Quinta do Panascal has also two private rooms which can be booked for meetings, lunches or dinners. Meals, of superior quality, are fully prepared and supplied by the estate. Other activities are also available such as boat trips on the Douro and Távora rivers; canoeing; archery; slides; traditional games, mini challengers and much more!

Quinta do Panascal’s reputation goes back to the 18th century when wines from the Rio Tavora were considered to be amongst the finest in Portugal. Kol d’Alvarenga, writing in the 1920’s, refers to Panascal as a wine of great renown before phyllóxera and one ‘com tripas’ - with guts. Fonseca purchased the Quinta in 1978 after the property had been supplying grapes to the company for over 20 years. The wines from Quinta do Panascal had long been an important component in Fonseca’s vintage blend. Quinta do Panascal was recognized at the time that consistent supplies of high quality grapes had to be secured to ensure the continued quality of the Fonseca port wines. After acquiring the Quinta, Fonseca undertook a substantial program of renovation and development in the 1980’s and further increased the size of the property with the addition of Quinta do Val dos Muros in 1985. The property at the moment totals just over 76 hectares of which 44 hectares is under vine producing 858 hectoliters of port.

All of the grapes are foot trodden in granite lagares situated on the property. The wines from the Tavora Valley are prized for their solid backbone and concentration and this can be seen in the Panascal Single Quinta Vintage port that Fonseca produces when a general vintage declaration is not made.