Silk is a natural product originating from China. In Portugal, its production developed from the 16th century onwards. At the end of the 18th century, it was especially popular in Freixo de Espada à Cinta, with around 15 factories with 70 looms. The extensive planting of mulberry trees, where the silkworm grows, contributed to this success. This wine, which we call Bicho-da-seda (Silkworm), is produced in the town of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, one of the last strongholds of silk production, spinning and weaving in Portugal. This wine is the result of an activity with a great tradition in the region, aiming to honour the sericulture and all those who contribute towards it, through timeless operations, to preserve it in this territory. As this project aims to promote the production of silk in Portugal, we have created a label that includes 6 icons that represent utensils and processes of its production. They are: the Meada; the Fieira; the Dobadoura; the Rodeleiro; the Cocoon; and the silk itself.

The Client
Quinta dos Castelares is located in Freixo de Espada à Cinta, in the Douro Superior, framed by the Natural Park, in Portugal. In the modes of production seek to preserve ancestral cultivation techniques combined with the latest developments in viticulture, which lead to greater environmental sustainability and respect for the environment. The low level of mechanization – where the grapes are hand-picked into small pallets – and the low yields per hectare are the best example of this. In the various vineyards that make up the Quinta, people try to take advantage of the specificities of each location. In Vinha do Almirante they have the old vines with more than 40 years, which had been planted under the guidance of Eng.º Gastão Taborda, with the main red varieties of the Douro, with special emphasis on Touriga Nacional, which highlights the quality of the wines from the estate. Due to its age and altitude, they achieve the great elegance of the wines. In the Congida vineyard, on the banks of the Douro river, where the grapes mature, they have planted only red varieties, giving them body and structure. In Castelares they take advantage of the greatest differential in altitudes and sun exposure. Here they have white varieties planted in the highest and freshest parts, with a North-Northeast exposure. This combination results in elegance and complexity. Area:120 hectares – Altitude 250-720 meters. Ground: Shale Soil – High Rockiness.