Vidigueira family business making native variety wines, olive oil and a fresh 2024 Classic White.
The producer
Quinta do Paral is a family business in Vidigueira. Its named Classic White combines Antão Vaz, Verdelho, Vermentino and Viognier, with fermentation in stainless steel and ageing in French oak. The estate also produces olive oil, preserves old vines, and keeps vinho de talha, the ancient Alentejo clay amphora technique, in its work. Grapes are harvested by hand and cellar work uses minimal intervention, allowing each parcel to express Vidigueira's natural character.
Known for
Vidigueira whites and clay amphorae
Notable facts
Quinta do Paral operates in Vidigueira, an Alentejo subregion.
Antão Vaz is a native variety associated with Vidigueira's famous white wines.
All grapes are harvested by hand.
The estate preserves vinho de talha, an ancient clay amphora technique.
The story
The 2017 Acquisition
In 2017, entrepreneur Dieter Morszeck acquired 85 hectares of land in the Alentejo. His background was in luxury luggage: he had been president of Rimowa and is a grandson of its founder. Morszeck divides his time between business in Switzerland and the United States and winemaking in Vidigueira. The property is operated as a family business. Quinta do Paral makes wine and olive oil, harvests all grapes by hand, preserves old vines, and keeps vinho de talha, the ancient clay amphora technique that has survived in the Alentejo for over 2,000 years.
From the atlas
Quinta do Paral
Quinta do Paral is a family business in Vidigueira making wine and olive oil from native Alentejo varieties, including Antão Vaz.
At A Glance
Fact
Detail
Region
Alentejo
Subregion
Vidigueira
Business
Family business
Native white grape
Antão Vaz
Named wine
Classic White
Defining work
Hand harvesting and minimal winery intervention
The Producer
In 2017, entrepreneur Dieter Morszeck acquired 85 hectares of land in the Alentejo. He had been president of Rimowa and is a grandson of that luxury luggage brand's founder, while his wine work takes place in Vidigueira alongside business in Switzerland and the United States.
Quinta do Paral describes itself as a family business. The estate produces wine and olive oil, preserves Vidigueira's old vines, harvests all grapes by hand, and uses minimal intervention in the winery so each parcel can express the natural character of Vidigueira.
Place
Vidigueira is an Alentejo subregion with strong westerly wind, humidity at night, and schist, granite and clay soils. These conditions support native grape varieties and the white wines associated with the area.
Antão Vaz is a native variety and a source of Vidigueira's famous white wines. Perrum, Tinta Grossa and Aragonez are also grown in the subregion, giving Quinta do Paral access to the local grape heritage in both white and red wine work.
Wines
Quinta do Paral's named wine is the 2024 Classic White, a white wine made from Antão Vaz, Verdelho, Vermentino and Viognier. The grapes are destemmed and pressed before fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by three months in French oak barrels.
The wine has 13% alcohol and 0.4 g/dm³ total sugar. It is nuanced and fruity, with oak, yellow apple, apricot, spice, passion fruit, herbs and citrus, alongside a fresh finish.
The estate also preserves vinho de talha, Alentejo's ancient clay amphora technique, which has survived for over 2,000 years.
Final Word
Quinta do Paral works in Vidigueira with native grapes, hand harvesting and minimal winery intervention. Wine, olive oil, old vines and vinho de talha all belong to the estate.