"The farm of all farms - one of the wonders of the world"
In Vesuvius, in the Upper Douro, the work of man and the work of nature achieve a perfect and lasting harmony. More than anywhere else in the Douro, it has a breathtaking and enchanting beauty; when you leave, you take with you a feeling of the place that does not fade with time.
The property and the surrounding landscape have gone hand in hand since the beginning of the 19th century. The Viscount of Villa Maior called it one of the "most marvelous transformations that human ingenuity can conceive".
The mere mention of the name Quinta do Vesúvio evokes, for all who have seen it, an austere and primitive beauty. It stands alone in terms of its seclusion and sheer grandeur, a witness and protagonist in the history of one of the world's greatest wine regions.
Within its boundaries, Vesuvius has seven hills and thirty-one valleys. At the summit of each hill lies an ancient, ruined lookout post that once guarded the estate. The highest lookout point is called the Ray of Light. From here, you can survey the entire 360º view of Vesuvius's vineyards.
The story of Vesúvio is one of obsession. It was the sincere devotion of two visionaries from the Douro region who first sculpted its chair as one of the national treasures of the Douro and of Portugal. These two were Antonio Bernardo Ferreira I and his daughter-in-law, Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira.
After receiving specialized care from the Briti Cunha family, Vesúvio was acquired by the Symington family, who became the custodians of the farm in 1989.
Vesuvius casts its spell on all who have been there. This is one of the last places in the world where human feet tread on grapes harvested during the day in the cool of the night, accompanied by music and dance. It is a breathtakingly beautiful thing to see.