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Quinta das Fontaínhas

Egídio Santos2007

Museu do Douro

Museu do Douro
Peso da Régua, Portugal

Photograph of a wine estate located on the left bank of the Teixeira River, just outside the town of Mesão Frio. It is located in an area occupied by plots of vineyards on terraces, some of which are still under construction, with the top of the slope occupied by pine forest, sprawled from the place of Brunhais. The slope below the road, which extends to the river, preserves residual areas of terraced vines. The access to the built nucleus, made according to the taste of the "Portuguese house", is done through a path along trellised vines, supported by a circular metallic structure. The terraced vegetable garden with whitewashed walls extends around the buildings, punctuated by scattered trees and crossed by a channel leading to the waters of a small stream that flows into the Teixeira River. The vineyard is rooted in post-phylloxera terraces whose layout follows the curves of the terrain, resulting in a sinuous design. In some wall panels, capped finishes were preserved which disappeared in the meantime due to successive mobilizations of the land. The connection between the terraces is made through ramps and stairs aligned along the slope. The steps of the stairs are formed by unique slabs that rest on the wall set. It is worth mentioning the water drainage system that is conserved in several walls, composed of recesses with spouts that prevent water from running down the wall, avoiding its degradation. This set was most probably built between 1854 and 1894, as evidenced by the dates inscribed on the walls at opposite places on the estate.

Details

  • Title: Quinta das Fontaínhas
  • Creator: Egídio Santos
  • Creator Lifespan: 1970
  • Creator Nationality: Portuguese
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Birth Place: Porto, Portugal
  • Date Created: 2007
  • Location Created: Santa Cristina, Mesão Frio, Vila Real, Portugal
  • Original Language: Portuguese
  • Provenance: Commissioned by the Douro Museum
  • Subject Keywords: Schist, Douro, Vine heritage, Winescape, Stone walls, Terraces
  • Type: Digital photography
  • Rights: @Museu do Douro, Fotografia Egídio Santos, 2007
  • Medium: Digital photography

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